News Editorial


Refuse derived fuel, quality standards and fair play


DO YOU feel passionately about RDF, otherwise known as refuse derived fuel? It is a subject that stirs up many a passion in a manly and womanly breast. It is also a topic that is being


tackled at the forthcoming 10th International Energy from Waste Conference on February 26 + 27. A panel of esteemed industry


pundits will be discussing whether greater quality standards and regulations would aid the RDF and SRF (solid recovered fuel) market in the long run. So what is RDF and SRF? According to a report prepared for the CIWM by Amec last year:


“The preparation of RDF requires a basic level of treatment to remove recyclates from predominantly an MSWwaste stream, while SRF requires a higher standard of preparation to produce a fuel. RDF is typically destined for standard EfW facilities which also accept unprepared mixed waste streams while SRF is typically used within cement kilns and power stations as an alternative to fossil fuels.” Why is the introduction of greater RDF quality standards so important? Basically, to prevent a rather nasty little practice that is gathering


momentum of exporting untreated residual waste under the banner of RDF. Some of the UK’s blue chip waste management companies are assiduous in ensuring the quality of RDF is high, but then there are others who find the temptation to cut corners too great. After all, if you can save a bob or two by not paying landfill tax, get a dodgy contractor to ‘treat’ the waste and then ship it abroad labelled as ‘RDF’, where is the harm in that? Plenty of course. The harm done to the reputation of UK plc and (at the risk of sounding like Bertie Wooster) those of us who believe in fair play.


FPA issues call to action on litter at litter summit


THE FOODSERVICE Packaging Association’s recent annual environment seminar has made a commitment to draw up a litter action plan for endorsement by its members. FPA chairman Neil Whittall


said: “The FPA pledges to produce an action plan to ensure dialogue with all stakeholders, including manufacturers who, through their membership of the FPA, have demonstrated that they take their responsibilities seriously. “The FPA calls for the sector


Geraldine Faulkner


Published by MA Business & Leisure Ltd, Jesses Farm, Snow Hill, Dinton, Wilts SP3 5HN Tel: 01722 716996 Editor Geraldine Faulkner - geraldine@markallengroup.co.uk Advertising enquiries Tom Boatwright - 01722 717016 Classified enquiries Isobel Hunter -01722 717053 Graphic designers Sian Huxtable Publishing director Sian Harrington Group commercial director Jon Benson Chief executive officer Ben Allen


UK Personal subscription rates Quarterly Direct Debit £23 Annual Direct Debit £90 Annual Credit Card £95 2yr Annual Credit Card £161 3yr Annual Credit Card £227


Subscribe online: www.magsubscriptions.com, Subscribe by phone: +44 (0) 1722 716997


© MA Business & Leisure Ltd, 2014. All rights reserved. No part of Recycling & Waste World may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publishing director.


Recycling & Waste World is printed on recycled paper. The paper used is accredited with the Eugropa Recycled Mark.


The paper used within this publication is manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled fibres. Fibres are sourced from within 175 miles of the chain-of-custody certified production site. This means the paper’s manufacturing process has been chronologically documented across the supply chain. The paper has also been awarded the EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel and National Association of Paper Merchants environmental certificates. All residuals from the production process are reused for cement production, fertiliser or district heating.


REA online resource to foster new energy


THE RENEWABLE Energy Association has launched the Renewables Marketplace (www.r- e-a.net/marketplace), a new resource which aims to be of use to community energy groups, “The Renewables Marketplace


is an online platform which enables community groups, as well as private and public sector organisations, to make business connections with the renewables industry free of charge. “It is designed for groups


looking to supply their own energy, save money, invest for the future, recycle their wastes, help address climate change or simply make new business partnerships. Our members, and other registered


2 January 30 2014


renewables companies, may be able to help by providing advice, finance, equipment, or renewable fuel or fertiliser,” said an REA spokesperson. There are three live posts on


the Marketplace. These include a willow coppice looking to be harvested for biomass energy and an agent hoping to source waste heat to supply greenhouses. “The REAMarketplace is free


for users to post in the Renewables Marketplace. REAmembers and other registered companies can reply to the posts online. The poster can follow up on any offers they receive, if they so wish. Posters’ contact details are not given away, enabling posters to remain in control of the


process,” added the spokesperson. Former REA chief executive Gaynor Hartnell, who is now the Association’s community energy adviser, said: “The Marketplace is one concrete step which the REA is taking to help foster business partnerships between the renewables industry and the wider economy. “It is well suited to community


energy groups who need equipment, advice or a developer to partner with,” added Hartnell.


