Four tenders short-listed for West London Waste Contract

The West London Waste Authority (WLWA) has short-listed four bidders for a long term West London Residual Waste Services contract covering the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Richmond upon Thames.

"The following will now be invited to develop detailed solutions as the next stage in the competitive dialogue process that is being employed:

• Cory Environmental Ltd.
• E.ON Energy from Waste, leading a consortium with Tata Chemicals Europe Limited, with significant sub-contractor Grundon Waste Management Limited
• SITA UK Ltd., and 
• Viridor Waste Management Ltd.

"The contract involves treating up to 300,000 tonnes of residual waste per year generated by a population of 1.4 million people, and covers all aspects of treatment including any necessary transport, the operation of transfer stations, and contracts for outputs such as energy, refuse-derived fuel, recyclates etc.

"Bids were invited from 'single entity' companies, consortia, or joint ventures. The WLWA has offered its three waste transfer stations at Brentford, South Ruislip and Park Royal as part of the procurement, but also welcomed proposals involving sites within bidders’ control or which they intend to acquire.

"The next stage of the tender process will be the submission of detailed solutions by the short listed bidders in spring 2012. Two final bidders will then be selected to submit final tenders in autumn 2012. The preferred bidder will be selected in spring 2013. The new services will start in April 2015, but WLWA is exploring with bidders the opportunity for an earlier start to begin diversion from landfill as soon as possible.

"West London already recycles or composts almost 40% of its household waste, more than any other sub region of London. The new contract will allow continued flexibility to increase recycling up to at least 50% by 2020 and WLWA will focus even more on waste minimisation schemes in the future."

The Guardian: "Paper bags or plastic bags: which are best?"

Link to The Guardian

"So victory for paper bags – they are the children of trees! – in the war against decadent, dolphin-smothering plastic. Except, like most wars, it is far from clear if it has left the world a better place. 

Wrap, the government-funded company set up to reduce waste, summarises the drawbacks of paper bags: while from a renewable source and biodegradable, compostable and recyclable, they require far more energy to make and transport than plastic, have less re-use potential, and produce methane if dumped in landfill."

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"Fly-tipping in England mapped"

"Fly-tipping in the England cost local authorities over £60million in 2011. How bad is your area for dumping waste?"

WLWP published - but not on WLWP web site!

Link to LB of Brent copy of report

The West London Waste Plan's

'DRAFT Proposed Submission Version'

was published, without anyone noticing, on 11th November 2011, for the LB of Hillingdon, by Mouchel.

"In west London, six London boroughs have agreed to co-operate to produce a single waste plan for their combined area. When finalised, this plan will form part of each of their respective Local Development Frameworks. 

The West London Waste Plan details the amount for the different types of waste expected to be produced in west London up to 2026; identifies the current sites available to help deal with that waste; identifies the current shortfall of facilities needed, and proposes a set of further sites which might be used for waste facilities in the future."

"This Plan will be adopted, after Examination in Public and consideration of the appointed Inspector’s report, by each of the constituent boroughs. It will take on the status of a statutory Development Plan Document, and its policies will be accorded considerable weight by each local planning authority and the Secretary of State in determining planning applications for waste management facilities within the plan area.

"You can make representations on this proposed submission draft of the West London Waste Plan, including the Sustainability Appraisal and Equalities Impact Assessment during a six week period commencing from the 19 January 2012.

"All representations made will be considered by a Planning Inspector at a formal process called an examination in public. The purpose of the examination is to consider whether the Waste Plan complies with the legal requirements and is ‘sound’.

"Since the Planning Inspector’s role is to answer these questions, any comments on the Plan will need to be related to legal compliance and 'soundness'.

"All responses must be received by 1 March 2012. All representations and other material in support of any comments made should be sent to:

CAG Consultants
West London Waste Plan Consultation
Gordon House, 6 Lissenden Gardens, London, NW5 1LX
Email: consultation@wlwp.net

"Comments can also be given via the website: www.wlwp.net."

The Independent: "We're throwing out less food – but still too much"

Link to The Independent

"British households are throwing away a lot less food than they were four years ago – but they're still wasting millions of tonnes of it every year, new figures reveal.

