Poole to launch biomass project
Community groups and schools are being offered the opportunity to apply for funding to install a biomass boiler, with the intention of having five renewable energy projects within community buildings across the authority. The boilers could be powered by wood chips or green waste, such as untreated wood, and would help the council to reach its target of reducing emissions by 25% by 2012. The project aims to offer a practical solution to reducing emissions and the amount of green waste sent to landfill.
Councillor Don Collier, cabinet portfolio holder for environment, said: “This scheme will give community groups the opportunity to save money and will also contribute to the overall reduction of carbon emissions in Poole. This project aims to demonstrate that alternative fuels can be practical and achievable in the long term for everyone.”
Aylesford names new regional area manager
Mr Moore, 46, will be responsible for the effective management of recovered paper supplies in the south west, lower Midlands and south Wales. He will be working closely with local authorities, waste management companies and not-for-profit organisations, helping them to divert recovered paper from their household waste streams; advising on appropriate processes; setting paper values; and assisting with tender processes.
Before joining the paper recycling company, Mr Moore spent 15 years with Greendale Haulage and Business Park where he was general manager, and will look to bring his experience of logistics and storage requirements to his new role at Aylesford.
South Gloucestershire to launch food trial
South Gloucestershire council is set to launch a food waste collection trial for 15,000 homes.
The trial, which began yesterday (February 2), will see residents encouraged to put food waste in their green bins along with green waste and cardboard, which are due to be emptied weekly and taken to a composting facility in Gloucestershire for processing. The council is undertaking the trial with its waste contractor SITA UK, which has issued information to residents alerting them to the changes. The waste management company also hopes to gauge how much food waste can be expected ahead of authority-wide collections being introduced once a composting facility is developed in South Gloucestershire.
Councillor Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “South Gloucestershire has the fifth best recycling rate amongst unitary authorities in the country and this initiative will help us to be even more environmentally friendly as the food waste will be recycled while helping us achieve national targets for diverting biodegradable waste away from landfill sites.”
Plastics success in Telford & Wrekin
Kirkby-in-Ashfield-based Recresco operated the servive throughout Telford & Wrekin on behalf of the Shropshire council, and supplies over 50 sites with containers for plastic bottle collection. The company, which collects the material via a vacuum extraction technology employed by its collection vehicles, claims that it has seen tonnages rise from 7.1 tonnes when it was first introduced in August 2008 to 8.2 tonnes by the end of November 2008.
Penny Brasenell, recycling officer at Telford and Wrekin council, said: “The new plastic banks are proving to be very popular with local residents, they are neat, tidy and their unique emptying method makes them very convenient.”
Wine importer fined £24,000 over packaging
Guildford magistrates' court has fined a Surrey wine distributor £24,000 for failing to comply with the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007.
Guildford-based independent wine importer and wholesaler Les Caves de Pyrene pleaded guilty to failing to register with the Environment Agency and failing to meet packaging recovery and recycling requirements between 2000 and 2007. The company was estimated to have avoided £26,800 in costs by not registering and purchasing the correct amount of packaging recovery notes (PRNs). The company, which the Environment Agency found had not registered during routine checks, was fined £24,000, compensation of £6,680 and the Government's surcharge of £15. The magistrates also ordered the company to pay £2931.70 in costs to the Environment Agency.
Laura Dowsett, investigating officer for the Environment Agency said: “It is disappointing that although the regulations have been in force for over a decade, there are still a significant number of companies that are not compliant with the regulations.”
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