Guidance on recycling will help Welsh councils and businesses continue to lead the way, according to Minister for Natural Resources and Food Alun Davies. The Minister has launched a consultation on guidance to support organisations and businesses affected by new EU legal requirements for the separate collection of four waste materials – paper, metal, plastic and glass.
From January 1, 2015 all organisations involved in waste collection are required to set up separate collection for paper, metal, plastic and glass, as long as this is what is necessary, in effect, to achieve high quality recycling and it is technically, environmentally and economically practicable to collect the four materials separately.
Waste & Recycling
Minister launches consultation on recycling guidance
End of the road for landfill and incinerated plastics?
The large-scale incineration or dumping of plastic films in landfills could soon be a thing of the past as new technologies seek to convert plastics into fuels and other useful products.
Economic factors and fundamental difficulties with handling and sorting at recycling facilities has resulted in plastic film recycling still being in the early stages of development, especially in comparison to recycling processes for dense rigid plastics such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) used widely in the drinks industry.
As a result, policy around the world has looked at alternative solutions to reduce the impact of plastic films, especially plastic bags, on the environment. Controversial policies have included the banning of single-use plastic bags and imposing charges on consumers.
Guidance on sentencing for waste criminals welcomed by ESA
The Environmental Services Association (ESA), the voice of the UK’s waste and resource management industry, today welcomed the release of the Sentencing Councils guidance for judges sentencing those involved in waste crime. ESA’s Director General, Barry Dennis said:
ESA welcomes this guidance and hopes that it will help to deter environmental criminals who pose the greatest environmental risk, whose transgressions are most difficult to detect and whose adverse environmental impact is greatest.
Travis Perkins hire gets serious about waste management solutions
The hire service of leading merchant Travis Perkins has launched a range of waste management solutions. With its service promise of “any waste, any time, any where”, customers now have access to an extensive choice of refuse and recycling solutions from wheelie bins and skips, to road sweepers and the removal of hazardous material.
In addition to skips and bins, the service extends to an exclusive partnership with HIPPOBAG, the removal of hazardous and specialist waste, and the hire of recycling equipment such as balers.
Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority seeking waste boost
Merseyside’s residents can get their hands on free recycling bags this January in exchange for unwanted or broken electrical items.
The giveaway involves all 13 Merseyside Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and aims to stop precious metals used in electronics and electrical equipment ending up as landfill.