With news on: Eunomia informs Plastic Strategy; NWH reports growth; Geminor signs export contract; Hills Group’s ‘Move to Improve’ winner; UKWSL launches energy company; and Veolia’s ‘Wonder Day’.
Eunomia research to inform EU Plastics Strategy
Environmental consultancy Eunomia has been appointed alongside partners ICF to help develop the evidence base for the European Commission’s upcoming Plastics Strategy, expected at the end of 2017.
Eunomia is to provide evidence to inform the EU’s plastics strategy
The new research will look at ways to improve plastic recycling rates and reduce the manufacturing industry’s reliance on virgin materials.
Eunomia said the aim will be to highlight the obstacles to achieving the key objectives of the strategy, and to identify measures which help drive the plastics economy in a more circular manner.
European institutions, public authorities, industry, social enterprise groups, environmental civil society organisations, and resource communities are being invited to the ‘Reinventing Plastics – Closing the Circle’ conference on 26 September to discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities that will feature in the new strategy.
NWH reports 23% growth
Scottish waste management firm, NWH Group, has reported a 23% growth in turnover to reach £25.5m at its year end 2016.
NWH Waste Services wood waste facility at Petterden Recycling Centre, Tealing, Dundee (Copyright Perthshire Picture Agency)
The businesss, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, said it is now on track to deliver £31m at year end 2017.
The company said this has been achieved through both organic growth and acquisitions in line with the business’ strategy to expand in to new geographical locations and diversify its range of services, including the acquisition of DJ Laing’s waste management operations in Dundee.
Complementing the financial growth, employee numbers have risen accordingly from 211 at year end 2015 to 240 at year end 2016. The Group currently employs 310 staff.
Geminor signs contract with Hafslund
Norwegian-owned waste fuels specialist, Geminor, has signed a four-year contract extension to supply 55,000 tonnes of refuse-derived fuel per annum to the Hafslund-owned Bio-El Fredrikstad AS energy recovery facility in Østfold county, Norway.
Sourcing household and industrial feedstock from Thorncliffe in Wales, Geminor will manage haulage, shipment and recovery through the Port of Immingham.
According to Geminor, more than 1,000 tonnes of pre-treated RDF will be shipped every week via empty load return logistics with DFDS Seaways, accounting for the facility’s entire feedstock requirements.
The agreement will see feedstock recovered to generate 160 GWh energy every year. Electricity is exported directly to the grid, while heat is sent to the local district heating grid.
Hills Group announces ‘Move to Improve’ winner
An idea which has helped to improve efficiency secured the top prize in the Hills Group’s ‘Move to Improve’ awards.
(l-r) Chris Wheeler and Mike Hill
The winning ‘Move to Improve’ idea for 2016/17 came from Chris Wheeler, a shift supervisor at Hills’ Northacre Resource Recovery Centre (Northacre RRC) in Westbury, who received a £600 voucher.
Mr Wheeler’s idea of adding metal rings to the outside of the trommel, which separates household waste into oversize and undersize fragments, has helped reduce the required daily cleaning time for the trommel from three hours a day to just 15 minutes – a 91% improvement in efficiency, the company reports.
Since the ‘Move to Improve’ incentive scheme started in 2011, Hills Group employees have submitted nearly 650 ideas which have helped reduce waste, improve business efficiency and provide better customer service.
UKWSL launches commercial energy company
Waste and recycling company UKWSL has launched a commercial energy management company – UKWSL Power.
UKWSL has launched a commercial energy management company, UKWSL Power
The company said UKWSL Power will have a strong focus on the energy-intensive waste and recycling sector, working with clients across the UK to deliver greater power efficiency.
UKWSL Power will provide a range of services including energy audits, procurement & management, metering services, energy efficient technologies and renewables.
Commenting on the launch, Managing Director of UKWSL, Max Kanda, said: “Energy is one of the biggest areas of spend for the majority of waste and recycling businesses, especially those involved in processing these valuable secondary resources.”
UKWSL Power is already working with a number of UK waste management businesses including AWM and Ribbex.
Visitors flock to Veolia’s ‘Wonder Day’
Around 1069 visitors attended ‘Wonder Day’ at Veolia’s Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility on 16 September.
Visitors flocked to Veolia’s ‘Wonder Day’
The event, which is part of Open House London, gave visitors an insight into the journey that household waste and recycling takes to become green products and energy.
In addition to the tours of the plant, visitors were able to enjoy attractions including a display of Veolia collection vehicles and JCBs, and the interactive Recycling Discovery Centre that welcomed visitors to learn about the lifecycle and origin of materials.
The event featured an ‘ask the experts’ panel where visitors had the opportunity to ask questions about recycling and how Veolia is using waste as a resource.
Visitors ended their day with Old Kent Road Honey which was produced by the bees that live onsite. The honey helped raise £250 for FoodCycle.
The post News in brief (22/09/2017) appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com General
