News in Brief

WRAP chief executive launching a Recycle Now mail campaign earlier this year

WRAP has claimed its national Recycle Now campaign has directly led to the proportion of English householders “committed” to recycling rising to 59% from 45% two years ago.

Jennie Price, chief executive of the Waste and Resources Action Programme, said a survey of just over 1,500 householders in June 2006 showed a 14% increase in committed recyclers compared to a similar survey carried out in September 2004.

However, the biggest reason cited by the surveyed householders for their participation in recycling was the improved access to recycling services provided by councils.

Mrs Price said: “These latest figures highlight the direct success of the Recycle Now campaign and the excellent additional impact achieved with the support of many local authorities, who have used the campaign to strengthen their own communication activities at local level.”

Yorkshire Windows has won public sector contracts because of its recycling of production waste

A window manufacturing business in Rotherham has said recycling as much as 85% of its production waste has helped it to win contracts.

Yorkshire Windows has worked with PVC window-recycling organisation Recovinyl and regional development organisation Recycling Action Yorkshire on raising recycling levels to reach the ISO 14001:2004 environmental management standard. It has revealed that the move has helped secure a number of major long-term contracts worth several million pounds.

Production director Steve Cousins said: “More than 65% of our work is in the public sector where, to win business, you have to demonstrate environmentally-friendly waste disposal methods. By recycling, we are not only satisfying our customers’ requirements, but cutting our disposal costs too.”

Cotmanhay Junior School children learning about composting with Maria Desborough from Groundwork

Schoolchildren in Derbyshire have been learning how to make their own compost with the help of the Big Lottery Fund.

Cotmanhay Junior School has been involved in Groundwork Erewash Valley's 'What a Waste' project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) Programme this month. The school has been provided with three compost bins for gardening waste, grass clippings and hedge trimmings as well as fruit peelings from the children’s snacks.

Maria Desbrough, project officer for Groundwork, who has been working with the children said: “This is a really worthwhile project. By getting the children involved in practical activities they can see how the things we talk about can be put into practice.”

The Kramer loader's tight turning circle has proved valuable for Wrexham vehicle recyclers Entrec

Wrexham-based vehicle recyclers Entrec have purchased a new Kramer 750T telescopic wheeled loader to help with its tyre-shredding operations.

The company had been using a telehandler to load tyres into the hopper of a primary shredder, but decided on the new loading machine to improve visibility, manoeuvrability and safety in the operation. The new loader, which can handle a two-tonne payload, was supplied by Parkway Plant of Stockport.

Gavin Butler, Entrec's site manager, said: “The main shed where we process the tyres to produce 20 mm rubber chips contains several stanchions and the tight turning circle and central driving position of the Kramer has now enabled us to speed up the entire operation without compromising safety. In effect, the machine combines all the advantages of a loading shovel with the agility of a forklift truck.”

Jan Cliff from Sundance Renewables and Garvin Freeman of Corus with some of the crushed steel drums

Carmarthenshire community recyclers Sundance Renewables have been assisted in their recycling activities with new equipment provided by steelmaker Corus.

The Ammanford-based recycling group produces biodiesel from used vegetable oil from pubs and restaurants in the area, and approached Corus for help in recycling the 200 steel drums used to collect the oil every week. Corus supplied a drum crushing machine and a container for storing the crushed drums prior to delivery to the company's CanRoute centre run by SimsMetal at Skewen.

Garvin Freeman, Corus recycling development manager, said: “By crushing the drums, the container can hold a greater number of steel drums, which reduces transport movements – which is good in terms of both costs and the environment.”