News in brief

Recycling fund for Neath Port Talbot announced

The investment will be used to pay for a range of recycling containers including reusable sacks for green waste, food waste bins and kitchen caddies as the council works with residents to improve the councils current recycling rate of 48.3%.

The funding was delivered as part of the Collaborative Change Programme, launched in 2011 to assist councils in meeting their statutory recycling targets.

Minister for natural resources and food Alun Davies, who announced the funding, said: This funding will support projects that help local authorities to meet our recycling targets as we work towards a zero waste future for Wales.

Thanks to the efforts of Welsh householders and local authorities, we are now recycling over half of our municipal waste, and are looking towards our next target of recycling 58% by 2016.

DepotHire Ltd fined over illegal waste activities

Waste management firm DepotHire Ltd and two men have been ordered to pay a total of 248,000 after they were convicted of waste offences.

Frank Flannigan Junior 45, of Mansfield Road, Tweedmouth was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday (January 17) in relation to operations at the site, while his father Francis Clavering Flannigan, 78, was sentenced for waste offences in the Berwick-upon-Tweed area during 2008 and 2009.

An investigation, which began in 2008, found the skip hire business storing and sorting waste on land owned by Flannigans father at Etal Road and at Old Doves Yard in Northumberland Road without legal permits in place.

The pair were also convicted of depositing mixed waste at a farm near Berwick-Upon-Tweed during this time.

Flannigan Junior was fined 12,000 for three offences and ordered to pay 10,000 in costs as well as surrender 50,000 in profits.

His father, who had previously sold the site to his son, was handed a 12-month conditional discharge for one offence and ordered to pay 10,000 in costs.

DepotHire Ltd, was fined a total of 36,000 for three similar offences. It was also ordered to pay 80,000 in costs, and 50,000 in proceeds of crime.

LGA supports revision to Duty of Care

The Local Government Association (LGA) has welcomed a review of Duty of Care requirements in its response to Defras consultation on Waste Transfer Notes (WTNs).

The organisation said the current requirement for businesses to document the transfer of waste loads helped councils reduce crime and last year led to 2,200 prosecutions of which 99% resulted in convictions.

It went on to argue that greater business flexibility via alternative documentation on the nature of waste recorded, and procedures for the presentation of evidence that the Environment Agency can take into account when registering waste carriers.

The response read: The LGA recognises the benefit of a review of arrangements and the potential to reduce burdens on businesses where they dont undermine enforcement activities.

We welcome the reinstatement of procedures for the presentation of evidence by waste carriers to regulators within five working days, which is a positive step.

The consultation, which was launched under the Red Tape Challenge in December last year, asked for views on whether businesses opting out of the governments Electronic Duty of Care tool should be allowed to use documents such as invoices (see letsrecycle.com story).

Charity shop donations positive despite setback

Textile recyclers have a positive outlook on donations despite evidence of dwindling house to house charity collections, a report has claimed.

The Charity Retail Associations (CRA) report shows that collections of stock now makes up just 3% of total stock collected by retailers, the lowest level recorded and down 6% from last year.

But, retailers are confident other factors such as specific donor requests and over-the-counter donations have led to an increase in the proportion of donations given directly to shops.

Some 63% of larger charities believe volumes of stock have increased in the last 12 months, while 81% of smaller charities said stocks had either increased or stayed the same.

Warren Alexander, chief executive of CRA, said: It is great to see our members embrace change, this leads to them developing innovative ways to maximise stock donations. As one method declines, our members develop new ways of finding stock.

Emerald Biogas launches schools food waste campaign

A campaign to tackle food waste in schools across the North East of England has been launched by Emerald Biogas.

The firm, which opened an anaerobic digestion facility in Newton Aycliffe last year, is giving schools a chance to engage with the programme and has invited pupils to become waste warriors.

Five schools based in Middlesbrough, County Durham, Darlington and Newton Aycliffe have adopted the campaign to date. Activities include taking part in a poster competition, for which schools can win a 250 voucher.

Adam Warren, director of Emerald Biogas, said: Food waste to landfill is a growing concern, with over 80 kilograms thrown away on average in a primary school each week.

Through our initiative, pupils will have the opportunity to understand the problem of food waste and our innovative solution, which also results in the production of green energy.