The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) in Northern Ireland has taken over the responsibility for waste management licensing from district councils.
Under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, introduced in December 2003, the EHS will now be responsible for issuing licenses, setting conditions on licensed activities and monitoring sites to ensure compliance with license conditions. Any outstanding applications to district councils for new licenses or variations will also be determined by the EHS.
Northern Ireland has also published a consultation on new fees and charges for Waste Management Licensing which closes on February 2, 2003. To view the consultation online, visit the EHS website.
Compact Power to build ship-based energy-from-waste plant
Energy-from-waste technology company Compact Power Holdings has entered an agreement to develop a waste processing facility for maritime applications.
The work will be carried out for QinetiQ, a science and technology organisation and former Ministry of Defence agency, which is looking for a suitable waste disposal system for naval and merchant vessels. The project aims adapt the pyrolysis and gasification process used in Compact Power's Avonmouth energy-from-waste plant to be used in ships.
John Acton, chief executive of Compact Power, said that to be suitable for use on ships the disposal facility has to be “small, compact and reliable with reduced gaseous emissions and an environmentally safe residue”.
Mr Acton said: “Compact Power looks forward to developing this plant, which will be ideally suited for maritime application, but equally advantageous for many other situations with smaller waste disposal problems such as hospitals and island resorts.”
Dacorum hails Environmental Actions Days' success
Dacorum borough council has held three Environmental Action Days over the last six months scrapping 63 abandoned vehicles and collecting 39 tonnes of fly-tipped waste.
In the scheme, dubbed Operation Safe and Clean, the Hertfordshire borough's street scene rapid response team and housing department worked with the local police constabulary, fire and rescue service as well as the Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency in order to tackle problems including fly-tipped rubbish, litter, abandoned and unlicensed vehicles.
A spokesperson for the council said: “The Waste Development Unit are hoping to be successful in securing money from the Fire and Arson Funding to help fund a further 10 blitzes in more areas and re-visit old hot spots in Dacorum 2004.”
London Remade schools website proves popular
Seventy-three London schools have signed up to use London Remade's educational website, www.capitalwastelearning.com, which is due to be officially launched early this year.
The free website has been designed for use in secondary schools in subjects as diverse as geography, maths and history, English and design and technology.
Hugh Carr-Harris, chief executive at London Remade, said: “Developing this innovative website is an extremely important part of our educational initiative. The site is interesting and informative, and outlines many of the interesting yet often overlooked issues such as innovative recycled products and the wider benefits of recycling.”
Teachers interested in using the online resources, which include a 12-week programme and individual lesson plans, can register for a teaching pack on the website.
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