"The amount of household food waste has dropped by 13 per cent, or 1.1 million tonnes, since 2006-07, when the first major survey was done, according to the Government's Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap). The waste saved would be more than enough to fill Wembley Stadium."

[Updated] Questions to Boris the Mayor, from Greater London Assembly Members

OCTOBER 2011:
Question 2889 / 2011

Navin Shah

"Does the Mayor share my concern about the potential impact of HS2 on the West London Waste Authority transfer station in Hillingdon? Is he doing anything to help resolve the uncertainty?"

"I am aware of the issue you have raised and the potential impact of the HS2 alignment on rail access to the existing waste transfer station. The current proposals for HS2 sever this access and it is not clear at this point whether an alternative is going to be provided. I know the London Borough of Hillingdon has made representations to the Secretary of State on this matter and I would share their concerns.

"I have made it clear that although there is a great case for investing in a high speed rail network, which has the potential to generate major benefits for both London and the UK, my support on the proposal being consulted on is conditional on a number of issues being addressed, which are set out below:

1. Environmental effects – I am seeking changes to the design of the route to ensure any impacts on west Londoners are properly addressed, preferably by tunnelling the whole route through London;
2. Euston dispersal – I am seeking a commitment from the Government that their proposals for HS2 will include a package of measures for addressing the impacts at Euston, including delivery of the first phase of the Chelsea Hackney Line (Crossrail 2) between Clapham Junction and Seven Sisters;
3. Old Oak Common – I am seeking a commitment that complementary rail and other transport enhancements for Old Oak Common are included in the core HS2 scheme to ensure it is accessible to the wider area, and;
4. HS2-HS1 connection - I am asking that the Government consider alternative options that do not impact on North London Line services or limit the potential for these services to be enhanced in the future.

"As with any railway, some closures will always be necessary so that TfL can properly maintain the Tube in a safe and reliable condition."
 

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UPDATE: 

Question to the Mayor, to be answered on Monday 21 November

West London Waste Authority 

Question No: 3487 / 2011

Navin Shah 

"Thank you for your response to 2889. Perhaps you misunderstood the issue. West London Waste Authority is currently doing a major procurement for better waste processing. The current transfer station is a prime site for redevelopment in a way that benefits London both environmentally and economically on a strategic level. What are you doing to avoid any blight on the procurement from HS2?"

The Guardian: "Why is our consumption falling?"

Link to The Guardian

"Everyone believes that consumption is out of control. But is it? From food to paper and water, Britain has gradually been guzzling less over the last decade. Why?

"But, according to environment writer Chris Goodall, those stats tell an important story. Goodall says enthusiastically:

"What the figures suggest is that 2001 may turn out to be the year that the UK's consumption of "stuff" – the total weight of everything we use, from food and fuel to flat-pack furniture – reached its peak and began to decline."

Daily Telegraph: "Tipping point: what happens when our landfills are full?

Link to Daily Telegraph report

Picture: "The landfill site at Remo, north-east Belgium,

which a firm wants to mine in order to reuse the waste"

"In 2007, the Local Government Association reported that in Britain a combined area the size of Warwick was taken up with landfill. In July last year, it warned that the country will run out of space for its rubbish by 2018 unless new sites are found.

"The real nail in the coffin is the European Union’s landfill directive (first issued in 1999 but ramped up over the years with increasingly ambitious targets), which will impose fines of up to £1 million a day if we send more than 50 per cent of our waste to landfill by 2013, or 35 per cent by 2020 (currently we send 48 per cent to landfill).

"Unsurprisingly, environmental groups aren’t fans of incineration. According to Friends of the Earth, incinerators are considerably worse on carbon efficiency than even coal-fired power stations. It seems perverse that developed economies – so keen in other ways to kill CO2-belching industries – are looking to incineration as an alternative to landfill."

Tuesday 15 November: WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) conference

Link to WRAP web site

WRAP Annual Conference 2011:

Relearning to reuse: Getting the most out of scarce resources

Keynote speakers:

Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for the Environment

and

Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future.

15 November 2010

15 Hatfields, London, SE1 8DJ

Apply for your FREE place at the WRAP Annual Conference today.

Please note that places are limited. Registration will not automatically guarantee a place.

