Welsh business waste survey launched
The survey, which is being delivered by consultants Urban Mines, will run until next January, with a report to be published in April 2009, when its results will be used to report to Europe, monitor targets for business waste reduction and diversion from landfill in the Wales Waste Strategy and also to help plan for new business waste facilities.
Welsh minister for the environment, Jane Davidson, said: “I am pleased to support this important survey. It will help us obtain an up to date picture of how businesses are performing in respect of managing their wastes, and it will enable us to better target support to help businesses reduce their costs for waste management. At the same time reducing and recycling more of their wastes will ensure that businesses make a contribution towards reducing Wales's carbon and ecological footprints.”
Recycling puppet show for Cambridge schools
Started on Monday (October 6), the ‘Happy Bin' puppet shows began a six-week programme during which pupils will weigh the amount of waste schools throw away and submit the information to an online database, with the school that achieves the best waste reduction rate winning an award. Promoted by Recycling in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (RECAP) in partnership with local authorities, the initiative also has the support of waste management company Donarbon, who are based as Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire.
Kirsty Martin from Peterborough city council's community engagement team said: “This is the start of a three year programme of activities aimed at reducing the waste we all produce. We will be working with community groups and charities to promote the reuse of materials, to reduce food waste and to encourage people to use fabric shopping bags. These measures alone have the potential to reduce waste by up to 7.5 per cent.”
Funds for food waste infrastructure launched
Two funding sources to help stimulate the growth of the food waste recycling infrastructure have been launched by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
The £10 million Environmental Transformation Fund Anaerobic Digestion Demonstration Programme intends to fund the development of three to six anaerobic digestion facilities in the UK, with each applicant expected to demonstrate innovation either through technology or operational process.
Meanwhile, the Organics Capital Programme is a £16 million capital grant scheme aimed at improving the food waste recycling infrastructure through the development of an anaerobic digestion facility, in-vessel composter or other proven technology, in a bid to fund 400,000 tonnes of new capacity for handling food waste by March 2011.
Steve Creed, director of business growth at WRAP, said: “We have made great strides over recent years, but it is only through continued investment in technology and infrastructure that we will meet out challenging target. Through WRAP, the UK Government are investing nearly £40 million in the AD and food processing sector over the next three years.”
thelondonpaper offers smoothies for recyclers
Starting on October 13, readers of thelondonpaper will be able to take copies of the paper to one of 24 participating Crussh stores in Central London, where it can be redeemed for offers including free upgrades when they buy smoothies or soup. Thelondonpaper, which also claims to be the first news sheet to have a green page, currently works with Westminster council to co-sponsor recycling bins in the borough and collect disgarded papers for recycling.
Nicole Refson, head of marketing at thelondonpaper, said: “We are always seeking ways to add value for our readers and it has been a challenge trying to find an interesting mechanic which not only encourages them to recycle their paper, but also makes it easier for them. Crussh is a great fit for us.”
Cherwell to introduce food waste collection
Cherwell district council is aiming to improve on its 48% recycling rate by adopting food waste collections – but only once a composting facility is built within reasonable distance of the council.
At a council executive meeting on Monday (6 October), the council agreed to pilot a food waste collection scheme and to roll it out across the district once it a nearby in-vessel composting technology is put in place, and Oxfordshire county council has said that it is looking to provide a facility within the county by 2009.
Councillor George Reynolds, portfolio holder for community, health and environment, said: “It's important that we take into account the environmental cost of what we do. And we need a centre to be built near enough for the benefits of extra recycling to be greater than the cost to the environment of transporting the material to it. At the moment there isn't a centre near enough. When there is, we will press on and look to roll the scheme out district-wide.”
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