Defra and WAG issue consultation on exemptions guidance
The guidance, which is aimed at both the regulator and those set to be affected by the new system of exemptions, includes details of the descriptions and conditions for exempt waste activities, which will be grouped into one of four categories: use of waste; treatment of waste; disposal of waste; and, storage of waste pending its recovery. It also addresses aspects of the new system such as the transitional provisions for sites which will require a full permit under the new system and the process by which site operators can register an exemption.
Outlining the role of the guidance, the document stated: “This Government guidance is ‘high level' guidance to support the amendments to the 2007 Regulations made by the exemptions review concerning the registration of exempt waste operations and associated matters of compliance. Regulators' guidance will set out the procedural arrangements and any interpretation of technical requirements and standards.”
The consultation, which is open until January 5 2010, can be found here.
Horticultural visit to Deerdykes facility
The society, which is based in Argyll and Bute, has struck up a relationship with SWWS and has already received some of the company's compost, called pod, which it produces from garden waste the Deerdykes site in Cumbernauld. As well as taking garden waste from Helensburgh and Lomond civic amenity sites, SWWS and Argyll and Bute council began a one-year food waste recycling trial in April this year. SWWS is currently developing a 30,000 tonnes-a-year capacity anaerobic digestion facility on the Deerdykes site, which it hopes will generate up to 1MW of electricity when it becomes operational (see letsrecycle.com story).
Donald MacBrayne, manager at SWWS, said: “The Horticultural Society members were delighted to see the composting process in practice and to learn more about food waste recycling. The Helensburgh food trial is going extremely well, with residents playing a significant part in the success of the project.”
Newcastle University boosts recycling rate with SITA UK
Students and staff at Newcastle University have doubled their recycling rate to 56% after working with waste management and recycling firm SITA UK to improve campus facilities.
Much of the change was attributed to the introduction of 250 recycling bins to around 40 of the largest campus buildings for the disposal of plastic bottles, mixed plastics, paper and cans. This was coupled by work with the university's waste staff to raise awareness of the facilities and drive participation. Cleaning staff also played a part in encouraging recycling, wearing promotional badges, leaving post-it notes to remind bin users and even marking waste bins with recyclables in them and leaving them unemptied until the items were removed.
Claire Stewart, corporate account manager for SITA UK, said: “It has been a tremendous effort, not just by the staff that have pushed recycling at Newcastle University, but the students and other staff who are embracing the new facilities. This achievement is all the more special as it is not just a high volume of the University's waste being recycled, but also a large amount – over 210 tonnes.”
Lewisham ramps up battery recycling effort
BatteryBack – which is a joint effort between waste firm Veolia Environmental Services and Leeds-based WasteCare – has supplied Lewisham with BatteryCans to be placed in libraries across the borough to make it easier for people to dispose of their batteries. Batteries contain various hazardous metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc, manganese and lithium, which can be damaging to the environment to mix them in with normal domestic waste.
Councillor Susan Wise, cabinet member for customer services, said: “We know we need to improve and this new scheme aims to help redress the situation and it's such a simple idea. Just bring your used portable batteries in to your nearest library and pop them into the BatteryCan. You'll be helping the environment if you do.”
Waste among priorities outlined by Welsh environment minister
Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) intends to spend an extra £10 million on waste in 2010/11 as part of plans to increase spending on sustainability by nearly £15 million, Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson has revealed.
According to budgetary plans for 2010/11 outlined by the WAG, the extra money for waste initiatives will take spending on waste to £97 million and be used to complement the current £24 million set aside to increase the collection of recyclables and food waste from households. The budget also covers issues such as climate change, energy efficiency and flood risk management, with the WAG having explained that there would be a decrease of £10 million on capital but that £22 million was being issued by the WAG's Strategic Capital Investment Programme for waste, flood and energy efficiency.
Ms Davidson said: “This investment in waste is helping local authorities recycle more and spend less of our household rubbish to landfill, reducing its impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Wales hit its EU targets to cut back on land-filling biodegradable municipal waste two years early and latest figures out last month show that councils are currently recycling 41% of municipal waste.”
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