The Guardian: "Coffee chains urged to improve takeaway cup recycling"

Link to The Guardian

"Coffee shops are failing to make it easy for customers to recycle the estimated 2.5bn takeaway cups thrown away each year in the UK, a consumer group warned on Tuesday.

"The investigation by Which? found that consumers were confused by retailers' use of 'mixed materials', which make recycling a headache, and urged providers to take more environmental responsibility."

'WHICH':

Recycling products - interactive tool.

Recycling rate in Tower Hamlets: 88%!

"The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has a recycling rate of 26.4%. Many residents recycle much more than this by living more sustainably. This household has a recycling rate of 88%. 

"Tower Hamlets currently spend £2,317,043 a year on landfill tax, which will increase to £3,861,739 by 2014, if the recycling rate stays the same."

PackagingNews: "Plastics recycling breakthroughs unveiled"

Link to PackagingNews

"Wrap has announced that it has identified methods of recycling black plastics, complex laminated plastics, plastic films, and polypropylene (PP) that would typically be destined for landfill.

"Wrap Closed Loop Economy director, Marcus Gover, said:

"There have been, and there are still, barriers to overcome, and Wrap will continue to work closely with the industry to develop these new methods and technologies, so that, in the future, local authorities can offer their residents a way of recycling even more of their plastic packaging.”

WLWA awarded funds to start reward scheme for reuse

Link to web site

"A unique and innovative scheme to reward residents who use resources better, prevent waste, and encourage the reuse of materials is set to launch in west London. 

"A pilot scheme in Brent and Richmond will offer around 370,000 residents aged 16 or over the opportunity to get a free reward card, that will enable them to claim cash benefits for either:

• donating quality items to be reused, or 
• buying things that have been used before, or have been made from unwanted materials or waste."

Link to web site

"The UK's first ever plant for recycling nappies is to open today. The facility, which will also recycle feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products, is the first of five planned over four years by Knowaste, an organisation which specialises in absorbent hygiene product (AHP) waste recycling. 

"Knowaste said the first site in West Bromwich will use state-of-the-art technology to recycle AHPs, sterilising and separating the materials to recover plastic and fibre that can then be used for making new products, such as roof tiles or plastic components and fibre based construction and commercial tubes."

Daily Telegraph: "Banning plastic bags will not have the slightest effect on global warming"

Link to the Daily Telegraph

"There are lots of things wrong with plastic bags: for a start, they're an especially ubiquitous and unsightly form of litter, blowing around in the wind and getting stuck in trees. They take up landfill space. They're a danger to wildlife, especially marine life, and some (though not, so much, British ones) end up in great litter agglomerations in the south Pacific. 

"But, if you're re-using them in an attempt to prevent global warming, I'm afraid it's an exercise in tokenism. 

"The creation of each bag produces just 31 grammes (one ounce) of carbon dioxide, according to George Marshall of the 'Climate Outreach and Information Network' – about the same as driving your car 300 feet. The plastic is usually non-biodegradable, so it's stable in landfills and doesn't give off methane from there. (Perhaps ironically, moves towards producing biodegradable bags may actually be harmful.) And, depending on the kind of "Bag for Life" that is used instead and how many times they are used, the apparently 'green' alternative may be more carbon-intensive."

LetsRecycle: "Veolia unveils innovative MRF sorting technique"

Link to 'LetsRecycle' web site

"Veolia ES has unveiled a new ‘economically viable’ approach to sorting which it claims will allow councils to collect a wider range of plastics from households without having to use more containers. 

"The technology, dubbed ‘The Magpie’, is set to be installed in the UK for the first time this week at the 30,000 tonne-a-year capacity materials recycling facility (MRF) Veolia is building at Padworth in West Berkshire. The company then plans to retro-fit it in its 10 existing MRFs nationwide."

'Incineration myth'

"During the briefing, Mr Kirkman disputed the 'myth' that Veolia’s waste activities focus on incineration. 'We recycle as much as we incinerate,' he said, adding that 'we’ll have more treatment capacity that isn’t incineration by the beginning of next year'.

“... Much has been made about the benefits of Anaerobic Digestion, but it has yet to achieve its full potential. By combining AD with other technologies, such as composting, we believe AD can have a very bright future in the UK,” he said.

