Wales produces less household waste
Figures for the third quarter of 2008/09 released by the Welsh Assembly Government show that household waste arisings have fallen by 4% (16,519 tonnes) compared to the same period for 2007/08 and that kilograms of waste per head have fallen from 87kg in 2007/08 to 77kg. And, the figures show that principality's household waste recycling and composting rate has risen from 31% to 35% in the same period- equivalent to 12,181 tonnes more material.
Ms Davidson said: “The more we recycle and the less we throw away into landfill the less our impact will be on the planet. It is encouraging to see that levels of recycling have increased on the previous year and that the Welsh public have maintained their commitment to recycling.”
Straight announces 8% increase in turnover
Despite the rise – from £23.6 million in 2007 to £25.4 million in 2008 – the company said that its retail business – which sells products such as water butts directly to the public – “continued to perform poorly” and saw revenues drop to £2.3 million in 2008 from £4.3 million in 2007. The firm claimed that a second successive poor summer was a major factor in the poor performance of the retail business and had undertaken a strategic review to look at it. It added that it would look to grow its overall business when WRAP's work within the home composting sector ended in September 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Jonathan Straight, chief executive of Straight, said: “Following a strategic review and subsequent restructuring of the business in the fourth quarter, the Group is now in excellent shape and is rising to the opportunities and challenges presented by the current economic climate.”
Waste firm fined over rat infestation
Chippenham Magistrates' Court has fined a Wiltshire waste management firm £25,000 for environmental offences which included a rat infestation at its waste transfer station in Trowbridge.
EJ Shanley & Son (Trowbridge) Ltd pleaded guilty to five offences under the Environment Permitting Regulations 2007, including depositing waste outside a permitted area, failure to maintain tipping bay walls, exceeding the tonnage limit, failing to control rat infestation and allowing litter to escape from the site. During a visit on May 16 2008, an Environment Agency officer found that rats had colonised an earth bund and the company had made no attempt to control their numbers. In June 2008 the company was ordered to pay £41,813 in fines and costs for operating an illegal waste transfer station at a scrapyard in Warminster.
Chris Povey of the Environment Agency said: “The site was being run significantly below the standard expected and this was reflected in the number of permit breaches found during our visits. Excessive quantities of waste were being brought to the site and this probably contributed to the deterioration in standards.”
Ipswich de-pollution firm sells technology to US
Crow Environmental has over 250 units in operation throughout the UK and Europe, and identified a need for this system in the United States. The company has already sold 20 systems to the North American market.
David Pinner, managing director for Crow Environmental, said: “Having a strong alliance with Atlantic Systems is key to our success here in the United States. We feel that with an established network, ASG brings experience and reliability to the vehicle recycling industry.”
Dutch firm to supply MRF equipment to Graphite
The deal, which was awarded via Lubo's UK representatives Bollegraaf UK Ltd, is set to see Lubo supply a 50 tonnes-per-hour sorting system for all recyclable material at the plant. The company claims that it currently achieves a 90% recovery rate with the recovered materials then able to be used to generate energy. The Lubo sorting system includes storage bunkers with moving floors, magnets, non-ferrous separators, air separation systems, optical sorting systems, Starscreens and conveyors.
Derwenthaugh Ecoparc is set to be the location of one of the world's largest steam autoclave recycling facilities, which will be able to handle 320,000 tonnes per year of municipal solid waste (MSW), 60,000 tonnes per year of light waste (segregated kerbside and Commercial & Industrial) and 20,000 tonnes per year of green and skip waste. The process will see the waste being treated using steam.
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