News in Brief

The Quality Protocol for Compost is to be managed by two independent certification companies – CMi Certification and Organic Farmers & Growers, it was announced today.

The Protocol will allow accredited composters to classify their composted green waste as a product, rather than a waste, thereby avoiding waste controls on its storage, transportation, sale and usage. The Composting Association said today it will handle both existing and new applicants to the scheme until June, after which time the two certification companies will take over.

Jane Gilbert, chief executive of the Composting Association said: “We are expecting a significant increase in the number of composters wanting to become certified to PAS 100 standard so it seems like a natural decision to subcontract it to specialist organisations who can give the scheme the time and resources it deserves. CMi Certification and Organic Farmers & Growers are experts in this field and have managed a number of similar schemes.”

David Cameron is shown around Agrivert's composting site at Chipping Norton by the firm's managing director Alexander Maddan

Conservative Party leader David Cameron paid a visit to composting firm Agrivert on Friday, to mark the conclusion of this year's Compost Awareness Week.

Mr Cameron, who is local MP to the Oxfordshire-based composting firm as the member for Witney, presented prizes to children from primary schools in West Oxfordshire as part of a local composting creative writing competition organised by Agrivert.

Agrivert sales and marketing director Harry Waters said: “Reducing landfill, and therefore methane emissions, is a very significant contributor to reducing greenhouse gases. Estimates indicate that composting is already reducing these emissions by 1.4 million tonnes each year. Today’s younger generation is becoming more and more environmentally aware and we are keen to encourage them to learn more about what is involved in the composting process.”

Metals and electronic equipment recycler, Sims Recycling Solutions, has opened a new 40,000 tonne capacity WEEE recycling facility in Sint Niklass, Belgium.

The function of the new site, officially opened by Belgium’s minister of the environment, is to extract raw materials such as copper, synthetic materials, metal and glass from electronic and electrical waste. Sims predicts that the site will generate 50 new jobs by the end of the year.

Graham Davy, managing director for Sims said: “The expertise and knowledge we have acquired via our network in Europe is allowing Sims to grow on a global basis. The new Sint Niklass facility will further cement our position as the world’s largest integrated electronics recycling business.”

Ringmer College students Tom Baker (middle) and Alex Venn (right) persuade stall-holder Sue Howes to sign a recycling pledge card.

Hundreds of schoolchildren have joined in the effort to drive up the amount of rubbish recycled in East Sussex.

Pupils from 12 schools have signed up to East Sussex County Council's Community Challenge initiative in the five weeks since it was launched. Secondary and primary schools are being given 500 for educational resources to run activities, from collecting pledges to recycle to recruiting 'Waste-buster' families, who will be given a pack with ideas to cut down on household rubbish.

Prizes will be awarded to the most successful schools at a ceremony next year. The project will culminate in a Youth Waste Summit next March, where young people will be able to debate what they have learnt. Cllr Matthew Lock, the county's member for environment, said: “I am quite amazed with how successful this campaign has been in little over a month.”

A centre for recycling and reusing building materials including those of architectural value could soon be launched in Tees Valley following a workshop attended by around 80 delegates.

Renew Tees Valley (RTV), a project aiming to boost economic growth in the area, had expected around 40 delegates to attend and was “delighted” with the “overwhelmingly positive response” for the centre. RTV-commissioned research by WasteWISE consultants has also said there is a market for such materials.

Chris Hayward, who is leader and technical manager of RTV, said “Every year, thousands of tonnes of the Tees Valley's architectural heritage and reusable bricks and building materials are scrapped – which makes neither financial nor environmental sense.
“Our solution is to support the establishment of a totally new, specialist centre, where most of it will be recovered and the rest sent for recycling.”