West London Waste Plan sites

(Click to enlarge)

BBC: "Ealing studios celebrate 80th anniversary"

Link to BBC web site

"Every film buff will know these titles: 'The Lavender Hill Mob', 'Whisky Galore' and 'Kind Hearts and Coronets'. They are some of the best loved comedies produced by the world famous Ealing studios, which are celebrating their 80th anniversary."

bdonline: "Vision for west London’s Old Oak Common area"

Link to bdonline web site

"Terry Farrell & Partners has unveiled its futuristic vision for the transformation of Park Royal City in west London.

"The area around Old Oak Common is earmarked to become Britain’s first 'high-speed rail super hub', together with 12,000 new homes and a waterside park."

Ealing: 'Queen of the Suburbs'

Evening Standard: "Boris Johnson seeks plastic bag 'scourge' ban"

Link to Evening Standard

"Boris Johnson has called for plastic bags to be banned in London stores, after retailers failed to cut sufficiently the number they give out.

"The Mayor called the bags 'an unnecessary scourge on our environment'."

Croydon Green Party: South London Waste Plan

GREEN PARTY DEMANDS AN EXPLANATION FROM LABOUR FOR FAILING TO ATTEND HEARING

"It has come to light over the week-long public hearing for the 'South London Waste Plan' (SLWP) that not a single councillor (Conservative or Labour) from Croydon attended this crucial event, which will have far-reaching implications on health, future budgets, and the environment.

"It is understood that at the end of the public consultation process, an incinerator will be built on the borders of Croydon.

"Commenting on this revelation, the Green Party's Shasha Khan said,

"Whilst the Green party is concerned that no Tory councillors attended, it is of far greater concern that no Labour councillors were present - in fact it is shameful. They are the elected opposition, and their function is to hold the Council to account. They have failed the people of Croydon.

In the run-up to last year's election, Labour told the electorate that a health bombshell was on the horizon [first leaflet shown below] and warned residents that for miles around house prices will crash [second leaflet]. Now that we are three years away from the next election, they are nowhere to be seen."

"According to their own literature, it is the Labour wards north of the borough that fall in the 'central risk zone'.

Labour have a responsibility to their constituent. They need to explain themselves because it looks like they have simply taken their voters for granted. They have a responsibility to represent their constituents. Labour councillors are not going to be able to stop the incinerator by staying at home."

"The Green Party has been advised that two Tory opposition councillors from Merton attended the public examination of the SLWP. Even though the Green Party was not scheduled to speak at the hearing, members from Croydon and Sutton attended."

West London Waste Authority: "Eight tenderers long-listed for West London waste contract"

Link to WLWA

"The West London Waste Authority (WLWA) has long-listed a total of eight bidders for a long term residual waste treatment contract covering the boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Richmond upon Thames.

• Cory Environmental Ltd, 
• Covanta Energy Ltd, 
• E.ON Energy from Waste AG, 
• FCC/Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 
• SITA UK Ltd, 
• Veolia ES Aurora Ltd, 
• Viridor Waste Management Ltd, and 
• Wheelabrator Technologies Incorporated 

will now be invited to develop outline solutions, as the next stage in the competitive dialogue process that is being employed.

The contract involves treating up to 300,000 tonnes of residual waste per year, generated by a population of 1.4 million people, and covers all aspects of treatment including any necessary transport, the operation of transfer stations, and contracts for outputs such as compost, refuse-derived fuel, recyclates etc.

Bids were invited from “single entity” companies, consortia, or joint ventures. The WLWA has offered the three waste transfer stations within its direct control as part of the procurement, but also welcomed proposals involving sites within bidders’ control, or which they intend to acquire.

Bidders will now be invited to present whatever proposals they feel are the most economically advantageous technology to meet WLWA’s output specification, but the authority is stipulating that the technology must be proven in operation on a municipal scale.

The next stage of the tender process will narrow bidders to three or four, that will present detailed solutions in the first part of 2012. Two final bidders will submit final tenders in Autumn 2012, and the preferred bidder will be selected in Spring 2013.

To find out more about the procurement process, please contact the Procurement Project Administrator, by emailing procurement@westlondonwaste.gov.uk

Evening Standard: "'Disgust' as park litter experiment backfires"

Link to Evening Standard

"An experiment to get visitors to Hyde Park to take away their litter has left organisers 'disgusted'. Part of the park was left covered in fast-food wrappers, bottles, and even soiled nappies, after staff stopped clearing up at the weekend.

