London Councils hits out at PFI funding axe impact
Responding to the announcement which was made last month in the Comprehensive Spending Review (see letsrecycle.com story), the campaign body said that the decision to withdraw nearly £400 million in government funding from the North London Waste Authority and South London Waste Partnership initiatives could endanger jobs and also have a detrimental impact on the environment. And, it claimed that the 400,000 tonnes-a-year of municipal waste that would have been covered by waste infrastructure developed under the schemes would potentially now be landfilled.
Councillor Catherine West, chair of London Councils' transport and environment committee, said: “Cutting nearly £400 million from waste disposal in the capital is a false economy. London's boroughs are committed to working towards 'zero waste to landfill' – just as the government had pledged to be – and this will fall by the wayside if these plans go ahead.”
Poots welcomes NI waste repatriation efforts
The repatriation, which began in August (see letsrecycle.com story), involves the movement of 250,000 tonnes of waste deposited in Northern Ireland ‘illegally' over several years under an agreement signed in June 2009. Commenting on the progress, the minister praised the efforts being made at the first two sites Slattinagh, Co Fermanagh and Trillick, Co Tyrone. He said information gathered and the lessons learned from the work on the first two sites would be used when it came to begin the repatriation of waste from the remaining sites starting next year.
Mr Poots said: “Overall, the staff at both sites have demonstrated excellent co-operation and effective working relations despite the challenges encountered. These included communication difficulties, managing the risks posed by gasses during excavation and logistical and practical difficulties in waste excavation.”
Two Scottish councils to push on with £500m waste plan
The City of Edinburgh and Midlothian councils have agreed to move ahead in a joint project to develop waste treatment facilities to deal with the food and residual waste.
The councils of the two respective local authorities approved reports recommending the continuation of the joint project – which would include a residual waste treatment contract worth in the region of £500 million and cover around 200,000 tonnes of residual waste each year (see letsrecycle.com story). A preferred site for the facilities has been purchased by the councils near Millerhill in Midlothian and an application for planning permission in principle for this site is due to be submitted before the end of the year.
Commenting on the project, Scottish environment secretary Richard Lochhead said: “I am pleased to see City of Edinburgh and Midlothian councils grasping the mantle and identifying the possible cost savings through collaborative working. Every part of the public sector must demonstrate maximum value for the public purse and deliver efficient and effective public services – particularly when Westminster is cutting our budget for next year by £1.3 billion.”
Rhondda orders new fleet to collect food waste
The South Wales local authority has joined forces with vehicle manufacturer Dennis Eagle and used Welsh Assembly Government funding to invest £3.3 million in a fleet of 21 recycling vehicles, which includes 15 26-tonne duo kitchen waste recycling vehicles and six 18-tonne narrow-bodied vehicles. The new fleet will be in operation by the end of November and are designed to be able to handle food waste alongside residual waste – in separate compartments. By rolling out the food waste scheme Rhondda is hoping to ensure its ability to meet recycling targets set by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Councillor Anthony Christopher, deputy leader and cabinet member for frontline services, said: “We want to succeed in partnership with our communities, which is why we endeavour to maintain an effective weekly kerbside recycling and food waste collection scheme that is free of charge to use, as well as community facilities and ongoing education and awareness raising on the subject.”
Suffolk landowner hit with £34,000 waste charge
Ipswich Magistrates' Court has ordered a Suffolk landowner to pay £34,000 in fines and costs for dumping waste without planning permission.
Arthur Fenton was found guilty of 10 breaches of a Planning Enforcement Notice and a Stop Notice at Flowton Pit, Flowton in Mid Suffolk. After complaints from Flowton parish meeting, development control officers from Suffolk county council visited Mr Fenton's land which has been covered by a planning enforcement notice since 2000. Officers discovered that Mr Fenton had tipped waste items such as tyres, builders ' waste and heating oil tanks. Suffolk county council has previously prosecuted Mr Fenton on two occasions, in 2002 and 2007, for continuing to tip waste without planning permission.
Commenting on the charge, councillor Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads, transport and planning at Suffolk county council, said “This case sends a clear message to landowners and waste handlers that environmental crime is taken seriously by the county council. We welcome the Court's decision to levy a substantial penalty upon the offender in this case.”
Subscribe for free