The British Standards Institute (BSI) has launched a new specification (PAS 141:2011) to help reduce illegal exports of WEEE. The new standard will make it easier to identify whether electrical equipment can legally be sent overseas by establishing whether it really is fit for reuse. It is hoped this will also encourage growth in the…
Category Archives: Waste
Kerbside carton recycling on the increase
One third of UK councils now collect drinks cartons at the kerbside according to the Alliance for Beveridge Cans and Environment UK. According to the trade body this is following a ‘significant investment’ from its members into the recycling infrastructure. The trade body, which represents packaging manufacturers Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Combibloc, has reported…
North Lincolnshire launches kerbside electricals recycling
Following a successful pilot scheme parts of North Lincolnshire will soon gain kerbside recycling for small electrical items such as toasters, kettles and hairdryers. This follows a pilot in which more than 3,000 residents took part in a two-month pilot to recycle Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Prior to the pilot about 27 types…
European Council softens WEEE targets
Initial proposals in February 2011 to introduce an 85 per cent collection target in the revised Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive have been softened following a consideration of the European Parliament’s decision by the Council of the EU. A Council consideration of the decision has “foreseen” a collection rate of 45 per cent…
Wales plans to become recycling ‘world leader’
Wales plans to become recycling ‘world leader’ The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has set out ambitious recycling targets with the key aim of becoming a “world leader” in waste management. Local councils in Wales have been warned that based on the amount of waste that is currently going to landfill, extra costs of £50m a…
Study to plan 20 year waste strategy almost completed
Cheshire West and Chester Council have been conducting research, ‘The Waste Needs Assessment Study’ to evaluate the areas waste needs over the next 20 years. It is examining the type and quantity of waste that will be produced and what facilities are needed to deal with it whilst at the same time taking into account…
Action needed on rare earth metal recycling
A report by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) which has been submitted to the Government’s Science and Technology Committee, has stated that unless quick action is taken to increase the recycling of rare earth metals (REM), the government’s plan to achieve 15 percent renewable energy by 2020 will be unattainable. In the report,…
Batteries and bottles collections introduced in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Council has introduced two new waste stream collections to their kerbside recycling scheme. Residents have been given two new recycling boxes in which to collect plastic bottles and batteries. The Council will also be running a pilot food waste project from April 2011.This will see food scraps picked up from 20,000 Edinburgh households in…
Survey shows that Twin Bin scheme is preferred
Durham County Council are looking to change their waste and recycling arrangements to a Twin Bin scheme across the county. This followed the largest ever waste survey of residents in the county which found that the Twin Bin scheme currently used in Derwentside was the preferred waste option. 74 per cent of residents said the…
The great bin debate
How many bins is too many? In a time of public sector cuts, is it better to sort your own rubbish rather than paying more council tax for someone else to do it? How can the government encourage more recycling without alienating people? These were just some of the questions that the press were asking…