Re-Gen head backs arc21 EfW refusal
Re-Gen Waste’s managing director Joseph Doherty has welcomed the Northern Ireland infrastructure minister’s decision to refuse planning permission for arc21’s energy from waste (EfW) plant.
Nichola Mallon refused permission last week, citing fears that it would discourage recycling in the country (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mr Doherty, whose company runs a large MRF in Northern Ireland, said: “I believe that increased targets in recycling, technological innovation, capacity in the current system and changes in government policy mean that there is no need for the incinerator proposed by arc21 with such a large capacity.
“Re-Gen isn’t against EfW facilities. We are proud that we can manufacture refuse-derived fuel for export and will continue to sell material to plants in Norway and Sweden, until local recycling techniques are developed to recover this material.
“The carbon costs of transporting fuel are more than offset by the level of energy recovered in the plants in Scandinavia. This solution is both environmentally responsible in terms of CO2 emissions and provides a cost-effective solution when compared with the arc21 EfW plant.”
Mr Doherty concluded that the minister’s decision creates opportunities for Northern Ireland to be a centre of excellence for products from waste.
WasteCare provides inmates with training
Compliance specialist WasteCare has launched a training scheme with Onley Prison in Warwickshire.
The scheme provides inmates with training and work experience prior to their release, and up to 60 inmates can join WasteCare’s workforce on their release.
With six months’ guaranteed work, they will continue to learn practical skills, and the company applying for accreditation to ensure participants have a qualification for their CV.
The role will be available to those with successfully completed work experience prior to release and will see them repair and recondition domestic appliances to be sold into the charity and housing association sector.
Peter Hunt, chairman of WasteCare Group, said: “The Onley Prison initiative presents a very tangible way of contributing to society as well as the environment.
“What’s more, it helps us plug the big skills shortage that we’re currently experiencing post-Brexit.”
Pret joins coffee pod recycling scheme
Pret A Manger has become the first UK food-to-go retailer to join the Podback recycling scheme.
In July 2021, Pret launched two aluminium coffee pod blends, which are now recyclable through the Podback programme.
Podback is a nationwide service providing customers with ways to recycle their coffee pods, whether aluminium or plastic.
Podback says it turns used aluminium pods into ingots, which are used in the manufacture of new products. The used coffee grounds go through anaerobic digestion to produce a combination of biogas and soil improver.
Rick Hindley, Podback’s executive director, said: “Expanding the scheme to include more brands has been one of our priorities since launching last year, so we’re thrilled to have Pret on-board.”
Guy Meakin, UK managing director of Pret A Manger, said: “We wanted to find a solution that would help our customers recycle their Pret coffee pods easily.
“We’re excited to join the Podback scheme to make this possible.”
Paper Cup Alliance backs WRAP coffee cup report
The Paper Cup Alliance, which represents UK suppliers and manufacturers of paper tea and coffee cups, has backed a recent report by WRAP which found that charges on paper cups “are not effective”.
WRAP’s report analysed the impact of different policy scenarios to identify how best to reduce the impact of cups and packaging, from takeback schemes through to a full ban.
The report noted that “the overall impact of a full or even partial ban on these would deliver a negative net cost of £688.8 million and £422.9 million respectively.”
However, a takeback scheme with recycling targets would deliver an overall benefit of £32.8 million, according to the Alliance.
Mr Whittall said: “Recycling is the answer and in combination with takeback schemes, the UK would see a significant increase in the level of paper cup recycling, which the government is taking forward as part of its response to the extended producer responsibility for packaging consultation.”
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