News in Brief

The “poorly run” Stratford scrap yard failed to use proper drainage

An illegal scrap yard company in East London and its director have been fined 15,000 for dismantling motor vehicles without a waste management licence.

Environment Agency officers discovered more than 40 motor vehicles at Japanese Stars Ltd, in Carpenters Road, Stratford, at varying stages of being dismantled. Waste batteries were left lying on the ground, while pools of oil were spread across the site, which was not properly sealed and drained.

The firm and its director Sahim Hayat pleaded guilty to five charges for offences committed between October 2004 and July 2005.

Investigating officer Andy Strevens said: “What we found was a poorly run organisation, which continued to put the surrounding environment at significant risk. Not only was there were a number of waste vehicle batteries stored incorrectly, including many in the back of a pick-up truck, but the ground was covered in a number of oil spills on the ground.”

Cherwell council in Oxfordshire is seeking views from the residents of 2,300 flats in the area on how recycling can be increased.

The council is to provide recycling bags for flats from next year to help residents use communal recycling bins, while plans for a recycling policy for new flat developments are underway. Cherwell is also planning to pilot a flats glass recycling scheme.

The council's environment portfolio holder, Cllr Kieron Mallon, said Cherwell was also hoping the residents themselves would be able to suggest further ways to improve recycling services.

“We've done very well to hold our recycling rate at 43% for a second year; to be able to push it any higher we will need imaginative ideas and the support of everyone in the District,” he said.

Over 2,000 recycled tyres have gone into the new non-slip bridleway bridges

Recycled tyres helping horses to cross motorway

The Highways Agency has built two bridges for horseriders to cross the M3 in Surrey, using recycled rubber tiles made from more than 2,000 old tyres.

Costing a combined 1.9 million, the bridges at Brickhill and Windlesham include non-slip surfaces made from tyres that were ground into granules before being moulded using polyurethane binders.

Diane Beach, from the British Horse Society, said: “The innovative new tiles are an invaluable asset in helping horses gain the confidence they need to cross motorway bridges. The non-slip surface is an essential element in ensuring the safety of both horse and rider.”

American-owned motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson has been ordered to pay out 23,000 in fines and compensation after pleading guilty to failing to pay for the recycling of packaging waste.

The company was hauled before Oxford magistrates after its European arm failed to register with the Environment Agency to carry out its legal requirements under UK producer responsibility regulations between 1997 and 2005.

Environment Agency environment officer Sue Gebbels said: “Harley Davidson relied on their distributors to ensure compliance with the legislation, however the ultimate responsibility lies with the company itself and cannot be delegated to a third party. It is down to individual companies to ensure that whatever measures they set up to assist with compliance are adequate.”

HRH Princess Anne heard of plastics recycling work from Solway Recycling's Roy Hiddlestone

Royal farm set to join plastics recycling scheme

Princess Anne found out about new farm plastics recycling schemes when she visited the Royal Smithfield Agricultural Show earlier this month.

Her Royal Highness was so impressed with what she heard from Dumfries firm Solway Recycling, she agreed to take delivery of one of the company's storage systems for waste plastics at her own rare breeds farm.

The company's managing director, Roy Hiddleston, said: “In the past she said she had no way of disposing of her farm waste plastic in an environmentally-friendly way so she was very much looking forward to using the Solway Bin & Liner System.”