GARWER WasteXchange News

UK: London launches £24m waste programme Posted: 26 Mar 2008 11:31 AM CDT A £24m programme to deal with London's commercial and industrial waste has been launched which could see waste companies bid for funding before a 'Dragon's Den'-style panel of experts. London Mayor Ken Livingstone and the London Development Agency (LDA) announced details of the programme, which aims to support the development of infrastructure that can reduce the amount of waste being landfilled or incinerated. A panel of waste, energy and financial experts will be appointed this summer to drive the programme and find innovative waste and recycling facilities for the capital. The Mayor's office said companies could be invited to pitch to the panel in a similar manner to contestants on the BBC2 show Dragons Den. Mr Livingstone said: "There are real opportunities in London to develop technologies that treat waste as a resource, rather than relying on outdated waste disposal methods which contribute to climate change. "London's businesses and boroughs are currently choosing to bury and burn the capital's waste - dumping it in the Home Counties - while recycling rates lag behind the rest of the UK. "This funding package of £24m from the London Development Agency will accelerate the use of cleaner, greener recycling and treatment methods that are already being effectively used in Europe." Manny Lewis, chief executive of the LDA, added: "It simply isn't viable to continue to send all that waste to landfill and we're currently missing out on the possibilities waste has to offer as a resource." The programme is a key part of the Mayor's Draft Business Waste Strategy and it is hoped it will secure significant additional investment from both the private and public sectors. A report commissioned by the Greater London Authority and published last month said technologies such as plasma gasification and anaerobic digestion will deliver the biggest reductions in climate change emissions.

UK: BERR praises WEEE system Posted: 26 Mar 2008 05:25 AM CDT The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations have worked well in its first seven months despite a few glitches on the way, according to the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR). It has nearly been a year since the WEEE Regulations were implemented on July 1 2007. In the run up to its first birthday a BERR spokeswoman told MRW: "BERR is satisfied with the progress made in the first compliance period. The aim was to get the infrastructure arrangements in place, producers, distributors and local authorities registered as part of the WEEE collection network, and treatment facilities approved. We have 40 compliance schemes, 150 treatment facilities, 1500 designated collection facilities and 1100 public sites." BERR's claims come amid a monumental WEEE evidence trading agreement between producer compliance schemes Repic and Electrolink. BERR refused to provide comment on the dispute but said that the WEEE system works by "schemes working together and keeping in constant communication with each other". The BERR spokeswoman added: "Putting in place a strong system by way of infrastructure was our starting point. The next important step is raising consumer awareness. When regulations are laid for the first time it is only through experience that you discover how they work in practice. We have already undertaken some fine tuning – specifically to resolve issues around tonnage and related to metal exports. "In 2006 we spent a considerable amount of time engaging with stakeholders before laying the regulations to ensure we had a system that was workable. Our priority was creating an effective system and we've achieved that. Electronic waste is being treated, there have been investments and we have an extensive collection network."

Re-introduction of WEEE legislation in New York Posted: 26 Mar 2008 05:17 AM CDT Progress has been made on legislation to address New York's waste electrical and electronic equipment. This attracted a variety of feedback. New York's Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, commented: 'My Administration and the Council share the same goal of ensuring that thousands of tonnes of electronic waste are recycled instead of thrown into landfills, and we largely agree on how to achieve it. We are separating the issue into two bills so we can move forward on the broad areas where we have reached consensus, instead of letting our differences stop all progress. This is the best solution for our City and our environment.' Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn added: 'We're proud to have reached an agreement with the Mayor to create and quickly implement a comprehensive electronic-waste recycling programme for New York City. While we are pleased to have reached this agreement, the Council still believes that enforceable collection standards must be a part of any e-waste programme. Therefore, we will be simultaneously passing legislation to create those standards. But we will not let that delay us in implementing an effective programme and allowing electronics to continue to pile up in our homes, or pollute our air and water.' Council Member Bill de Blasio, Lead Sponsor of E-Waste Legislation, remarked 'I am proud that we have reached an agreement with Mayor Bloomberg on my electronic recycling legislation. This is a major step forward in confronting the growing problem of toxic electronic waste which is harming our environment and our communities. We are pleased that the programme can now be implemented. We continue to believe that performance standards are critical to ensuring that the programme is successful, and look forward to working with the Mayor, the Speaker and the rest of the Council to see those standards implemented in the programme.' And Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee Chair Michael E. McMahon concluded 'This compromise by the Speaker, the Council and the Mayor is both insightful and enlightened. We will eliminate tonnes of toxic materials from going to our landfills and incinerators, we will be catalyzing the reuse of natural resources and we will be saving the city money.'

The European Federation of Envelope Manufacturers joins forces for paper recycling Posted: 26 Mar 2008 05:16 AM CDT The European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) is pleased to announce that the European Federation of Envelope Manufacturers (FEPE) has become the latest member of the 'European Declaration on Paper Recycling of the European Recovered Paper Council'. As a signatory to the Declaration, FEPE joins forces with other industry players to enhance eco-design for improved recyclability and increased collection of all paper and board in Europe. With the signature of Dr. Klaus Schulz, FEPE President, on 4 March 2008, FEPE is now the 14th sector along the paper value chain to have pledged its support to the Declaration, which aims to increase Europe's recycling rate to 66% by 2010. This target would result in almost two tonnes of paper being recycled in Europe every second. Today, the recycling rate is already at 63.4%. The Declaration focuses on complementary actions by all of the sectors involved and gives priority to the prevention of waste, improving the recyclability of paper and board products, as well as further improving the quality of recovered paper available for recycling. In practice, the objectives of the Declaration translate into research and development in paper recycling technology, a focus on quality and responsible sourcing and on raising public awareness.

UK: Viridor acquires WEEE company for £23 million Posted: 26 Mar 2008 04:44 AM CDT Viridor Waste Management has acquired waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling company Shore Recycling (Shore) for £23 million. The acquisition will see Viridor take control of Shore's operations in both Manchester and Perth, Scotland as well the St Helens WEEE plant in Merseyside bought from M Baker Recycling by Shore earlier this year. Mike Hellings, Viridor's managing director, said: "The UK's waste strategies demand ever increasing levels of recycling, particularly now in the area of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Shore has an excellent track record in leading the way in this market in the North of the UK and is well placed to capitalise on this opportunity. "Their innovative and professional approach fits very well with the Viridor culture and we look forward to welcoming and working with our new colleagues." Viridor said that the debt free acquisition is in line with its parent company Pennon Group's strategy of expanding its waste management activities and fits in with its existing operations in the North West of England and in Scotland.

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