"Keep Britain Tidy spokeswoman Helen Bingham said:

"It was a real mess by this morning - it was disgusting. Lots of people have sat down on the grass and eaten or drunk or changed their baby's nappy, and left it behind. People normally don't see the consequences of littering. But this shows if you don't clear up after yourself, what it looks like. It's revolting."

The Guardian: "Plastic bag use on the rise after years of decline"

Link to The Guardian

British consumers are packing away their green credentials, along with their weekly shop, as last year an increasing number of us bundled our purchases into single-use plastic carrier bags, instead of seeking out environmentally friendly alternatives.

In Wales, the imminent charge may have helped to cut bag use – the total was down by 7% last year, compared with the rise in England and Scotland. John Griffiths, Welsh environment minister, said a charge was the best way to drive down carrier use, as voluntary agreements with retailers would not achieve enough. He said: 

"These figures show a real difference between carrier bag use in Wales, and that in other parts of the UK, where no mandatory charge is planned. This proves that the carrier bag charge, which is due to be introduced in Wales on 1 October, is the only way to ensure a real and lasting reduction in the use of carrier bags."

English Heritage: "Listing of London Underground Stations"

Link to English Heritage

"16 London Underground stations have today been listed at Grade ll by Tourism and Heritage Minister John Penrose, on the advice of English Heritage.

"They include several of the tube stations designed by Leslie Green whose 'ox-blood' red tile facades pioneered the use of a strong and consistent corporate image which is recognised around the world. All the stations have historic and architectural significance, illustrating the development of the capital's Underground system.

"Three other stations - Arnos Grove, Oakwood, and Sudbury Town - have been upgraded from Grade II to Grade II*. These stations were designed by the distinguished modernist architect Charles Holden, for the Piccadilly Line extension in the 1930s."

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Something stirring ...

'Observer' article: "Are single-use paper cups evil?"

Link to The Observer

"Billions of single-use cups are thrown into landfill sites every year and, according to the WWF, to produce a single latte requires 200 litres of water, including the materials and manufacture of the paper cup and cardboard sleeve.

"But is that stained ceramic novelty cup really so superior? In 1994 Professor Martin B Hocking of the University of Victoria in Canada carried out an analysis of the life cycles of beverage cups, pitching the reusable – ceramic, plastic and glass – against the disposable – paper and foam – also factoring in the energy use in manufacturing materials and cleaning of a reusable cup."

Carey's (Seneca's) Hannah Close, Neasden waste site

Near the North Circular Road girder bridge, Neasden,
 with Metropolitan and Jubilee Lines behind - MAP

From Carey Newsletter, December 2010

"Waste not…"

"In October 2010, the Carey Group received planning permission from Brent Council to build a ‘Super Materials Recycling Facility’ at Hannah Close in Neasden, a few hundred yards from Carey House."

For some time Careys have been working to provide clients with the best possible solutions for their site waste. However, it became clear to John Carey Jnr very early on that the only acceptable solution was to set up our own waste management company.

“No other company shared our strength of feeling. We wanted to be transparent in how waste is dealt with, and offer the best possible solution for the environment – and therefore our customers. We looked at partnering but felt unsatisfied with the answers we got.” John Carey Jnr.

"Headed by John Jnr, Seneca Environmental Solutions, has been set up by the Carey Group to build and manage this new venture. Seneca aims to deliver environmental management solutions to clients, starting with recycling and waste management services to Carey Group sites across London and the south east.

"In November [2010], we began construction of phase one of the new facility which will have the capacity to process over 1.1 million tonnes of construction and demolition, business and household waste each year.

"We will separate materials such as paper fibre, wood, metals and plastics which will then be sent for reprocessing into new products, as well as soils and other waste streams.

"We aim to have the facility up and running as soon as February but we will continue to develop our operations after that, including building a wood biomass facility that will be operational in 2013 and will generate renewable energy, leaving the site energy positive.

