Sunderland approves £2.4m ‘Kerb-it' scheme
The ‘Kerb-it' scheme, which has been in place since 2003 and involves a black box for recyclables, is set to see residents issued with a 240 litre blue wheeled bin with a lid to make it easier to manoeuvre and store materials. And, the recycling services, which currently includes paper, glass and cans, could be extended to include plastics and cardboard. Bins with separate compartments to decrease the risk of contamination could also be used. The council claims that the new service could be up and running from April 2010 though it could take a year to roll out the system.
Peter High, high of environmental services at Sunderland city council, said: “As a listening council we have taken on-board what people have told us and the cabinet has agreed to the scheme. We'll now get on with the job and planning its implementation.”
Waste Watch's rapping robot undergoes makeover
Over the last decade and a half, the organisation has used the character to interact with over 1.5 million school children, by visiting schools and community groups across the UK. The robot is used to teach young people about the three Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle – and helps them learn why it is important to reduce waste at school and at home. In bringing the robot up-to-date, Waste Watch collaborated with staff and pupils at Canterbury college, to record and produce new sound effects and a new rap.
Catherine Doran, head of education and community at Waste Watch, said: “By bringing the recycling story to life and introducing lots of audience participation, we have created a fun, memorable and educational experience for young people. As well as stimulating their imaginations, it really gets pupils to understand the importance of recycling.”
Durham firm set to open £1m waste transfer station
Waste management firm the Durham Company is set to open a £1 million waste transfer station at Fencehouses in County Durham next week.
The facility, which has been planned for two years by the North East company, is set to be opened on June 5 by local MP Fraser Kemp. The development received helped from North-East Regional Development Agency, One North East and coincides with a £750,000 investment by the Durham Company in a fleet of five new collection vehicles.
Scott Hawthorne, managing director and founder of the Durham Company, said: “Our new waste transfer station is open to all waste disposal companies, waste contractors and local authorities that need to comply with the new government Landfill Directive that requires waste to be segregated and wherever possible recycled with hazardous material pre-treated.”
Advanced Plasma Power appoints chief executive
Mr Merriweather was previously managing director of EDF's generation assets, with the commercial and operational responsibility for producing over 6% of the UK's power across a coal and gas fired power station portfolio. Prior to this, Mr Merriweather held the director of finance role for the energy branch of EDF Energy and held senior finance roles at Allied Domecq, including finance director for the Benelux operation, and with Barclays PLC. London-based Advanced Plasma Power currently uses a thermal technology based on sub-systems, known as the Gasplasma Process, and operates a reduced scale facility in Swindon.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Merriweather said: “I am delighted to be joining such an innovative and vibrant company as APP at this stage of its development. Waste transformation and renewable energy generation are the industries of the future and I look forward to ensuring APP remains at the forefront of both.”
Bath and NE Somerset translate recycling message
Bath and North East Somerset council is attempting to increase awareness of changes to its waste collections among all of its residents by translating the information into Chinese.
The translation comes ahead of changes to the council's waste collection days on June 8 2009, which will see all households putting out refuse, green recycling box and cardboard and garden waste on the same day. It has involved the council working with the Bath East Asian and Chinese Friends Group to get the message across to the 2,000 Chinese residents in the district. Bath and North East Somerset has already worked with the Racial Equality Council to translate the message into Polish for leaflets which were handed out on Polish Celebration Day earlier this month (May 3).
Councillor Charles Gerrish, cabinet member for customer services, said: “Bath and North East Somerset council is doing its best to reach all parts of the local community to increase awareness of the waste day change. This includes residents whose first language is not English and older people who may not have easy access to the council's awareness raising material.”
Register for free to comment