Researchers in Bolton say they have found a new way to use waste carpet, which could unlock the potential 70 million worth of waste carpet currently going to landfill.
Currently, around 7% of all new carpet in the UK is wasted through the production and fitting process each year, about 10 million square metres. The Bolton Institute and the University of Bradford have developed a way to process this waste carpet into a “revolutionary” sound-blocking underlay.
The underlay meets BSI standards and the Institute says it is cheaper to produce than acoustic underlay made with virgin materials. The two-year, 156,000 project was funded by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, who now say they have found a company to take the idea forward commercially – Anglo Felt of Whitworth, Rochdale.
Dr Moshen Miraftab of the Bolton Institute said: “We are delighted the project has been such a success and has met all our research, development – and now enterprise – objectives.”
New website to promote furniture re-use
A new website has been launched to encourage people in Scotland to donate unwanted furniture for it to be re-used.
The site, www.morethanfurniture.org.uk, provides information on 52 furniture re-use projects across Scotland, which provide furniture for about 30,000 low-income families each year.
 The new website seeks to encourage the re-use of furniture in Scotland |
Linsay Chalmers, the Scottish Furniture Projects’ co-ordinator said: “The aim of this web site is to make it quick and easy for people who need help with furniture to find out what’s available in their local area. We also want to make it simpler for people with good quality but unwanted furniture and appliances to be able to donate them to their local project.”
The website has been produced by the Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS) through funding from the Scottish Executive's Communities Scotland fund.
Margaret Curran, Scotland's minister for communities said: “The furniture recycling sector can play a crucial role in helping people to get back on their feet and I welcome the launch of this website, which will make it easier for individuals and organisations to access suitable, low cost furniture.”
Lincolnshire waste recycling site gains planning permission
Lincolnshire Council has given the green light to plans for a new household waste recycling centre, transfer station, materials recovery facility and composting plant in the county.
Members of the public will have access to bays for a range of recyclables at the Slippery Gowt Lane site in Wyberton, Boston. Wood, card, garden waste, soil and rubble can all be deposited.
The facility will include a fridge storage area and recycling containers will be provided. Applicant Lincwaste Limited has said it will transfer material that cannot be recycled to an adjacent landfill site for disposal.
Two separate access routes will be provided for entry and exit in a bid to minimise congestion, and the facility will be available into the early evening, weekends and public holidays to reflect demand at other sites in the county.
Shelia Roy, chair of Lincolnshire's planning and regulation committee, said: “The applicant is required by condition to ensure the processes are in place to safeguard possible problems with noise, ecology, drainage and air quality. A suitable landscaping scheme will also be included.”
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