"Seneca shares the Carey Group ethos of ‘we care’ along with a focus on health and safety, quality and the environment. The new facility is designed with environmental features such as rainwater harvesting and landscaping to improve the biodiversity of the site allowing the project to achieve BREEAM excellent

"We have recruited Michael McLarnon, who has extensive experience in the waste industry, to assist John to set up Seneca. His input has been on everything from assisting the in-house design team in the development of the processing plant to how we engage with the local community.

"Over the next 12 to 18 months, there will be a number of job opportunities at Seneca including administration, accounts, sales and marketing, and operational roles.

"For more information about Seneca, visit www.seneca.co." [This is not a misprint.]

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From Carey Newsletter, April 2011

"No More Wasted Opportunities"

"Seneca have been awarded a major two-year waste management contract by the West London Waste Authority (WLWA) to process 70,000 tonnes of mixed waste per year.

"Winning this contract was especially rewarding. Our head office has been in Wembley for many years and establishing Seneca here was an obvious choice. To then secure our local council as our first client, which has generated over 50 new local jobs, is even more satisfying.

"As a company looking to promote greater reuse and recycling of materials, we were also delighted that this contract initiated a new set of evaluation criteria for waste management contracts in West London – where the winning contractor was the one who guaranteed the highest recycling rates as well as the most commercially beneficial.

"The contract is Seneca’s first and, at a contract value of around £7 million per annum, it is a great way for the company to open its gates.

John Carey Jnr – Managing Director, Seneca

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From Seneca's web site:

"SENECA: Our Facilities"

Link to web site

"Seneca’s super Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is located in west London, just off the North Circular (A406), and is situated right next to the main rail track. [The Marylebone-to Aylesbury Line with an enclosed siding, on one side, and the Marylebone-to-Birmingham Line on the other side.] With its own covered rail siding, the facility has multi-functional road and rail access.

"We practise what we preach, and support reuse over recycling, and energy recovery. This is particularly evident in our new state-of-the-art facility which is a refurbished light industrial unit. The refurbishment, as opposed to demolition and new build, created a substantial saving in materials and construction energy costs. The refurbished building has a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, utilises rainwater harvesting and has been landscaped with biodiversity in mind, something often missed in such industrial areas and therefore of even greater importance.

"The surrounding area is, in the main, light industrial and commercial thus providing our neighbouring clients the opportunity to lower their carbon emissions when dealing with their waste by minimising transport costs, in both monetary and carbon costs. This also provides us with potential clients for the recycled raw materials that we will be generating for production and remanufacturing in the future."

Link to Seneca main page and video

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Critique of Carey and Seneca: 'Wembley Matters' web site.

Recycling in Ealing

"The London Borough of Ealing has a recycling rate of 37.6%. Many residents recycle much more than this, by living more sustainably. This household of two adults and six children has a recycling rate of 76%. Ealing currently spends £3,228,995 a year on landfill tax, which will increase to £5,381,658 by 2014, if the recycling rate stays the same."

Wembley Matters: "Proposed Park Royal Waste Sites Under Attack"

Link to 'Wembley Matters'

"The West London Waste Authority has published the results of its consultation on the West London Waste Plan.

"Perhaps the most important thing to note is the low number of responses: 374. This for a Plan covering six West London boroughs including Brent with a combined population of one and a half million. In addition a petition against Park Royal waste management sites was signed by 193 people and 2237 signed one against the Tavistock Road site in West Drayton."

Wales: Single use bags (not just plastic!)

The single use carrier bag charge starts on 01 October 2011

Link to 'Single-use carrier bags'

The carrier bag charge is being introduced to dramatically reduce the number of carrier bags used in Wales. This charge will affect all retailers in Wales, not just those who sell groceries.

The Assembly Government has consulted on the charge, and there have been some changes after feedback from businesses, organisations and individuals.

The Assembly Government is proposing:

• A 5p minimum charge on all bags (including paper bags); and
• That the charge will start on 1 October 2011.

The 5p charge should be enough to influence consumer behaviour, and reduce the number of bags given out, without putting an unnecessary burden on shoppers, or preventing impulse shopping.

Link to main web page

(Neat logo, eh?)

Completing the 'London Overground' circle around London

Link to 'London Reconnections'

Work is underway to build the final phase of the orbital London Overground railway around London. The new section will be from Surrey Quays to Clapham Junction, opening by the end of 2012.

