Recycling &WASTE WORLD June 30 - July 6 Issue No. 760 EDITORIAL


Go West, young man and learn from Wales


IF ANYTHING serves as the perfect reason for England to look North and West for examples of best practice in increasing recycling rates, then we need look no further than Scotland and Wales; particularly with the Welsh Government having just announced that recycling rates in Wales hit 44% in 2010-2011 (see item on this page). You’ve got to hand it to the Welsh, they are doing a cracking job when it comes to recycling. No wonder they are bragging about


being the only country in the UK to introduce statutory recycling targets for municipal waste; the only UK country in which local authorities operate a separate food or food and green waste collection; the first country in the UK to introduce the Landfill Allowances Scheme and the first country in the UK to introduce compulsory changes for single-use carrier bags in October. Those are exactly the kind of targets the waste management and recycling sectors in England were looking for in the coalition government’s recent waste review and which were sadly lacking. However, instead of me launching into a rant about the waste review’s shortcomings, turn to page 16 for an in-depth analysis of the waste review. John Griffiths the newly-appointed Welsh environment minister couldn’t have asked for a better start to his stint with the portfolio for waste management and recycling, and it is no doubt thanks to the legacy bequeathed to him by the energised Jane Davidson.


And that is what we need in England. Instead of ministers wrangling among themselves about alternate weekly collections, we need a dynamic figurehead in the government who champions sensible targets. Wishful thinking, eh?


News


Biffa Municipal shows ‘Blitz spirit’ in Norwich


THE POTENTIAL disruption of Norwich City Council’s recycling and refuse collection service was thwarted last month by the ‘Blitz spirit’ of Biffa Municipal staff and suppliers dealing with the aftermath of vehicle vandalism. In May, 22 out of 23 of Biffa Municipal’s vehicles were taken out of service when a hammer-wielding former employee entered the depot and smashed vehicle windscreens, side windows, headlights and light clusters. After the police removed the vandal, Biffa business manager, Peter Greagsby warned the council of probable severe disruptions to services for some days, and called regional manager, Dave Kenney, to the site. Together with vehicle fitters Jamie Pitcher and Karl Smith, they quantified the damage (estimated at around £70,000), mapped out a recovery plan, and swung into action. The team worked through the night to repair vehicles, and by the morning, all but seven were in a fit state.


Greagsby and his supervisors reviewed scheduled rounds for the coming day and decided that a near-complete service was viable if four hire vehicles were brought in.


In fact, during that day, 90% of scheduled recycling and refuse collections for Norwich’s 63,000 properties were made, supported by local publicity which asked residents to put containers out as normal. Repair work continued, and by the weekend all Biffa’s vehicles were pristine again. A local man has been bailed to appear in Norwich Crown Court in July.


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Government calls for feedback on red tape


THE GOVERNMENT and the Health and Safety Executive are calling for people to give their thoughts on red tape. The Red Tape Challenge is seeking views about regulations.


Health and safety regulation is one of six cross cutting themes on the Red Tape Challenge website and the public will be able to give comments on health and safety throughout the Red Tape Challenge campaign. From 30 June there will be a special three-week focus on health and safety regulation


to encourage people to get involved.


According to the HSE, comments received will help the government decide which regulations should stay, which change, and which go entirely. All health and safety regulations will be available for comment on the site, under the following four areas: general health and safety, major hazard industries, higher risk workplaces and dealing with hazardous chemicals and materials. Visit http://www. redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice. gov.uk/home/index


Wales’ recycling increase gathers momentum Geraldine Faulkner


WALES’ RECYCLING rate hit 44% in 2010-2011, according to data released this week by the Welsh Government. The preliminary report shows that 43.6% of municipal waste was recycled or composted; a 4.4 percentage point increase on 2009-2010’s


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NORTHERN IRELAND environment minister, Alex Attwood has announced a £400,000 funding boost for projects that will divert waste from landfill.


Grants will be provided to successful applicants from community and voluntary groups, councils and the private sector for recycling and re-use projects. The money is intended to help fund new posts and office


accommodation for successful applicants.


The launch of the grant scheme was made at the newly refurbished premises of the Banbridge re:store shop. The minister said: “I have increased the fund by £160K this year to a total of £400K and I would encourage all those that are eligible to put forward innovative projects to help improve resource efficiency, divert waste from landfill


and help meet EU targets.” Applicants may submit proposals either individually, or in partnership with councils, with the community and voluntary sector, the private sector or through Northern Ireland’s Waste Management Groups.


Deadline for submission of applications is 8 August.


• Visit http://www. rethinkwasteni.org


Claim a copy of ‘Eco-Chic: The Fashion Paradox’


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Eco-Chic: The Fashion Printers


Pensord Press Ltd, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 2YA Recycling & Waste World is printed on recycled paper. The paper used is accredited with the Eugropa Recycled Mark.


Paradox by Sandy Black, and published by black dog publishing, examines the relationship between fashion and environmental awareness - combating the universal reputation of eco-fashion as wholesome, un-dyed, shapeless and itchy.


A new wave of sustainable shopping, affordable clothing


and ecological thinking has allowed eco-designers to create high end, design-led collections rather than merely environmentally sympathetic garments. Eco-Chic: The Fashion Paradox aims to address the preconceived idea of eco-fashion as a compromise in style and quality, placing it at the forefront of design.


Eco-Chic: The Fashion


Paradox is an absorbing analysis of fashion and ethical practice, as the naked truth behind the clothes we wear is exposed. • www.blackdogonline.com


• To obtain the copy in the RWW offices, simply email your address details to geraldine@ markallengroup.co.uk


Health and safety management in AD and biogas conference - October 2011. For more information, call 01722 717031 2 June 30 2011 www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk Recycling & WASTE WORLD


rate of 39.3%. According to a Welsh Government spokesperson, this is a greater increase than that experienced between 2008-2009 and 2009- 2010, when the rate increased by 3.4 percentage points. The figures are said to put Wales firmly on track to reach


its 2012-2013 statutory target of 52%. Welsh Government environment minister, John Griffiths said: “By 2014 we will face an additional £50m a year in landfill taxes if we continue to throw away the same levels of waste, so there is a


financial imperative to recycle everything we can. In addition we know that high recycling equals more jobs. For example if adopted across the UK a 70% recycling target, Wales’ target for 2025, would create more than 50,000 new jobs,” added the minister.


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