Leicestershire claims 45% increase in small WEEE recycling
Following financial support from REPIC, Leicestershire was able to design and introduce a county-wide programme of activities in March 2009 aimed at increasing the amount of material residents take to household waste and recycling centres. As a result of the campaign, the amount of small WEEE sent to sites rose by 45% over the past 12 months. Leicestershire officially launched its local campaign with a county-wide roadshow touring high footfall locations such as shopping centres and supermarkets. And, a second boost for the campaign was provided by a month-long competition in July 2009, which saw each Leicestershire resident that took a small electrical item to one of the county's 14 recycling sites was given a scratchcard with a 1-in-16 chance of winning a range of prizes – including holiday vouchers worth £200.
Tony Kershaw, the cabinet member for waste management, said: “The relationship with REPIC was more than just a way to fund the competition. When we started the initiative, we had no idea how much extra small WEEE we would be collecting.”
Closed Loop signs plastic supply deal with Shanks
The material will be used to develop food grade PET and HDPE. The announcement comes just as Closed Loop has completed installation of a ‘state-of-the-art' decontamination equipment in order to run at full capacity to meet the demand.
Chris Dow, managing director at Closed Loop, said: “There's more demand than ever for high quality, domestically processed rPET and rHDPE here in the UK. Our order book is full of big name brands which are keen to produce sustainable packaging and support domestic recycling.”
Website to help businesses comply with Duty of Care
Consultancy firm 360 Environmental has worked with the Environment Agency to launch a website to help businesses comply with their Duty of Care.
The site, www.wastesupport.co.uk, is intended to help businesses with a statutory duty to ensure waste is handled correctly to locate the correct European Waste Catalogue code needed for the consignment detailers or transfer note. According to 360 Environmental, businesses tend to depend on a number of common codes as there is no simple means of assessing the right one. However, the new website includes a search function which enables them to look through chapters of the European Waste Catalogue or through a thesaurus designed by the Environment Agency. The search engine lists a wide range of waste types against likely codes, allowing the user to identify which one to use. In addition to the EWC function, the website also includes calculators for WEEE, Batteries and Packaging and information on key waste legislation.
Phil Conran, director at 360 Environmental, said: “Recent Agency prosecutions have demonstrated the penalties for businesses that don't understand their legal obligations. But the complaint from businesses is that they simply don't know where to look to ensure they are compliant.”
environCom appoints new operations and finance directors
The Peterborough-based company opened one of the UK's largest WEEE recycling facilities at a site in Lincolnshire earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story). Mr Newell, who has 20 years experience in the waste and recycling sector, was previously general manager at Essex-based Nordic Recycling. Mr Jackson was finance director at vehicle manufacturer Dennis Eagle before joining environCom, where he helped grow the business's turnover from £55 million to £130 million.
Joe Quigley chief executive of environCom said: “The appointments of Dave and Robert are a strong indication of the high growth phase environCom is now entering. Individuals of this calibre will be invaluable in helping us expand and we now have the right management team to deliver on our strategic targets.”
UKWIN annual general meeting set for Chesterfield
Anti-incinerator lobbyists United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) is set to host its annual general meeting (AGM) this Saturday (March 20) in Chesterfield.
The event, which is set to take place at the Annunciation RC church on Spencer Street to the north of the town, is set to see members of UKWIN from across the 110 campaigners and campaign groups across the UK. At the event, which is being hosted by local Chesterfield, Derbyshire and Derby groups, there will also be guest speaker Alan Watson who will trace the history of the anti-incineration movement.
UKWIN's national coordinator, Shlomo Dowen, said: “Gatherings like this one are always uplifting for those involved. They combine the serious work of campaigning and the joy of being with like-minded people.”
Register for free to comment