The relaid track here passes under the railway viaduct into London Bridge station, near the south-east London domestic waste incinerator (top).

The Independent: "King of technicolour tourism: A new exhibition celebrates John Hinde's postcards"

Link to the Independent

"The gaudily-coloured postcards are the work of the John Hinde Studio, a company set up in 1956 by its namesake, a failed circus entrepreneur, and the great-grandson of the founder of Clarks shoes. The company would go on to shift 50 million cards a year. It is only recently that its output has been seen as much more than cheesy, throwaway holiday souvenirs.

"... He sent his transparencies to Italy, where technology was more advanced. Not only could images be produced in far lusher shades than was possible over here, they also got additional help with extensive retouching. This would turn insipid sweaters, mousey heads of hair, faded sun-loungers, and dull skies into dazzling points of interest."

Daily Telegraph: "Recycling dumped in landfill"

Link to Daily Telegraph

"Nearly 200,000 tons of "contaminated" recycling painstakingly collected by householders was dumped in landfill or sent to incinerators last year, according to official figures.

"Gary Porter, the chairman of the Local Government Association Environment Board, said councils are improving recycling rates, but admitted that collection systems must improve:

"It's not just how much recycling we do that's important, it's also how we do it."

BBC Countryfile: "How much of our rubbish into landfill is actually 'waste'?"

Tom Heap investigates alternatives to the plastic packaging which surrounds our food. (BBC Countryfile. October 24, 2010)

London School of Economics: "Local Action on Climate Change" report for Friends of the Earth

Link to PDF file of the report

"In the past 12 months, Britain has seen a change of government and a move towards far greater clarity about the future pattern of public expenditure. The Coalition Government has made clear its commitment to maintain the previous administration’s policies towards the reduction of carbon emissions.

"Local government, although expected to face significant expenditure reductions, will also be offered new powers as a result of the Government’s determination to pursue 'localism'. There are both threats and opportunities facing councils, as they decide the future path of their policies towards the environment."

A REPORT BY PROFESSOR TONY TRAVERS, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, FOR FRIENDS OF THE EARTH ENGLAND, WALES & NORTHERN IRELAND

Defra: "Plans for a zero waste economy launched" (although that includes incineration, so not really - they mean 'zero waste to landfill')

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
'Government Review of Waste Policy in England'
14 July 2011 (click image)

"Plans to help people to do the right thing by reducing waste and increase recycling at home, on the move, or as part of their business have been unveiled today as the Government announced the results of its comprehensive review of waste.

"Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) conference, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

"People want to do the right thing by reducing waste and recycling at home or out and about and we want to help them. This means making sure communities are getting the collection services they want and not penalising hard-working households who make minor mistakes by putting bins out on the wrong day or leaving a plastic tub in the wrong recycling box.

"For too long, we’ve lagged behind the rest of Europe, although we are catching up fast. Communities and businesses can help us become a first-class zero-waste economy and unlock the real value in the goods that people no longer want."

"Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:

"It's time to consign the failed policies of unfair bin taxes, bin fines and bin cuts to the dustbin of history. Families pay £120 a month in council tax. Both Whitehall and the town hall need to raise their game, to deliver more frequent and better rubbish and recycling collections in return."

"The Government’s waste review sets out the following priorities:

• Consult next year on introducing a landfill restriction on wood waste, review the case for introducing landfill bans on other materials, such as metals, textiles and all biodegradable waste. The Government will work with industry, to drive innovation in reuse and recycling in these products, before the start of any bans;
• Accelerate recycling and reducing waste creation in the first place by providing incentives for householders, recycling-on-the-go schemes, better services for businesses and voluntary responsibility deals focussing on the hospitality industry, paper, direct mail, textiles, and construction waste;
• Scrap unfair bin fines and taxes, while bringing in powers to deal with repeat fly-tipping offenders, and genuine nuisance neighbours;
• Crack down on illegal fly-tippers, who persistently and recklessly pollute the environment and countryside. We will introduce appropriate powers to seize vehicles, and look at penalties that might include offenders clearing up items they have dumped; and
• Consult on increased recycling targets to 2017 for plastic, steel, aluminium and glass. Targets will be consulted on and agreed in time for the 2012 Budget.

