Defra publishes batteries permitting guidance
The document, available here, explains exactly how the Batteries Regulations published this year have amended the 2007 Environmental Permitting Regulations. This is in particular relation to 'Schedule 18A', which details the standards that sites treating and storing waste batteries are required to meet under the Directive.
These standards, which will be regulated by the Environment Agency, include that “treatment, as a minimum, includes the removal of all fluids and acids” and “the treatment and storage site including temporary storage, at treatment facilities must have impermeable surfaces with weatherproof covering in appropriate areas or suitable containers”.
Westminster trials diesel-electric hybrid collection vehicles
The two-year trial which kicked off on Tuesday (November 17) is intended to assess what environmental and economic benefits can be gained from using the hybrid vehicle in densely populated urban areas. The trial will see Veolia use the Volvo FE Hybrid vehicles in the Marylebone and Lisson Grove areas of Westminster and the council hopes to emulate the results of trials carried out in Sweden which recorded 30% savings in fuel and carbon emissions.
Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster council's cabinet member for city management, said: “This is the greenest bin lorry in the country and we are proud that we are the first city in Britain to take it up. We have led the way on electric car charging points, so ensuring our own fleet adopts the very latest technology is the logical progression for us.”
EA considers permit application for Derbyshire IVC plant
The Environment Agency is inviting people living in and around Bonsall and Cromford in Derbyshire to come and talk to them about a proposed new composting plant at Dunsley Mill, Bonsall.
Taywell Composting Ltd recently applied to the Agency for an environmental permit, which, subject also to planning permission from the local authority, will allow them to operate an in-vessel or sealed composting plant at Dunsley Mill.
The Agency said: “We will be holding two public surgeries where people can talk to us about this application and the role we would play in regulating the plant. This is part of the public consultation process and any comments should be made to us in writing afterwards.”
CeDo relaunches Kitchen Compost Caddy range
Telford-based CeDo has remodeled the caddy to include 100% compostable caddy liners and odour and moisture absorbing pads to help make food waste collection easier for householders. The liners in the caddies have also been reduced in thickness to improve their compostability. The original kitchen compost caddy was launched in 2007, selling 1.8 million packs of liners and 450,000 caddies to date. CeDo hopes the redesign will boost these sales by 50% over the next 12 months and also help the development of the home composting market.
CeDo chief executive David Pearce said: “The newly designed kitchen caddy will hopefully help the upsurge in the domestic market's need to get involved with home composting, and to make the most of food waste currently produced by the economy.”
Edinburgh and Midlothian hail first Towards Zero Waste conference
City of Edinburgh council and Midlothian council have hailed the response to their first Towards Zero Waste Conference, which was held to explore the future of waste management in the region.
The day-long event in the City Chambers in Edinburgh at the end of October was said to be “completely oversubscribed” by members of the waste and recycling sector, as the council partnership looked to shed more light on how it intends to meet the ambitious Zero Waste targets set by the Scottish Government. In September, the two councils revealed that they would be working together to put a £500 million residual waste treatment contract out to tender early next year (see letsrecycle.com story) and said they looked forward to working with the waste industry to deliver a more sustainable future.
Commenting on the conference, Scottish cabinet secretary for environment, Richard Lochhead, said: “This is a significant project for Scotland and I was pleased to see the interest the project has stirred in the waste industry around the fourth ‘r' in ‘reduce, reuse, recycle; recovery'. I look forward to hearing about the progress of the project.”
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