News in Brief

Cllr Mahboob Hussain with some of the new containers destined for Sandwell residents

Thousands more residents in Sandwell are joining the recycling revolution, as the metropolitan borough expands its kerbside scheme.

Around 15,000 additional households are now being supplied with 55-litre recycling boxes to collect newspapers and magazines as well as cans and glass containers.

The new collections, which begin next week on November 28, should help the Midlands metropolitan borough improve on the 9% recycling rate achieved in 2003/04. The council is striving to meet a target of recycling or composting 18% of household waste by 2005/06.

Sandwell's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Cllr Mahboob Hussain, said: “This is part of the council's commitment to recycling and the increasing opportunities we are providing to residents to play their part in reducing the amount of rubbish that has to be landfilled.”

The Environment Agency has reminded businesses that produce waste oils that standards will be tightened from 28 December to reduce harmful emissions.

It said current users of waste oils would be unlikely to be able to meet these standards and so producers might need to pay more to dispose of the material.

The agency warned that tipping oil down a drain or burning it at an uncontrolled site could leave offenders liable to a 20,000 fine.

Recommendations from the agency to help businesses stay within the law include storing oil in a container with a bund that could hold a 110% of the liquid in the tank.
They should also use certified waste carriers to remove oil.

Producers of waste oil must register with the agency and oil removed will need a hazardous waste consignment note.

Residents in Cherwell are being encouraged to recycle their aluminium cans in order to provide the local area with new trees.

Under the scheme run by aluminium packaging recycling organisation Alupro, for every tonne of aluminium cans recycled by Cherwell residents between now and September 2006, one native broad leaf – such as English oak, Scots pine, and silver birch – will be planted in the district.

A small percentage of the tonnage will also be donated to help a tree-growing project in the Gabio Forest in Burkina Faso, Africa.

Councillor Kieran Mallon, Cherwell district council portfolio holder, said: “Residents throughout Cherwell can take part in this valued project simply by recycling their aluminium cans through their blue recycling box or bin – every can will count.”

Sheffield has installed four “Rescape” recycling bring banks to encourage the public to recycle more household waste.

(left to right) Rescape representative Jonathan Smith, Annabel Johnston of Onyx Sheffield and David Bird, of Sheffield city council with the new Rescape banks

The South Yorkshire city has already increased recycling rates from 4% to 17% in the last four years working with contractor Onyx, and hopes the futuristic bring banks will help boost the rate further.

Designed by compliance scheme Valpak and manufactured by Worcestershire-based Egbert H Taylor, the Rescape banks have internal containers for the collection of glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, newspapers and magazines.

Sheffield city council spokesman Harry Harpham said: “In urban areas like ours, recycling can be a real challenge. We hope this eye-catching facility will encourage members of the public to think twice about what happens to their rubbish.”