"Driving innovation in the £11 billion waste and recycling sector, which employs up to 150,000 people, is expected to push growth by three to four percent over the next few years.

"Waste going to landfill has nearly halved since 2000, with household recycling rates now at 40 per cent and business rates at more than 50 per cent. But more needs to be done, which is why the Government will publish a follow-up zero-waste action plan on waste prevention in December 2013, to check progress and address further developments under any new EU regulation.

"The Anaerobic Digestion strategy and action plan has also been published today, which will enable a thriving industry to grow in England over the next few years, delivering new green jobs, as well as new green energy.

"Key actions in the Government’s Anaerobic Digestion (AD) strategy and action plan include:

• guidance on the cost and benefits of AD to developers and local authorities, 
• evidence on the value of digestates, 
• developing skills and training for AD operators, and 
• highlighting ‘best practice’ projects that deliver community benefits. 

However, neither the AD strategy nor the waste Review dictates to local authorities the best method of organic waste collections. It is up to councils to decide if they wish to run a separate collection scheme for organic waste.

"AD offers a local, environmentally sound option for waste management, which helps us divert waste from landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and produce renewable energy which could be used to power our homes and vehicles. Farmers and gardeners can also benefit from the fertiliser produced, returning valuable nutrients to the land.

"Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said:

"Letting rubbish and waste rot in landfill is madness, when we can use it to power our homes and cars. We are already making it financially attractive to turn waste into electricity under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme, and soon there’ll be similar incentives to generate heat too. The Anaerobic Digestion Strategy and Action Plan will help us unlock the potential to get more energy from waste, to reduce emissions in the fight against climate change."

Friends of the Earth: "Victory over the Hull incinerator"

Link to web site

"Plans for a proposed incinerator in Hull have been scrapped.

"Owners of the waste contract for the incinerator - Waste Recycling Group (WRG) - wanted local tax payers to finance the incinerator over 25 years.

"In addition, they'd be forcing the council to supply large amounts of waste - completely undermining reuse and recycling efforts."
(our emphasis)

The Guardian: "Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth hit back over 'out-of-touch' criticism"

Link to The Guardian

"The green movement is 'out-of-touch, ineffective and bureaucratic', according Charles Secrett, a campaigner who spent a decade leading 'Friends of the Earth' in the UK, which celebrates its 40th anniversary on Wednesday.

"He later told the Guardian:

"The evidence of failure is there for all to see, as environmental problems are getting worse, not better. Previous dips during recessions have seen the movement bounce back stronger than before, [but] it is very tough now. There is no time left, as the degradation of the environment has reached a tipping point."

BBC: "Global warming since 1995 'now significant'."

Link to BBC web site

"Climate warming since 1995 is now statistically significant, according to Phil Jones, the UK scientist targeted in the 'ClimateGate' affair.

"Last year, he told BBC News that post-1995 warming was not significant; a statement still seen often on blogs critical of man-made climate change.

"But another year of data has pushed the trend past the the standard 95% level threshold usually used to assess whether trends are 'real'."

Video made by Nottinghamshire campaigners

A video about waste incineration in the UK

BBC: "Facebook bin of shame encourages students to recycle"

Link to BBC web site

"Everything the students throw into their bin is caught on camera and automatically uploaded to Facebook as part of an environmental challenge.

"If there is anything in there that could be recycled, they will lose points and slide down the league table of participants. Worse still, they could be shamed by their friends. Student Alice Morley explained:

"Sometimes we get caught out. If you're really tired, you think, oh well, it doesn't matter."

"One of the university's psychologists, Dr Rob Comber said,

"When we turn 18, we haven't got those people around us who guide us into making the right decisions on issues like sustainability. BinCam helps to change the behaviour of a group, which might otherwise be unaware of the consequences of their actions."

Evening Standard: "We'll create green spaces for all Londoners, says minister"

Link to Evening Standard

"Communities in London were today promised powers to protect or restore green spaces for recreation and wildlife.

"Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

"We want children to get out into the natural world. It's good for their health, and it helps them to learn. So we'll be removing the barriers to schools taking children on school trips and teaching them outdoors."

"Today's White Paper is the first on the natural environment in 20 years. But critics will argue that the plans come as councils are slashing funding for parks, and some introduce charging for recreation areas."