Flooring firm fined £29,000 over packaging offences
In a case brought by the Environment Agency, Worcester Magistrates' Court heard last week (July 21) that the company had failed to register with the Agency by April 7 each year or provide evidence of waste packaging recovery and recycling. The EA said it contacted Karndean because it had not registered and information from the company showed it had also been obligated to do so in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Karndean was fined £3,300 for each offence and ordered to pay compensation of £3,040 to the Environment Agency for loss of registration fees, costs of £4,026 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Speaking after the case, Louise Goatcher, an Environment Agency officer, said: “When companies such as Karndean International do not meet their recovery and recycling obligations our environment suffers and this is not acceptable. Businesses have a responsibility for what happens to their waste.”
South Yorks firm develops recycled plastic skip
Development of the skips, which received £11,000 investment and business support from not-for-profit organisation CO2Sense Yorkshire, is expected to help divert 1,500 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill into the production of new products in the first full year of running its new closed loop production system. CO2Sense Yorkshire's investment package contributed towards the purchase of a shredder and granulator to process the waste plastic, plus a conveyor system. CO2Sense also introduced the Waste & Resources Action Programme as a project partner to pay for an interim manager to oversee the first year of operations of the new ‘closed loop' production system. CO2Sense Yorkshire is funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Dave Jordan, managing director at Corrilla Plastics, said: “Recycling has always been an important part of our business. Our customers send their used skips back to us when they have become damaged and we then grind the plastic down and make new containers from the recycled material.”
Eunomia to develop waste emissions performance tool
Bristol-based environmental consultancy Eunomia has been appointed by the Greater London Authority to develop an emissions performance standard (EPS) for the capital.
The EPS is set to form a key element of the Mayor's Municipal Waste Management Strategy, which is set to be published publically in the summer having been launched as a draft in January this year (see letsrecycle.com story). The EPS being developed by Eunomia is intended to help the GLA to set appropriate carbon emissions levels for the management of London's municipal waste and will function as a guideline for London boroughs and Joint Waste Authorities when letting new contracts. The London EPS will measure the carbon performance across all municipal waste management activities associated with the collection, recycling, treatment, recovery, and final disposal of waste, with Eunomia set to publish a related study providing information on the costs of meeting EPS this summer.
Doug Simpson, environment programme officer for waste at the GLA, said: “Whilst we recognise the importance of setting high targets for recycling, these must have a demonstrable link to reductions in carbon emissions, which will be provided by the EPS being developed by Eunomia.”
Organics firm helps Poole school win award
Sylvan First School in Parkstone used the compost in its efforts as part of the Poole in Bloom contest. As part of the competition, pupils planted out borders, hanging baskets and even old tyres with flowers and vegetables, turning what was a previously barren area into a lively garden under its ‘Blooming Marvellous' project. Sylvan First School is for four to eight year olds and has around 300 pupils. Eco, which is based in Parley, donated one-tonne of compost to the school, which has over 300 pupils between the ages of four and eight years old.
Commenting on the initiative, Peter Hardy, Eco's Sales Manager, said: “As a former Sylvan pupil I was only too pleased to help out. The staff and pupils are to be congratulated on their fantastic efforts.”
Viridor claims over 80% recycling rate at Bedford HWRC
The Barkers Lane household waste and recycling centre in Bedford has achieved an 83% recycling rate for the 2009/10 financial year, according to waste contractor and site operator Viridor.
The Taunton-based firm said this was “the highest ever level” for any Bedfordshire household waste and recycling centre and, over this period, the waste management company said it had managed to increase the amount of materials collected at the site to more than 20. Viridor said over 6,950 tonnes of materials brought to the site is currently being separated for recycling and the company praised the efforts of householders to sort waste into the correct locations to help improve the performance of the site. Viridor operates the site on behalf of Bedford borough council.
“These fantastic figures from the Barkers Lane demonstrate that the Bedford borough council efforts through recycling messages are really getting across,” said councillor Charles Royden, portfolio holder for environment. “If all residents continue to be so committed to recycling, we hope to keep this position as a leading recycler in future years, thus reducing the council's costs to landfill and protecting the environment at the same time.”
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