News in brief

Argyll and Bute council has become the latest local authority to begin battery collections at its household waste and recycling sites.

The council has introduced 300 litre containers, supplied by Straight plc, that have been designed specifically for collecting waste batteries.

Waste management company Shanks collects the batteries and delivers them to recycler G&P; Batteries.

Alan Miller, waste management officer at Argyll and Bute, said: “It became apparent that battery collections at household waste and recycling sites were an area we needed to look at, in an effort to reduce the number of batteries going into landfill. We are seeing a great response from residents to this move and hope this will continue to grow.”

The three winners of the Aylesford Newsprint 'Wish You Were Here' competition have been presented with their prizes at a ceremony held at the companies Kent paper mill.

Winner Paul Roberts, a support worker for Newcastle-based Banwaste group, received 1,000 in travel vouchers for his picture Dalek.

Also present were Stephanie Catz and Marianna McManus, who won the unusual places and unusual projects categories respectively. Both work in the environmental department at Merton council.

The prizes were handed out by Aylesford's financial director, Ian Broxup.

Aylesford is set to announce information on next year's competition this month.

Wolverhampton council has launched a new scheme to deal with unwanted paint from householders and businesses.

The Community Re-Paint Black Country project will redistribute the paint at a low cost for reuse by local people, charities, voluntary groups and schools.

Wolverhampton city council champion for sustainability, Judith Rowley, said: “This project is an example of an innovative approach by the community to saving waste and turning it into an asset, particularly for underprivileged people.”

The scheme was launched November 3. Special guest at the event was the Dog that features in Dulux's advertisements.

A Nottingham-based plumbing and heating merchant has been fined for failing to adhere to packaging waste regulations.

Michael Pavis Ltd pleaded guilty to 10 charges at Nottingham magistrates court and was fined 18,000.

Speaking after the case, Ken Sutherland, an Environment Agency officer involved in the case, said: “Every year packaging accounts for over nine million tonnes of waste in this country.

“It is essential that the amount recovered and recycled increases and the producer responsibility obligations regulations have implemented to get companies to take responsibility for the amount of packaging they pass on to their customers,” he added.