Donarbon captures landfill gas for electricity
Working with renewable energy technology provider Andigestion, the company has connected the gas collected from years of landfilling waste to a gas engine that generates electricity which is exported to the National Grid. The electricity is sufficient to power over 1,400 homes, and it will continue to be generated from landfill gas well into the 2020s.
Mike Lowe, director of Andigestion said, “We are delighted that the scheme, on which we have worked closely with Donarbon, is now producing renewable energy and replacing electricity produced from fossil fuels.”
Landfill ban for contaminated soil
Contaminated soil will no longer be allowed to be sent landfill according to rules which came into force yesterday (July 1).
Hazardous wastes with total organic carbon (TOC) content in excess of 6% are banned from landfill and, from November 10, all mixing pits traditionally used to mix hazardous wastes with an excavator prior to landfilling will also be closed.
Liz Parkes, head of waste at the Environment Agency welcomed the move, commenting: “We encourage those businesses that produce hazardous wastes with high organic content or that send their wastes to mixing pits to talk to their waste contractors about alternative management options. We are also keen to see waste management companies come up with new solutions for treating and disposing of these wastes.”
GMWDA reappoint chair and vice chair
Cllr Swannick, who has been chair of the GMWDA since 2001, and Cllr Young, who has been vice-chair since 2007, have both been heavily involved in the procuring of GMWDA's 25 year contract to deal with the Authority's 1.4 million tonnes of annual municipal waste, which is still to be signed. The reappointments come shortly after the GMWDA assigned John Bland the additional post of treasurer and deputy clerk (see letsrecycle.com story).
Speaking after the AGM, Cllr Swannick said: “I am delighted to have been reappointed into the position of chair for the Authority. All members are totally committed to our stated strategy to deliver cost efficient and sustainable waste management for the people of Greater Manchester.”
Cherwell hails separate glass collection
Cherwell district council has claimed that its source-separated collection of glass is not only efficient but has also helped boost its recycling rates.
The district has seen glass collection rise from 29% in 2002/03 to 63% in 2007-08 and the North Oxfordshire council hopes to recycle more than 3000 tonnes of glass during 2008-09. There are currently plans to expand from 65 to 70 ‘bring banks' and introduce on-street recycling bins, mini recycling bank sites for flats and install ‘bring banks' as standard on new developments of 1000 homes or more.
Councillor George Reynolds, Cherwell district council portfolio holder for community, health and environment, said: “There's about one site for every 900 properties in the district at the moment. That compares favourably with many other councils, many of whom are reverting from mixed glass to separate glass collections.”
Transport firm adopts bio-fuel from waste
The firm's Euro 5 Mercedes Actros truck burns bio-diesel manufactured from waste products such as cooking oil and animal fat residue from the meat industry by Scottish oil recycling firm Argent Energy. The vehicle is also used for John Miller's contract with Argent to haul road tanks of raw material and refined fuel in and out of its customer's production plant in Motherwell, Scotland.
John Miller, managing director of the company, said:”It's using up material that would otherwise have to be disposed of, thereby increasing recycling and reducing the amount of waste that may otherwise be incinerated or even tipped down the drain.”
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