Spring launch date for Welsh Zero Waste strategy
The strategy, which was unveiled in draft form in April 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story), proposes that at least 70% of all waste from Welsh households, the commercial and construction sectors should be recycled or composted by 2025. The minister made the comments as the Welsh Assembly Government joined with Defra last week (March 18) to launch a consultation on potential landfill bans for nine materials (see letsrecycle.com story).
Ms Davidson said: “Later this spring I will be launching our Waste Management strategy ‘Towards Zero Waste' which will set out our ambitions of becoming a high recycling country by 2025 and a zero waste country by 2050. Banning certain materials from landfill could provide us with a key tool for helping us achieve these aims.”
Plans submitted for East London gasification plant
The plant is intended to turn 100,000 tonnes of residual waste each year into a synthetic gas, which would be used in the same way as natural gas. Proposals for the plant were first mooted in March 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story) and would see the facility housed on the London SIP site being developed by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation – a regional development body for East London. Plans for the proposed facility, which the firm is hopeful of having operational by the end of 2012, were drawn up by Sheffield-based environmental architects Race Cottam.
Rick Twomey, technical director at Cyclamax Resource Parks, said: “The Thames Gateway Power facility will be Cyclamax's flagship. This is an excellent example of integrated sustainability that will see Cyclamax provide the green spark for the Sustainable Industries Park by providing renewable energy and assuring landfill avoidance.”
LARAC appoints two policy support officers
The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) has announced the appointment of two policy support officers following a push to recruit for the roles in February.
In the positions, which involve the new recruits working one day a week on policy issues for LARAC, Sally Sheward of Knowsley metropolitan borough council is set to focus on policy development, while Liz Drew of Armagh city and district council in Northern Ireland, will concentrate on developing policy support for the devolved administrations. Ms Sheward and Ms Drew will take part in the next LARAC policy meeting on April 30, which will be the organisation's firstpolicy meeting to be held jointly with the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO).
Welcoming the appointments, Joy Blizzard, chair of LARAC, said: “The appointment of these policy experts is a great boost to LARAC. One of our main aims is to represent our members well and ensuring that we respond to consultations well is one way to achieve this aim.”
Inquiry date set for Viridor Ardley appeal
Oxfordshire county council chose to block Viridor's plans for a 300,000 tonnes-a-year capacity facility in October 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story), with Viridor opting to appeal the council's decision in January this year (see letsrecycle.com story). The inquiry is expected to last for around 10 days, and the Planning Inspectorate has invited all interested parties to submit draft statements outlining their position by April 7, two weeks before the pre-inquiry meeting which will take place on April 21.
Speaking on the announcement, Robert Ryan, Viridor's project manager, said: “We're confident we can demonstrate the case for our proposals, which have been designed to provide a safe, cost-effective and much-needed solution to Oxfordshire's residual waste treatment needs in line with the local, regional and national waste strategy and planning policies.”
TEG completes Essex and Southend contract
In-vessel composting firm TEG Environmental has achieved close on a contract to process mixed green waste from Essex and Southend at its Carleton Rode facility in Norfolk.
The deal, which will commence on June 1 2010, works as a four-year framework agreement which will see Lancashire-based TEG bid annually for waste from Essex county council and Southend borough council. During the first six months of the deal, the composting firm is expected to receive between 7,000 and 11,000 tonnes of green waste from the councils. The volume and revenues for the remaining term of the framework agreement will be determined at the start of each contract year.
Commenting for TEG, chief executive Mick Fishwick said: “TEG has already been successful in renewing key contracts with existing customers and with the award of this council contract the Carleton Rode facility will be at full capacity by June 2010, exceeding the objectives set by the company on acquisition.”
Register for free to comment