INFORM Waste
BEST PRACTICE POLICY
CEMEX UK, the building mate-
rials provider, now has 20% of
its cement pallets returned Benn unveils zero waste plans
under a retrieval scheme
launched a year ago. Hilary Benn, the Environment
The scheme was the first of Secretary, has told local authorities
its kind in the cement industry and industry leaders how the
and aimed to recover as many Government plans to lead the
as possible of the 250,000 UK towards becoming a zero
CEMEX pallets distributed waste nation.
annually to about 600 different Speaking at a summit of waste
builders merchant outlets. “In industry professionals and council
the UK, the cost of pallets has representatives in London last
escalated with prices rising by month, Benn said that we must
15% in 2007 and 20% in 2008,” embrace new technology and
said the firm’s Graham Russell. change public attitudes to waste,
“For economic reasons as well and also hinted at a landfill ban for
as environmental, it made any materials that could be recy- Hilary Benn: call to embrace new technology and change public attitudes
sense to find a way to prevent cled or composted.
pallets going to waste.” He also announced six Zero ment, local authorities, businesses cans, glass and plastic bottles, food
Waste Places in Shropshire, and consumers – must do our bit. and packaging
POLICY
Dorchester, Brixton, Newham, And we must make this moment
■
A new Zero Waste Places
The minister tasked with bat- Hoxton and Suffolk that will the turning point on our journey Standard for councils will recog-
tling climate change has develop innovative ideas to cut to eliminate wasteful waste. nise areas which are going above
backed calls for the waste in the home, workplace “Using new technologies will and beyond national waste targets
Government to create a boiler and community. help us to re-use things, for exam- while supporting them with small
scrappage scheme. “We need to rethink how we ple anaerobic digestion that cre- grants for further development
Joan Ruddock MP, the min- view and treat waste in the UK,” ates energy from food and farm
■
It is possible to divert 500,000
ister for energy and climate he said. “Why do we send valu- waste. In ten years time 75% of tonnes of household waste per
change, said: “I’m in favour of able items like aluminium and household waste will either be year through re-using it
any scheme that will help us food waste to landfill when we recycled or used for energy, and
■
A publicity campaign will
tackle climate change and can turn them into new cans and over time this figure will increase encourage people to re-think their
reduce emissions. However, the renewable energy? even further. approach to waste by reducing
final decision would have to be “Why use more resources than “Aiming for zero waste is the and re-using the waste they create
taken by the Treasury.” we need to in manufacturing? We way we have to think to get us to as well continuing to recycle
The scheme is backed by must now work together to build where we need to be.”
■
Publication of Government aims
plumbers and suppliers who a zero waste nation – where we Other headline announcements for Commercial and Industrial
want the Government to intro- reduce the resources we use, re- from the summit include: Waste in England. This aims to
duce a scheme for old boilers use and recycle all that we can and
■
The Government expects coun- help businesses to use resources
to encourage their replacement only landfill things that have cils to offer a full collection service more efficiently and encourage
with more efficient models. absolutely no other use. for all recyclable items by 2020. them to think about what they do
“To do this, we all – govern- This should include paper, card, with their waste.
ENERGY FROM WASTE
Waste from across London
BEST PRACTICE
could be used to power around
two million homes according
Cashback offer for old printers
to a new report from the
London Assembly. Samsung Electronics has before rolling out to other give them a mechanism to unlock
It states that the 22 million launched a new trade-in scheme European countries and will this value.”
tonnes of waste produced for companies struggling to find operate until at least 31 July Businesses intending to pur-
could be used to power and a use for their old printers. 2010, to give businesses a con- chase new Samsung printers can
heat homes instead of being The Samsung Printer Trade-In structive way to deal with their take advantage of the initiative
landfilled. The Assembly’s envi- Programme makes obsolete or defunct equipment. by registering the details of their
ronment committee is calling broken printers useful one last “In nearly every office, there is old printer and the Samsung
on Mayor Boris Johnson to look time, by offering companies at least one old or broken printer printer they intend to buy on the
at alternative ways of dealing cashback when they send them taking up floor or desk space,” programme’s website.
with waste that can’t be recy- for recycling and upgrade to the said Anthony Penton, the com- They then receive a cashback
cled. The committee calls for latest Samsung models. pany’s head of marketing. quote for their old printer. If
the Mayor to do more to speed Any make or model of printer “We recognised that the they wish to accept the quote,
energy from waste plants that is returned to the firm will investment companies have made customers purchase the new
through the planning process be recycled. The scheme is being in these assets has not completely printer and send their old equip-
and wants more work on “cut- launched in the UK initially, depreciated and we wanted to ment to a local recycling centre.
ting edge” technologies.
IN FACT 69% OF WASTE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS DO NOT THINK THE UK WILL MEET ITS 2013 EU LANDFILL TARGET
8 November/December 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
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