Paper sack manufacturer Smurfit Ward has been fined a total of 15,000 for failing to meet its recycling obligations under the Packaging Waste Regulations.
Under the Regulations, producers are required to ensure the recovery and recycling of their obligation of packaging (see letsrecycle.com legislation section).
At South Ribble Magistrates' Court last week, Leyland-based Smurfit Ward pleaded guilty to six offences relating to their failure to meet their producer obligations in 2001 and 2002.
Magistrates heard that the firm handled an estimated 5,338 tonnes of packaging in 2003 and 7,295 in 2000, with similar amounts in 2001 and 2002. The company had failed to register with the Environment Agency in 2001 and 2002 as well as failing to make any arrangements for the recovery or recycling of any packaging waste in those years.
In addition to the 15,000 fine, Smurfit Ward was ordered by the court to pay the Agency's costs of 1,166.47.
WRAP targets flat glass
Waste and Resources Action Programme has identified flat glass as a target for increased recycling.
Around 500,000 tonnes of flat glass is disposed of each year including 90,000 tonnes of waste from domestic replacement windows set to landfill each year in the UK.
WRAP published a study last week, by the Steel Construction Institute and the Building Research Establishment, showing that although some recycling is carried out by the flat glass industry most post-consumer glass waste goes to landfill.
On the basis of these findings, WRAP has now commissioned BRE to conduct a new research project with the aim of providing practical guidance on recycling flat glass.
Four practical trails to collect and separate post-consumer window waste will be run starting in April 2004.
Michelle O'Reilly, WRAP's material project officer for glass, said: “By the end of the year we should know far more about the best ways to recycle flat glass in the domestic window industry.”
Kerbside bag manufacturer launches website
Industrial bag manufacturer Dickson for Sacks have launched a new website promoting their range of heavy duty bags for kerbside collection schemes.
The site www.Recykerbag.com showcases the re-useable sack made from UV protected woven polypropylene by the Glasgow-based company.
Recykerbag managing director Alan Dickson said: “We have been supplying this type of bag for over ten years, but it's not until more recently that the demand has increased dramatically. The great thing is that this experience means that we have developed a cracking product and have already proven our bags will last for years.”
He added that the company has already secured business with 50 local authorities in the past year who use the sacks for dry recyclables and green waste kerbside collections. The bags are made to customer specifications in either the Glasgow factory or foreign mills.
Councils look to set up community recycling networks
Cheshire has become the latest area to set up a recycling network through the Recycling Consortium's Enabling Community Waste Initiatives Partnerships (ECWIP).
The county council initiated the network in order to have a co-ordinated point of contact for all community recycling and re-use organisations.
ECWIP is also working with community groups to set up networks in the former Avon area and in Shropshire. The first network set up by the Partnership was Lancashire Community Recycling Network in September 2003 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Liz Smith, ECWIP co-ordinator, said of the process: “We start with a loose group of individuals and organisations who have never worked together and who have different approaches. By the end of the programme the group are working together well, solving their own problems and drawing on help from their local authorities when it is appropriate to do so.”
She added: “The communication between the two sectors becomes much clearer and easier and understanding of the constraints both sides face improves enormously.”
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