News in Brief

Serco launches Eco Bus to spread recycling message

The Eco Bus will tour all Sandwells schools over the course of the 12 months, with the aim of providing a fun, interactive and informative classroom where youngsters can learn more about environmental responsibilities and the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling waste from the home. The interior features worktops made from recycled Coke bottles, and the enthusiastic support of local school children has contributed directly to the decoration, which includes winning designs from a special competition that attracted more than 2,500 entries. The double-decker bus has been funded and managed by Serco as part of its long-term contract to run Sandwells waste management services, which was signed in November 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).

In every respect this is an inspirational project, said Councillor Derek Rowley, cabinet member for neighbourhood services at Sandwell. We believe this to be the first time that a purpose-designed mobile classroom has been introduced to take important environmental messages into the heart of every local school. Educating youngsters and, of course, the adults of tomorrow – about the importance of personal responsibilities for the environment is critical if we are to achieve our targets for minimising landfill waste and ensure sustainability underpins future community developments.

Survey reveals deep disappointment with Waste Review

A survey of leading figures in the waste industry has revealed deep disappointment with the results of the governments Waste Review, which was published in June 2011.

The survey was carried out by waste industry experts Dr Jane Beasley, of Beasley Associates, and Ray Georgeson, of RGR, and aimed to gather peoples views on the policy document once they had had a chance to read it in more detail and reflect on its contents. In total, 30% of the 172 individuals contacted responded to the survey, including chief executives and leaders of major waste and recycling companies, trade bodies, equipment providers, senior figures from local government, the third sector, NGOs and professional service providers. Over 80% of respondents said they viewed the Review as not at all or not very ambitious and over half expressed concern about the value of the Review as a foundation for the forthcoming Waste Management Plan 2012.

Director of RGR, Ray Georgeson, said: Waste and resources industry leaders may have spent their summer holidays reading it properly on the beach, but their reaction to the Defra Waste Review has not improved since the initial reactions when it was launched in June. The report, titled The Defra Waste Review 2011: Reflections from the Industry is available for download at www.beasleyassociates.com and www.raygeorgesonresources.co.uk.

Cheshire waste firm announces 4m expansion plans

Cheshire-based waste processing company WSR Recycling Limited has unveiled plans for a 4 million expansion programme which will more than double the capacity at its Widnes headquarters.

WSR currently processes around 112,000 tonnes-a-year of material but aims to increase this to over 200,000 tonnes-a-year by building a dedicated commercial and industrial waste sorting plant, to add to its existing operation for construction and demolition waste. With an implementation schedule which targets completion in just nine months, once operational the new plant will enable WSR to enhance its current service provision throughout Cheshire, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales. Phase one of the planning process is already complete, enabling WSR to operate on a 24/7 basis.

The three main objectives driving the investment are time, quality and innovation. We want to deliver cost effective and efficient waste processing services that set a new standard both in terms of technique and the recovery rates that can be achieved, said the companys managing director, Mark Trousdale. We work with a wide ranging customer base, spanning local authorities and construction companies through to trade round partners. By developing a facility that is highly flexible, we will always be able to deliver a competitive, effective and efficient service, whatever the waste stream.

Edinburgh launches commercial waste recycling service

The City of Edinburgh council is introducing a new recycling service for businesses in the West of Edinburgh in a bid to reduce the amount of waste the city sends to landfill every year.

The personalised service, which will be run by the councils trade waste team, will offer paper and packaging recycling along with confidential waste disposal, at what the council said was a competitive price. The service is being introduced after a recent survey found that 62% of businesses did not recycle their waste, but that many would recycle more if the council could run offer the service to them. Under the Scottish Governments Zero Waste Strategy there are plans to require businesses to make arrangements for waste to be recycled as well as banning many materials from being sent to landfill.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environment leader at The City of Edinburgh council, said: The introduction of this service will make it easier for businesses to recycle their trade waste. There are still a considerable number of traders who do not recycle their waste, but with tougher Government rules in the pipeline, this is something that all businesses will have to look at in the future.

Rushcliffe battery success paves way to bag reprocessing

The company which supplies bags for use in Rushcliffe borough councils kerbside battery collection scheme has begun reprocessing old bags used by householders due to the success of the initiative.

Over 26 tonnes around 673,000 batteries have been collected under the scheme in the past three years, using specially printed Batteries2Go bags which residents put their batteries in for storage. Cromwell Polythene, which supplies the bags, is now returning used bags to its production cycle, where they are used as the raw material in the manufacture of new products.

Commenting on the success of the scheme, the Nottinghamshire councils cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Debbie Mason said: With more than 600 million batteries thrown way in the UK every year, Rushcliffes residents can be justifiably proud of what they have achieved since the scheme began in 2008. Not only have we diverted tons of harmful chemicals from landfill, but weve also been instrumental in this new bags for old recycling scheme.”