Scotland considers ban on single use vapes
The Scottish government has said it will hold a consultation next year on banning single use vapes.
The government pointed to estimates from Zero Waste Scotland that 26 million disposable vapes were consumed and thrown away in Scotland in the last year, with 10% being littered and more than half disposed of incorrectly. It added there is a “significant and increasing cost to local authorities through litter clear up and waste management”.
Following a request of Scottish ministers, “the circular economy minister and public health minister will meet with counterparts in the UK government, Welsh government and Northern Ireland executive to discuss the findings of recent research and potential policy responses.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Disposable vapes are a threat to both public health and the environment. On the environment, the evidence is undeniable – from litter on our streets, to the risk of fires in waste facilities, there are issues which demand action.
“We will be working constructively with retailers and other stakeholders to come up with solutions. While we will be asking for views on a ban, we are also keen to explore other interventions that could have a more immediate impact.”
Alfanar says ‘greater certainty needed’ over SAF mechanism
Alfanar, the company behind plans for a £1.5 billion sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant in Teeside, has said the government’s price support mechanism needs to go further.
On Monday, the government tabled an amendment to the Energy Bill on SAF, which places a statutory duty to publish a consultation on the options for designing and implementing a revenue certainty scheme within 6 months of royal assent of the Energy Bill.
In an accompanying plan, the Department for Transport said it would launch a consultation on the plan by Q2 2024, ahead of delivery by 2026 (see letsrecycle.com story).
In response, Noaman Aladhami, country head of Alfanar in the UK, said: “The announcement is a step in the right direction, but investors like Alfanar need greater certainty on price stability by the time the SAF mandate is legislated, not in two years’ time.
“We have committed to build a £1.5 billion facility on Teesside, which will the largest advanced SAF project in the world, and the most advanced in Europe. This will bring upwards of 1,100 jobs to the region while going a long way to help UK aviation decarbonise. Alfanar can help deliver much-needed jobs and growth to the North-East, but we can’t do it if there is no price stability mechanism in place alongside the SAF mandate. If introduced at pace, such a mechanism can ensure our facility is online and producing green jet fuel by 2028. We look forward to working with the Government on its design over the coming months.”
Wrexham advises residents to ‘wait for next collection’ amid strikes
Wrexham council has said it “expects” strike action announced by the Unite union to impact waste collection services over the next 10 days.
The independently-run council has advised residents to put their recycling and waste bins out as usual, and if not collected, “please store until your next collection.”
Recycling centres remain open.
Unite announced last month that widespread action across 23 local authorities will be taking place in September (see letsrecycle.com story).
Tata Steel to champion steel can at RWM with TV chef
Tata Steel will be “championing the steel can” at its presentation at the RWM Show next week, and will be joined by TV chef Theo Michaels.
The company will be talking at 13:15 on day one (13 September) of the two-day show at the Materials Village Theatre.
Theo Michaels will join Tata Steel’s Nicola Jones and Eleanor Shorland for a live demonstration using canned foods to create showstopping dishes packed with flavour.
Theo Michaels is currently resident chef for Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch as well as an award-winning author, including for his recent title, ‘Canned’. Theo is also the long-time ambassador for Canned Food UK, the metal packaging industry’s consumer fronting campaign to promote the virtues of tinned food.
During the demonstration, Theo will be cooking two dishes in real-time – a Goan banana blossom curry and a grilled apricot and Puy lentil salad, both from his recent ‘Canned’ book. He said: “I love these two recipes because they showcase the very versatile nature of canned foods. That’s seven different types of canned ingredients in just two recipes.
“Banana blossom is mostly available in the UK in a can and makes an excellent vegan substitute in fish dishes. Plus, with canned foods most of the food preparation is done for you. The can really was the first ready meal!”
Nicola Jones, steel packaging recycling manager at Tata Steel, said: “Canned foods continue to be a stalwart in UK households because of their long shelf life – many tins can remain on your shelf for up to three years and in some cases up to five. This helps to dramatically reduce food wastage both in the home and in the manufacturing process.”
Subscribe for free