News in Brief

A skip hire company in Ilkeston has been fined 35,000 following charges brought against it by the Environment Agency.

All Away Skip Hire Ltd pleaded guilty to three charges relating to depositing controlled waste, depositing special waste and failing to complete consignment notes. The company were also ordered to pay costs of 1,348.07.

Speaking after the case, Rachell Turnbull, Environment Agency officer involved in the investigation, said: “This company's behaviour was both irresponsible and illegal. There are strict rules governing waste and its storage and we will not hesitate to take action if we find these are being broken.

“I hope this fine acts as a warning to other companies doing the same as All Away Skip Hire,” he added.

VCU Europa's first in-vessel composting system in Spain, at Jumilla

London-based technology firm VCU Europa has been commissioned to build its second in-vessel composting facility in Spain.

Having constructed one of its vertical composting units at Jumilla for waste company Compost Reciclables SL, VCU said today it is to build a second plant for Ropulpat SL in Burgos in the region of Castilla y Len.

The new facility will start with a VCU100 system, processing about 5,000 tonnes of animal by-product material each year from next month, with plans to expand the facility to 10,000 tonne per annum capacity once the first stage is complete.

VCU Europa sales and marketing managed Carl Beck said: “Ropulpat selected VCU technology after reviewing European suppliers of composting equipment, citing the VCU’s proven performance in treating ABP and the fact that the company was already established in Spain as leading factors in their decision.”

Poole council has celebrated a successful first year for its blue bin recycling scheme, which has seen recycling rates soar.

Before introducing the scheme in 2004 the council was recycling 18% of its waste, but the scheme has seen the recycling rate in the borough up to 28%

Glass, cardboard, paper, cans and plastics are all collected in the blue bins. Poole have said that if residents do not have enough room in their blue bin for all the recyclables but have a half empty residual waste bin can request that their bin sizes are swapped over. At the moment the blue bin is smaller.

Councillor Don Collier, cabinet portfolio holder for the Environment at Poole, said: “One year on since the delivery of 52,000 blue recycling bins to residents within the borough of Poole and we really want to congratulate everyone for their overwhelming support to the scheme. The results have been amazing.”

Vernon Kay autographs some of UPM Shotton's education packs

Deeside paper recycler UPM Shotton is attempting to influence the UK's future recyclers with a new education programme for schools.

The “Paper Cycle” pack features an interactive CD-Rom and video for children aged between seven and eleven, and an accompanying children's journal provides an eight week activity programme with a task a week.

Over 100,000 has been invested in the information pack, which features radio and television personality Vernon Kay.

UPM Shotton's Martin Green explained: “It has been designed to teach children the overall importance of protecting the environment, as well as more detailed information on the 'Reduce, Re-use, Recycle' message, with a particular focus on paper recycling.”