Community Waste director in Egyptian charity ride
Mr Serfaty will be undertaking the 150 kilometres (93.2 miles) trek between January 22 and 24 next year and is seeking donations from the waste and recycling sector for the effort. Any donations can be made to Mr Serfaty's
Just Giving page. The Nile is one of the longest rivers in the world totaling 6,650 km (4132 miles).
Mr Serfaty said: “I know that some of you may take satisfaction in the idea of me cycling 150 kilometres over three days down the Nile in the searing heat, all the while trying to dodge the powerful gnashing jaws of the river crocodiles whilst trying to barter for some water with the locals. But, this is for a serious purpose.
“The charity's work was highlighted when I saw a very moving film of a child sitting alone in the corner of a room and the only thing that could help her to free her from her solitude was the piano playing of a musical therapist that made the child come alive. The problem of loneliness caused by autism in children can set them apart from other children because, for example, they might have no concept of taking turns or sharing and this means that they can have great difficulty in relating to other children in a normal way and are excluded.”
Mr Serfaty added: “These charities do a wonderful job in helping the disadvantaged and also to help tackle the darkness of dementia in older people by helping them with music.”
EA gains injunction against Surrey waste site
The Environment Agency (EA) has gained a High Court injunction against an illegal waste site in South Godstone, Surrey.
The injunction follows two prosecutions and an investigation by the EA and prevents the importation, disposal, treatment and deposit of waste at the site. Two individuals are named in the injunction, Paul Andrew Taylor and Lisa Gail Taylor of Long Meadow Farm, Brick House Lane, and the document also includes “persons unknown” to prevent anyone else from carrying out illegal waste activities at the site. The Environment Agency's investigation of the site followed reports from members of the public about the operation of an unlicensed waste transfer station, where large quantities of waste were being deposited and treated in an uncontrolled manner.
Harvey Bradshaw, Kent and East Sussex area manager for the Environment Agency said: “We are thrilled to have gained the support of the High Court in this matter. It is thanks to the dedication of the Environmental Crime Team and the local Environment Management Team that we were able to collect enough evidence to seek this injunction.”
Telford firm buys Doosan excavators for £2.5m MRF
The machines, purchased from Stourport-based Murley Construction Equipment, add to the firm's existing 25-strong fleet of equipment. Pink Skips was founded in 1998 with a single 7.5 tonne truck and 20 skips and has grown to currently employ nearly 100 people with a turnover of around £6.5 million each year. The company claims to currently recycle 90% of mixed waste received from both construction and demolition projects and commercial and industrial clients, all within a 25 mile radius of its Shropshire base.
Commenting on the choice of Doosan, Pink Skips operations director William Wellings said: “We have tried most makes of machinery over the years but this time decided to give Doosan a try as not only do we see their equipment all over the place but also for the price, they come with a very high specification.”
Terms of Exeter EfW contract agreed
Devon county council's cabinet has officially agreed to the terms of the contract to develop a £38 million, 60,000 tonnes-a-year capacity energy-from-waste facility in Exeter.
The decision comes one week after the county council's waste management contract Viridor was handed an environmental permit to operate the site by the Environment Agency (see letsrecycle.com story), and the Taunton-based firm will now be charged with awarding a contract to design, build and initially operate the facility. The cabinet, which granted Viridor planning permission for the facility in 2007, also consented to the purchase of the site next to the proposed plant on the Marsh Barton Industrial Estate. The site will be used to develop a new waste transfer station, allowing waste that cannot be processed while the plant is being maintained to be stored.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon county council's cabinet member for environment and regulatory services, said: “This is an important and much needed development. Whilst we are, and remain, absolutely committed to increasing our recycling and composting, and reducing waste as far as possible, there will always be a residual amount that needs treatment. We have to cut our reliance on landfill.”
Over six hundred students attend Recycled Clothes Show
The event, at the Wycombe Swan Theatre, also saw Aylesford Newsprint, which operates its paper mill in the region, sponsor the 'Outstanding School' category, where the winning team won an art workshop with local artist Nicola Rowsell to create a unique sculpture for their school. At the event, students had to design, make and model outfits made out of recycled material, with Amersham School scooping the Outstanding School Award for its commitment and understanding of the topic.
Awards judge Andrew Perkins, recycling operations manager at Aylesford Newsprint, said: “It is vital to promote the importance of recycling to the next generation, where issues of waste management will become even more prominent. Aylesford Newsprint is delighted that so many schools were so enthusiastic about the project.”
Subscribe for free