Wandsworth introduces new food waste collection service
Wandsworth council has announced plans to introduce a new food waste collection service.
The plans are part of the boroughs ‘Our Cleaner Borough Plan’ which aims to improve recycling in the area.
Judi Gasser, cabinet member for the environment, said: “We’ve listened carefully to residents and are investing heavily to ensure we do our part as a council to make it easier for residents to recycle.”
“Our plans include the introduction of a borough-wide food waste collection service, new greener vehicles, and missed collections are tackled. We want everyone to take pride in their local neighbourhood. With the help of residents, our Cleaner Borough Plan will mean clean and tidy streets, and really improve our recycling rates as a borough so that we’re doing our part to build a sustainable future for all.”
Survey shows £150m worth of stuff thrown out when Brits move house
A survey conducted by Suez shows that Brits could throw up to £150m worth of stuff away every year when they move house.
The 1,000 respondents reported throwing away around £85 (£83.78) worth of possessions during the moving process.
When extrapolated to a larger scale, using the latest figures from the English Housing Survey, which indicated that 1.8 million people had moved home in the previous 12 months, the financial impact becomes even more significant.
Sarah Ottaway, sustainability and social value lead at Suez recycling and recovery UK said: “Moving home is becoming increasingly expensive – even before you consider the cost of disposing of, replacing, and buying new items. The circular economy empowers consumers to not only cut waste but save money through by getting the most out of the items they already have and choosing pre-loved items when looking for something new for their home. It’s great to see the research reveal a genuine desire by Brits to extend the life of their belongings.
“To meet this demand, we’re proactively engaging with councils to share our knowledge and insights through regular webinars, meetings and site visits. The goal of our work is to promote re-use and repair and ultimately, support councils to achieve more sustainable outcomes for their communities.”
CRAIN files complaint against EA
Carlisle Residents Against Incinerator (CRAIN) filed a complaint with the Office for Environmental Protection regarding the Environment Agency’s handling of the permit application for Fortum’s Carlisle EfW plant and, more broadly, the handling of incinerator permit applications in general.
This development comes on the heels of the Office for Environmental Protection’s ongoing investigation into the Environment Agency’s oversight of sewage releases, where concerns have been raised about potential non-compliance with environmental laws.
David Mudge, acting as the spokesperson for CRAIN, said: “Submitting this complaint has been a huge undertaking. We have included hundreds of pages of documents, emails and information requests that we believe show the Environment Agency has failed to protect the environment and our health as required by law.”
County Down resident fined £4,000 for unauthorised waste disposal
A resident from Annalong, County Down, has been fined £4000 for “unauthorised disposal of waste on controlled waste site”.
According to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Jonathan Irvine pleaded guilty the offences at Newry Magistrate court on 18 September 2023.
NIEA said its officers conducted multiple visits to the site between November 2017 and February 2019. During these inspections, they discovered controlled waste unlawfully dumped on the premises. Notably, the site lacked the necessary license from NIEA to store or treat such controlled waste. Among the types of waste discovered were soil, metals, plastics, concrete, and agricultural waste, including discarded food, hedge trimmings, and grass clippings.
On March 20, 2018, Mr. Irvine officially became the registered owner of the site. Subsequently, a substantial quantity of waste was deposited on the premises. Despite receiving a formal notice instructing him to remove the waste, subsequent visits by NIEA officials confirmed that the waste remained on the site. Mr. Irvine failed to respond to a request for an interview under caution. Consequently, a prosecution file was compiled and submitted to the Public Prosecution Service, which initiated legal proceedings against Mr. Irvine.
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