News in Brief

Local campaigners against incineration in Norfolk are celebrating the county council's decision to favour mechanical biological treatment (MBT) and anaerobic digestion (AD) for the county's waste.

Norfolk Against Incineration and Landfill (NAIL2) said it was “pleased” that county-owned waste firm SRM Ltd had been appointed preferred bidder this week for Norfolk's 500 million long-term waste contract ahead of incinerator company WRG (see letsrecycle.com story). The group said the council's decision supported the use of MBT and AD technology ahead of energy-from-waste incineration or MBT processes that produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF).

Rob Whittle from the NAIL2 campaign group claimed: “SRM's residual technology success in Norfolk proves MBT/AD should be the technology type that is rolled out across the whole of the UK for the next 10-20 years, in preference to incineration/EfW or MBT/ RDF production to non advanced thermal technologies. It is cheaper, more environmentally friendly, adaptable and flexible, produces clean energy and emissions, is socially acceptable to local people and thus takes less to get planning permission and permitting.”

L-R: Scheme Supervisor for Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling Europe Tim Chamberlain, Walton-on-Thames site manager David Cotterill, and Robert Jenkins, Recycling Projects Manager for Corus Steel Packaging Recycling

Steel producer Corus has helped to streamline the recycling of steel packaging in North Surrey by providing new equipment to local contractor Abitibi-Consolidated Europe.

The firm has donated a short feed conveyor and a Whittam Mills baler to Abitibi's Walton-on-Thames site to help bale up steel packaging collected from 70,000 households in the districts of Runnymede and Spelthorne. It is now expected that Abitibi-Consolidated will be able to process 500 tonnes of steel packaging a year in preparation for recycling as opposed to sending cans to a materials recycling facility outside the local area.

David Jaffa, national operations manager for Abitibi-Consolidated Recycling Europe, said: “The fact that we can now process all the steel packaging that we collect so close to source makes us more streamlines. It makes better sense both economically and environmentally.”

The 11th Real Nappy Week is kicking off on Monday to help combat the eight million disposable nappies that the UK throws away every day.

Running from March 11-18 and supported by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, the week will see events taking place all over the country to promote how real nappies are increasingly moving from being a niche to a mainstream choice – with many high street stores increasingly selling them.

Organising the event, the Women's Environmental Network (WEN) said: “During Real Nappy Week parents and carers will have numerous opportunities to find out what cloth nappies are really like at events across the UK. Roadshows in Devon, Hampshire and Argyll and Bute will really take the real nappy message to the streets.”

Unfortunately, it is feared that funding shortages could make this year's Real Nappy Week the last. (see letsrecycle.com story)

Children from the Sidney Community Project in Tower Hamlets promote recycling

Children from a Tower Hamlets estate have received 15,000 from the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to promote recycling among residents.

The “Don't be Mean, Be Green” initiative is being lead by children from the Sidney Community Project on the Sidney Estate, East London. The young people have already produced a hand-painted fabric poster which will be displayed at the local community centre and will be encouraging locals to keep a recycling diary.

Sidney project co-ordinator Hannah Ikhlas said: “The whole campaign aims to create awareness about the environmental issues we face today. Young people are the future and through these activities and discussion we hope it will give them the knowledge to make better choices and to help save the planet.”

Builders in Manchester, Peterborough and Lymm are taking part in a six-month trial aimed at boosting construction waste recycling.

Under the pilot scheme, launched by Axion Recycling Waste and WRAP, site workers will be asked to drop waste materials such as plasterboard and metal, to a waste transfer station or to store them in bulk bags or skips to be collected on demand.

WRAP's manager for the programme Liz Morrish said: “These trials aim to establish whether this is a more convenient and cost-effective way for smaller builders to deal with their waste and to make recycling happen.”