2011-10-29

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."

2011-10-18

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.

2011-09-29

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."

2011-09-28

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.”

2011-09-26

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."

2011-09-12

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."

2011-09-07

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."

2011-09-02

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.

2011-08-18

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."

2011-08-15

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."

2011-08-05

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'."

2011-08-04

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."

2011-08-03

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

2011-08-01

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."

2011-07-28

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."

2011-07-26

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."



2011-07-24

'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."

2011-07-22

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.]



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



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


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

2011-07-21

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."

2011-07-18

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."

2011-07-15

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?)