With news on: DS Smith sees demand for recycled paper increase 400%; South African Plastics Pact unveiled; Suez reports on Cornwall’s household waste; and, Veolia backs Library of Things.
DS Smith sees demand for recycled paper increase 400%
Corrugated packaging provider DS Smith says it has seen a 400% increase in demand for recycled paper to manufacture bags during the last three years.
It says its Kemsley Paper Mill alone supplied enough paper to make around 400 million of the bags used by retailers and takeaway chains in 2019.
DS Smith’s paper mill in Kemsley in Kent
The company attributed this increased demand to the so-called Blue Planet effect, with firms placing a greater emphasis on improving their environmental impact following the release of the BBC documentary.
Ben Jennings, general manager at the mill in Kemsley, said: “Over the past three years, we have seen significant interest in sustainable solutions to a variety of packaging challenges, including the shopping bag.
“Across our network our paper contains over 80% recycled content and across the supply chain, from punnets to bags, we are working with customers to find solutions to remove single-use plastics.”
Based in London, DS Smith operates in 37 countries and employs around 31,000 people.
South African Plastics Pact unveiled
South Africa has launched its own Plastics Pact, bringing together various organisations to stimulate the design of plastic packaging to drive the use of recycled content in new products.
The South African Plastics Pact is closely modelled on the UK’s own
The scheme is closely modelled on the UK’s own, which was set up by sustainability charity WRAP in 2018.
South Africa joins the UK, France, the Netherlands and Chile in The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Plastics Pact global network, enabling the exchange of knowledge and collaboration in driving a circular economy for plastic.
Peter Skelton, who has led the project for WRAP, said: “We have been able to share experience with our partners in South Africa, always ensuring the Pact is designed for the local context.
“This is a great example of what can be achieved through rich collaboration and shared learning, and we look forward to continuing to work with our South African colleagues on this vital piece of work towards a world free of plastic waste.”
Suez reports on Cornwall’s household waste
Waste management company Suez has released a report detailing its management of Cornwall’s household waste between April 2018 and March 2019.
The company says Cornwall sent 39% of household waste for re-use, recycling and composting, a two per cent increase on the previous year.
The report is titled ‘Managing Cornwall’s Household Waste’
In the report’s foreword John Scanlon, Suez’s chief operating officer, and Ian Sexton, chairman of Cornwall Energy Recovery Ltd, say jointly: “In the 2018-19 contract year, we sought to build on the successes of previous years by increasing the amount of materials Cornwall can recycle and further reducing the amount of Cornwall’s waste sent to landfill, achieving over 97% diversion from landfill.”
The region faced an unexpected challenge in June 2018 when the turbine at the Cornwall energy recovery facility suffered a rotor fault. This meant it was unable to generate electricity between June 2018 and April 2019.
However, the installation of a shredder for bulky waste at Connon Bridge saw 17,626 tonnes of waste sent for energy recovery.
Suez says that in the coming year it will open a household waste recycling centre in Truro, expand its food and drink carton recycling programme and adapt its network of facilities in readiness for Cornwall council’s forthcoming collection service.
Veolia backs Library of Things
Veolia has partnered with Library of Things, a London-based community enterprise hoping to encourage people to borrow things rather than buy them new.
Supported by Veolia’s Recycling Fund for Communities, Library of Things in Crystal Palace will deliver six repair workshops and 10 mending meetups during 2020, with each session aiming to equip residents with the skills to fix broken electronics and mend textiles.
London residents will be taught to fix broken electronics and mend textiles at the sessions
Rachel Jay, regional communications manager for Veolia London said: “We’re passionate about supporting projects that protect our resources and our planet by reducing, reusing and recycling.
“By supporting Library of Things’ skill sharing events, we’re helping to give residents the tools to adopt sustainable waste behaviours and deliver lasting benefits to the environment.”
Accessible to residents across London, the scheme is expected to more than 350 residents throughout the year and prevent the production of 300kg of waste, according to Veolia.
Rebecca Trevalyan, co-director of Crystal Palace Library of Things said: “We’re delighted Veolia is helping us to develop the repair events we’ve started with the Crystal Palace community.
“To date, Library of Things has prevented over 15,900 kilograms of waste through such events, and through our item lending service.”
The post News in brief (07/02/20) appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