www. r e c y c l i n gwa s t ewo r l d . c o . u k


January 30 - February 5 Issue No. 875 MA Business & Leisure Ltd


is part of the Mark Allen Group


to put aside differences and work together on this. In order to collaborate effectively we call on the government to give leadership


on these issues and we urge Defra to join the dialogue.” INCPEN’s Jane Bickerstaff


identified that ‘food to go’ packaging makes up just 1.3% of total litter, but its visual impact is far greater. Cigarette butts (78.5%) and


chewing gum, (19.7%) are reported to be the worst offenders but are not so ‘front of mind’ with consumers. Several speakers agreed that


litter per se is not the problem; it is consumer behaviour and the effects of littering as a symptom of societal decay that need tackling. One FPA member highlighted


the dilemma by stating: “We don’t blame car manufacturers when we get caught speeding.”


FPA members were reminded


that there was no ducking the issue with Andrew Cousins at Amey Waste Management pointing out foodservice packaging manufacturers “make the ammunition that has to be dealt with”. With street cleaning currently


costing local authorities some £1bn annually, 99% of streets having litter on them and 62% of UK adults littering, the FPA said it is not just the social side of the problem that is critical - reducing littering will help local authorities cut budgets and allocate resources elsewhere. A full report of the litter summit


is on the FPA’s web site at www. foodservicepackaging.org.uk


MRWA submits HWRC plans www.markallengroup.com Website: www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk Twitter: @RWWMagazine


MERSEYSIDE RECYCLING and Waste Authority (MRWA) has submitted plans for the development of a new household waste recycling centre (HWRC) in Liverpool. Working in partnership with


Liverpool City Council, MRWA has submitted plans for the new facility off Cheadle Avenue in Old Swan. The HWRC aims to recycle


a range of household materials including car batteries, cardboard, engine oil, garden waste, paper, furniture, rubble, scrap metal, textiles, drinks cans, timber, glass and soil. Subject to planning approval it


will become only the second facility of its kind in Liverpool, along with Otterspool HWRC.


Graham Morgan, chairperson of


MRWA, said: “By providing this facility for the local community it will not only help increase the city’s recycling rates, but will also relieve the pressure on our Otterspool HWRC which in turn will help increase its efficiency. Liverpool desperately needs more recycling facilities if it is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.” Steve Munby, Liverpool City


Council cabinet member for living environment and localism, added: “This application will be subject to the planning procedure and we will be consulting with the local community. However, the city certainly needs another centre to make it easier for residents to


recycle and make a big improvement to our recycling rate.” Carl Beer, MRWA chief executive


said: “Liverpool currently only has one recycling centre - this is something both ourselves and Liverpool City Council are keen to improve. The new site will provide modern - and badly needed - facilities to help people in the city recycle much more easily. This planned new recycling centre will be an important new local resource for people in Liverpool, and is similar to the new facilities that we operate in Kirkby and Huyton.” “If successful, we’re hopeful that


construction of the new HWRC will start in summer 2014, with the centre opening later in the year.”


Defra report questions reward scheme benefits


A NEW Defra report, entitled Evaluation of the Waste Reward and Recognition Scheme: Emerging findings is reported to have found that reward schemes “require careful consideration, time and investment, especially if they are not only meant to be successful, but also to demonstrate their success and impact”. According to the Associate


Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, the interim report evaluated success and cost efficiency of the eight reward and recognition projects funded by Defra’s reward and recognition scheme and found that while rewards and recognitions for projects for initiatives such as reuse and recycling have the


potential to improve existing behaviour, such schemes are not likely to act “as a catalyst for new behaviours”. The report said: “Across the schemes, improvements in recycling and reuse tended to be linked to better services and promotion rather than being attributable directly to the rewards.” Improved recycling and reused


tonnages were reportedly seen in five out of the eight projects. But the report said it is uncertain as to what extent the increases can be attributed to the projects’ reward and recognition elements. For more details, http://randd.


defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Me nu&Module=More&Location=None& Completed=0&ProjectID=17989


Recycling & WA S T E W O R L D


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12