News


Metals sector slams opt-out proposal in Legal Aid Bill


LIB DEMjustice minister, Lord McNally’s proposal to include an opt-out in the Legal Aid Bill allowing itinerant scrap metal collectors to be able to buy and sell it in cash has been slammed by the metals industry. Ian Hetherington of the British


Metals Recycling Association said: “Allowing itinerant collectors (such as ‘rag and bone men’) a special exemption to trade in cash will undermine the legitimate industry that has spent hundreds of millions of pounds complying with environmental regulation at its sites. The government is putting itinerant collectors at a commercial advantage and effectively penalising our members who are geographically fixed.” Nicola Guest of Alchemy


Metals told RWW: “The proposed exemption for itinerant traders is a sting in the tail for the majority of scrap metal dealers - exempting one particular sector, particularly when that specific sector is known to fuel the problems of metal theft is simply not acceptable.” As RWW was going to press


with this week’s issue, Lord Faulkner of Worcester was planning to move an amendment to the government’s proposed amendment to remove the itinerant seller’s exemption.


Prisoners hand sort PVC waste


PRISONERS ARE to capture rising volumes of low grade PVC in a unique private/public sector social enterprise between aManchester- based plastic recycling firm and HM Prison Service. Low risk offenders will sort,


segregate and process the worst contaminated plastic for further refining by PVC Recycling and eventual re-manufacturing into new products by UK-based manufacturers. IanMurray,MD of PVC


Recycling, said: “Hand-sorting is part of the initial recycling process for this material, because technology is not available to deliver the quality the manufacturer requires, which is why we have chosen this challenging route.” The scheme was launched


in February with a pilot project involving 30 men working up to 37 hours per week at Buckley Hall Prison, Rochdale. Up to four tonnes of material diverted from landfill would be processed at the jail’s


facilities each day, equivalent to two 40 cubic yard skip deliveries, and sent back to PVC Recycling’s Stalybridge plant to create a high quality recyclate. Once proven, PVC Recycling


said this business model could be repeated and rolled out to local ‘hubs’ throughout the UK – providing a sustainable waste solution and new training/work opportunities for prisoners. According to a company


spokesperson, processing this low-grade waste stream close to its origination is the best way of generating return on investment. Susan Kennedy, governor of


Buckley Hall Prison, said the scheme is working well and provides an opportunity for prisoners to develop a work ethos in a realistic working environment. “This not only adds to their


resettlement opportunities, but they enjoy the work which helps time to pass quickly. It’s a very positive partnership.”


Industry opinion It’s time for some serious


governmental action Steve Lee, chief executive of CIWM, calls for the government to commit itself to ‘green growth’


THERE’S A lot of serious talk about, including the need for ‘green growth’ in a recession that is tougher than most of us have experienced before. Last week, resource security joined the mêlée with the launch by


Defra and BIS of the resource security action plan. Identified as one of the biggest future proofing headaches for manufacturers in a recent EEF survey of their members, growing concern about the availability of critical raw materials shows that we live in an increasingly vulnerable world where skills and access to capital aren’t the only constraints. After living in a post-war spree with resources of all types and waste


disposal coming in at bargain-basement prices, the tables are definitely turning as the question of access to reliable and affordable resources in the future shoots up the business agenda. As a consequence, the sector previously known as the waste industry


finds itself with a centre stage role in both promoting and delivering resource efficiency, waste prevention, energy security and diversity of supply. So what do we need for our sector to deliver its full worth? We need a government that is genuinely and proactively committed


to ‘green growth’ in all its forms, including a commitment to delivering the right infrastructure to maximise the extraction of valuable materials and energy from our waste. The government has not yet shown itself to be adept at building investor confidence in the ‘green growth’ arena and a more robust approach will be essential to unlock the investment in waste that is needed, with the Green Investment Bank, stable financial incentives, and planning being early priorities. We need manufacturers to recognise they are part of both the problem


and the solution. As well as building in resource efficiency at the product design stage, they need to actively engage with the waste industry to support the recovery of materials, and to lead by example in helping to develop strong markets for secondary materials. And our industry needs to become a value-added business: building


closer relationships with its customers to help improve their resource efficiency and their bottom line or business continuity; ensuring that we continue to focus on delivering high quality recovered materials to the market; and taking a more positive and pro-active approach to cementing and communicating our role in the ‘resources revolution’.


News in brief YPO win for Straight


STRAIGHT HAS secured a position on a new framework agreement with YPO, a public sector procurement specialist. The new four-year contract is estimated to be worth around £25m across all suppliers. Under the new agreement Straight will supply products such as its kitchen caddy, kerbside caddy, kerbside box and wheeled bin inner caddy.


Since the rewards scheme was rolled out, around 82% of residents recycle more


Recyclebank stays in Royal Borough


THE ROYAL Borough of Windsor andMaidenhead has renewed its contract with Recyclebank, the incentive scheme which gives households redeemable points for the amount they recycle. The scheme was first rolled out


by the Royal Borough in 2009 and according to the council, it saw recycling increase from 35% to 45% in its first full year of operation. Recyclebank has now been


signed up for another four years (with extension options up to seven years) following a tendering process that is said to have not only met full EU regulations, it put in place a framework that will help other councils if they want to follow the borough’s lead. Phill Bicknell, cabinet


member for transport, highways


and environment, said: “Our negotiations with Recyclebank have resulted in a fresh look at the rewards offered to residents for their recycling with more shops and businesses joining in. “The scheme is self-funded from


savings by diverting waste from landfill so the more residents who take part; the more we save as a community,” added Bicknell. News about the new look


rewards menu will shortly be revealed by Recyclebank. Added to which it will retain


the Green Schools Programme in which residents can donate their points for environmental projects in participating schools. Schools in the borough are


reported to have benefitted from donations worth £4,000 in 2011.


Recycling Food Waste 2011 Conference - 14 July - London. For more detai ls, visit www.recycl ingwasteworld.co.uk/conferences


www. r e c y c l i n gwa s t ewo r l d . c o . u k & WA S T E W O R L D Nairn’s 90% recycling Oxon funds available


NAIRN’S OATCAKES, who produce around 3.5 million oatcakes per day in their Edinburgh facilities, have reported successfully diverting nearly 90% of all waste produced away from landfill. Nairn’s has been baking oatcakes since 1888 and operates a partnership with recycling and resource management specialist, William Tracey Group.


GRANT FUNDING to the tune of £250,000 is still available for rural businesses in Southern Oxfordshire who are looking to develop and expand. The Southern Oxfordshire Leader Programme has funding available to support a range of projects for farmers and community- based businesses. Contact Kate Forrest on 01491 823176.


UK RECYCLING & GLOBAL TRADING www.recycling-uk.com


TEL: +44 (0) 1270 611444 11 Alvaston Business Park, Middlewich Road, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6PF


March 22 2012


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