News in Brief

SITA UK involved in Notting Hill Carnival clean-up

The companys street cleansing teams worked from 10pm on Monday 27 August until 3 am on Tuesday in an operation involving 30 refuse trucks, mechanical sweepers, transit vans and a motorway cleaning vehicle to clean the streets.

The companys contract general manager, Gary OHagan, said: We have helped the council clear up the streets of Kensington and Chelsea after the Carnival for over 17 years, so we are well practiced in getting the streets back to normal.

The waste collected will be converted into electricity, saving natural resources and turning rubbish into something valuable.

Waste firm fined after worker injured by vehicle

Staffordshire-based Rugeley Environmental Waste Services has been fined 5,000 and ordered to pay 4,306 in costs, after an employee was crushed by a reversing vehicle.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the 23-year-old man from Cannock was handpicking waste from a skip on September 5 2011, when a skid steer loader reversed into him, pinning him against the skip. The man suffered soft tissue injuries to his groin and was taken to hospital by air ambulance. He went back to work after several weeks but has since left the company.

The HSE investigation found that the vehicle was being used in a relatively confined space and no measures were in place to segregate vehicles and pedestrians. In addition, the company had failed to carry out a risk assessment of its workplace transport activities.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Wayne Owen said: “Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of death in the workplace. It is vital that risk assessments are carried out where vehicles are involved and suitable control measures put in place to prevent incidents such as this. This company had a poor and unsafe system of work. Had the company segregated vehicles and personnel, a man would not have suffered a painful injury.”

DS Smith awards business waste contract to FCC

DS Smith Recycling has awarded FCC Environment a business waste collection contract, which includes collecting and treating residual waste from 150 businesses across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

The contract will see 2,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste per annum collected and treated at FCC Environments energy-from-waste (EfW) facility at Eastcroft, in Nottingham.

C&I director at FCC Environment, Paul Burnell, said: This contract recognises FCC Environments commitment to supporting businesses of all sizes to recycle more and generate energy from what cannot be recycled. It shows the progress weve already made in developing appropriate collection and treatment capabilities.

Defra awards 76,000 grant to social enterprise

Housing 21, a social enterprise supporting the elderly, has been awarded 76,000 in funding by Defra to support the rollout of their recycling project.

The grant has been made through Defras Household Reward and Recognition Scheme for recycling, reuse, repair and reduction of waste. The award follows a grant of 58,000 last September to help Housing 21 involve residents in a recycling programme which diverts waste from rubbish bins into Green Johanna composters. Housing 21 said the initiative has already seen sheltered housing residents across Sussex reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Les Clarke, director of operations for Housing 21 said: We are delighted to have been awarded this additional funding. This is a fantastic project which has reaped huge benefits for the schemes already taking part.

Repic helps Peterborough residents recycle WEEE

WEEE compliance scheme Repic, has collected more than a tonne of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from Peterborough residents during a two-day WEEE amnesty.

Repic joined forces with Peterborough City Council, Enterprise Peterborough and white goods manufacturer Indesit Company, to host the event which aimed to encourage responsible disposal of WEEE. A total of 1017kg of WEEE was collected during the two-day event. The event was also host to a four metre T-Rex made entirely out of recycled WEEE.

Dr Philip Morton, chief executive of Repic, said: The need for responsible WEEE recycling is an important message to get out to the public so it was encouraging to see such a strong turn out at the Peterborough WEEE amnesty.

“Not only were people disposing of their old, unwanted electrical and electronic goods in the right way, they were getting information on how best to recycle their items and what happens to them after they do. Repic works closely with its local authority partners across the country to provide free services, workshops and advice around WEEE recycling.