Northern Irish minister urges retailers to reduce shopping bag use
The meeting focused on the results of the voluntary commitment by larger supermarkets to reduce the number of carrier bags handed out to customers, as well as discussing measures retailers could take to help reduce commercial and domestic waste by reducing packaging and supporting the reuse and recycling of materials. The number of carrier bags used in Northern Ireland was reduced by 38% between May 2006 and May 2009, from 19.8 million in May 2006 to 12.2 million, but the Northern Irish Executive is seeking to go further.
Mr Poots said: “I am keen to build constructive working partnerships with our retailers so that, as well as helping to cut plastic bag numbers further, we can work together to tackle other important environmental issues such as food waste and packaging.”
SITA staff save Calderdale man's lost signet ring
Colin Kilburn, from Sowerby Bridge, was disposing of his plastic bottles at the site when the ring, which belonged to his father-in-law, slipped off unnoticed and became lost in the container full of plastic waste. Mr Kilburn contacted the site and Mark Whitting, a charge hand at the facility, quickly got in touch with the transfer station in Vine Street, Huddersfield, where the bottles had been sent to. Paul Schofield, a plant operative at the transfer station, then identified and segregated off the correct batch of bottles and was able to find the ring, which was then returned to Mr Kilburn.
On being reunited with his ring, Mr Kilburn, who later went to the Sowerby Bridge site to thank the SITA staff, said: “The speed with which all of the SITA UK staff reacted and found the ring was truly impressive – a big thank you to SITA UK. The ring is a family item that belonged to my father-in-law and, whilst not very valuable in money terms, it has loads of sentimental value and couldn't be replaced.”
Derbyshire hails resident response to £6m Buxton recycling centre
Derbyshire county council has praised the efforts of residents to increase recycling rates at the £6 million Buxton household recycling centre since it opened in August.
The Waterswallows Road facility enables residents to recycle a wide range of materials and has seen both an increase in tonnages sent to the site and amount of material recycled over its first two months in operation. In August, the county council report that 187 tonnes of material was taken to the centre, with 79% being recycled. This rose to 430 tonnes of material in September, with 83% being recycled.
Derbyshire county council's cabinet member for recycling and technology, John Allsop, said: “Plenty of people have been using the new facility since it opened and I hope this trend will continue in the future. Recycling provides an opportunity to save resources for the future and it can help to combat climate change.”
Veolia staff wear it pink and raise £434 for charity
Staff members took inspiration from much-loved musical Grease, dressing as characters including Danny, Sandy and a group of Pink Ladies. In total, £217 was raised by Veolia staff in Sheffield, which was then doubled by managing director Martin Simpson. ‘Wear It Pink' is the Breast Cancer Campaign's biggest fundraising event during its October awareness month and currently supports 130 research projects worth almost £50 million in 43 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland.
Mr Simpson said: “Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and all the money raised by Veolia will help the Breast Cancer Campaign continue its research. We support wear it pink every year, it is a fun and easy way to donate and help fund breast cancer research. Well done to all employees who took part in our fancy dress day.”
Scottish firm signs waste deal with Hants shopping centre
Scottish waste management company Environmental Waste Systems Ltd (EWSL) has signed a partnership deal with a Hampshire shopping centre to manage its waste and recycling.
The Glasgow-based firm will work with the Wellington Shopping Centre in Aldershot in a bid to significantly reduce its carbon footprint. The Wellington Shopping Centre has teamed up with its stores to stop sending waste such as cardboard, paper, polythene and plastic to landfill and to instead ensure that the 187 tonnes of waste produced every year is sorted and handed over to a specialist recycling plant.
Brian Quinn, EWSL sales and operations manager, who is based in the company's Windsor office, said: “By properly managing waste output there is enormous potential for shopping centres and other retail operations to not only make significant financial savings, but also to dramatically reduce their environmental impact.”
Register for free to comment