News in Brief

WRAP's new Northern Ireland Quality Protocol for aggregates

The Waste and Resources Action Programme launched a quality protocol for the production of recovered aggregates in Northern Ireland.

The government-funded organisation believes the protocol will encourage and increase the use of recovered aggregates, reducing the need for virgin material. Developed after discussions with industry, the protocol mirrors similar documents in England, Scotland and Wales, aiming to provide clarity and consistency in the production of recycled aggregates.

Lord Rooker, environment minister for Northern Ireland, said: “Setting a standard for the production of recovered aggregates will give buyers and users confidence that such materials will meet their needs perfectly well and give them the satisfaction of knowing they are doing their bit to prevent such waste going to landfill.”

A Birmingham community group has been given 186,687 from the national lottery to expand a recycling scheme in the city.

Birmingham Community Transport, based in Bordesley, operates a furniture re-use scheme passing on second-hand furniture on to those in need. It will use its grant from the Big Lottery Fund's Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) Programme to expand into the refurbishment of white goods and establish a recycling education project in Sutton Coldfield.

On receiving the grant John Brighton, project manager, said, “We are delighted to have received this funding from the CRED Programme to allow us to complete our expansion. It is anticipated that more than 1500 extra households a year will benefit directly from our enhanced services and an extra 119 tonnes of waste will be diverted from landfill.”

Bryson House needed extra storage capacity for its new Northern Ireland recycling contract

Northern Ireland's Bryson House Recycling has signed Rubb Buildings to provide new recycling storage facilities.

The 18m by 24m BVR building allows articulated lorries to drive directly inside to unload and store recovered materials in storage space protected from the wind. The current facility could now be expanded as Bryson House extends recycling collections in Northern Ireland.

Eric Randall, director of recycling at Bryson House, said: “Due to the demand for extra space, we needed a contractor who could supply a storage solution in a short period of time. We chose Rubb Buildings above their competitors due to their approach in offering a fast, cost effective storage solution.”

The Environment Agency has teamed up with Preston city council and Lancashire police to run a “zero-tolerance” campaign against fly-tipping.

Preston was home to 40,000 tonnes of illegally-dumped business waste last year, costing the council 300,000 to clear up. The new “Make Waste Your Business” campaign is funded by Defra's Landfill Tax initiative BREW (Business Resource Efficiency and Waste). Bus and billboard advertising will form the focus of the campaign, featuring 12 of the worst sites in the North West.

Arwyn Jones, the Environment Agency’s BREW manager said: “The campaign tackles fly-tipping all the way down the waste chain – from businesses that flout the law and turn a blind eye to where their rubbish goes, to the unscrupulous tippers who charge for rubbish removal and then profit from dumping it illegally.”

Residents in Essex are being offered incentives to recycle

Districts across Essex are offering households the chance to win 100 prizes if they correctly take part in the district's kerbside recycling scheme

The competition is being run as part of the county's 90,000 trial of household recycling incentive schemes within Defra's nationwide 3.5 million scheme (see letsrecycle.com story). The Essex prize draw will run for eight weeks from this week, with a roadshaw taking place in Benfleet on Valentine's day to promote the activities.

Cllr Peter Martin, cabinet member for planning, environment and culture at Essex county council, said: “Recycling is key to our waste strategy, and DEFRA have given us this money to help get even more people recycling. To have a chance to win the 100 all residents have to do is use the recycling kerbside collection that is offered by their District, it is a simple as that.”