Grants offered for business recycling in the south east
Invest in Recycling, an initiative managed by EnviroBusiness which assists businesses setting-up, developing and expanding recycling activities, is offering up to £134,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of new equipment. The funds have been provided by the South East England Development Agency.
Firms must apply by January 2008 and all recycling activities except those dealing with household green wastes and windrow composting are eligible. To apply visit http://www.envirobusiness.co.uk/iir-current-opportunities.html
or contact Roy Williamson at EnviroBusiness on 01293 813 911
Plans for Welsh waste facilities out to consultation
Hyder Consultancy is running the consultation on behalf of the three Welsh Regional Waste Groups, which are partnerships between each area's councils. It wants views on the different technology options including energy-from-waste. The company said that even if Wales meets its recycling target of 75% of waste by 2025, it will still need residual waste disposal facilities.
Adam Read of Hyder Consultancy added: “The public believe that the new facilities will resemble the dirty incinerators of the 1940s and 50s. This is a long way from the truth. Communities in Europe have been involved in the design and location of their plants – some like the Spittelau in Vienna has even become a tourist attraction. Communities are also benefiting from the heat they generate and cheaper electricity. This is one of the sensible approaches we believe should be developed in Wales.” Click here to fill in the consultation questionnaire
Hillingdon helps residents in flats recycle
A recycling scheme for residents living in flats has been rolled out by the London Borough of Hillingdon.
The council has provided each household with clear plastic bags for all recyclables including glass bottles and jars, cardboard, paper, aluminium and steel cans. Every block of flats will also be given large communal bins for residents to empty their bags into. The initiative is an extension of a trial which took place in July.
A council spokesman said: “The council's simple 'all in one bag' approach to recycling has proved to be a great success. The borough has exceeded the Government's target for 2006/07 and is improving year on year. Hillingdon's current recycling rate is 35% and has its sights firmly set on recycling at least 40% of household rubbish by 2010.”
Real Nappies Campaign launched in Lewisham
The Real Nappies Campaign was launched by deputy mayor, Councillor Heidi Alexander at the Bellingham Children's Centre, where mothers were shown how to use cloth nappies.
Lewisham Council's Real Nappies Campaign, is being run in conjunction with the Real Nappies for London scheme, run by the Women's Environmental Network (WEN). It aims to reduce waste to landfill by encouraging parents to choose reusable cloth nappies for their babies instead of disposable.
Communication channels selected for Manchester waste plans
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority has appointed two marketing agencies to help it communicate its plans for major waste treatment facilities to residents and stakeholders.
The Authority is expected to sign a 25-year PFI contract with Viridor and Laing in December which will include an in-vessel composter and materials recycling facility. The two agencies which will keep interested organisations and individuals informed of new developments are Bristol-based Resource Futures which will work with the community and Liverpool-based Corporate Culture which will provide specialist PR support and advice to the Authority.
Authority chairman Councillor Neil Swannick said: “The agencies will be helping us to keep the residents of Greater Manchester informed on the progress of the ‘world class' waste solution that is proposed for Greater Manchester and will also build on the many benefits that the new treatment and disposal contract will bring – recycling levels across the region looking to increase to 50%, support for kerbside collection services increasing, improved landfill avoidance, new jobs, better facilities for the residents of Greater Manchester and the production of ‘green' electricity.”
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