Tomra and Swancote partner for AD optical sorting
A partnership between Tomra Recycling and commercial food waste company Swancote Energy has seen optical sorting technology applied in a UK anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.
In October 2021, Swancote Energy invested in an Autosort unit from Tomra Recycling at its 75,000tpa AD facility in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
The unit is enabling Swancote Energy to recover recyclable plastic packaging from commercial food waste which can then be used in the production of food-grade plastic packaging.
The infeed stream contains a wide range of packaging materials such as plastics, tins and glass. The organic matter is removed first before the material goes through a hot wash prior to being optically sorted. Once recovered, the recyclable plastic packaging is sold on to food-grade plastic recycling facilities.
At Swancote’s facility, the unit is programmed to target and sort rigid plastics by colour and polymer from the infeed stream, with the target fractions being HDPE, PP and PET.
Edward Davies, director of Swancote Energy, commented: “With the unit in place, we are able to separate all recyclable rigid plastics which has provided us with an additional revenue stream, and also helps us to fulfil the UK Plastic Packaging Tax.”
Lincolnshire man fined for waste crime
The Environment Agency announced that a Lincolnshire man has been fined after pleading guilty to operating a waste site without permission.
According to the Agency, Raymond Wortley, 75, of The Streddars, Hundreds Road, Crowland, burned some of the waste and allow others to fly-tip on his site.
The Agency said he was fined £21,693.50 which included the avoided permitting costs and financial benefit Wortley had gained by running the illegal site. He was ordered to pay a contribution to prosecution costs of £10,000 and a victim surcharge of £181.
When the officers visited the site in October 2019, all sorts of material were found on the burn pile despite Wortley only having permission to burn green waste produced at his site, the Agency continued.
The Agency explained that even after several warnings and further visits, Wortley continued to run the site.
He was sentenced at Peterborough magistrates’ court on last week (24 May), pleading guilty.
The Agency said that in mitigation, Wortley had misunderstood the scope of the regulations and had made efforts to comply. He had recently cleared the site and was in the process of making an application for planning permission.
Biffa to provide waste services for the Birmingham 2022 CG
Biffa announced it has been appointed as the waste services provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will take place across the West Midlands between July 28 and August 8.
All venues will have bins to both recycle and dispose of food waste. Visitors and spectators will be reminded to use the correct bins and play their part in reducing waste from the Games.
Michael Topham, Biffa chief executive officer, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as a trusted provider, delivering the important task of ensuring the Games waste across the region is managed as sustainably as possible.”
Deborah Sackett, planning and delivery manager for Birmingham 2022 cleaning, catering and waste, said: “Biffa’s expertise in sustainably managing waste on a large scale will be critical in delivering the best experience possible for spectators, athletes, officials, and the media. Our ambition is to achieve zero waste to landfill, and we will be working with Biffa on their support to help us deliver this.”
North Ayrshire urges residents to respect HWRC staff
North Ayrshire council is reiterating its call for visitors to show respect to the staff at the council’s household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs).
This comes after an incident at Bartonholm HWRC in Irvine, which saw staff “faced with abuse and aggression” after asking a dog owner not to allow their pet out on site.
The council explained that pets and children should remain in vehicles at all times while visiting HWRCS for safety reasons.
Earlier this year, there were abusive incidents at Bartonholm and Kilbirnie HWRC.
Councillor Scott Davidson, cabinet member for place at North Ayrshire Council, said: “It’s saddening to see staff being abused simply for doing their job and ensuring the safety of visitors. We would ask people to show their understanding and to treat others as they would wish to be treated.”
The council said it will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards its staff, and perpetrators may be reported to the Police.
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