South Devon College agrees three-year waste contract
South Devon College has signed a new three-year contract with Devon Contract Waste for the collection of waste from the College’s premises.
Devon Contract Waste will collect waste and recyclables from the Paignton-based education centre to be processed at a transfer site in Exeter, which can handle up to 75,000 tonnes of waste each year. The company had previously provided waste services to the College since 2012.
Recyclable waste will be sorted, baled and sold for onward processing, whilst residual materials will be sent for energy recovery.
Dave Walker, deputy property service manager at South Devon College, said: “We’re really pleased to have signed a new agreement with Devon Contract Waste. It has helped the College in reducing our waste output over the past four years through talks to our students and being part of our sustainability ‘Go Green’ week.
“The College produces 353,767kg of waste each year, and by employing Devon Contract Waste we have been able to save up to 95% of our waste from going to landfill. It’s even better that we only have to put waste into one bin before it’s taken away and sorted at the envirohub.”
Simon Almond, managing director of Devon Contract Waste commented: “We’re delighted to be working with South Devon College – it’s great to see another college choosing to boost its green credentials and reduce its impact on the environment by using our Zero to Landfill service. Educating the younger generation is essential for creating a greener West Country, so we hope many more will follow in the footsteps of trailblazing establishments like South Devon College.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Restored Earth backs scrapyard reclamation
Restored Earth – a charity funded by the UK packaging producer compliance scheme Clarity Environmental – has offered £10,000 in funding to return a car breaker’s yard to nature.
The charity was set up to restore land previously used for waste applications and has contributed funding toward the reclamation of the site at the Marches Mosses in Shropshire which closed after 50 years in operation. Materials at the site include tyres, disused oil and wing mirrors and bumpers.
The project to restore the site is being led by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, which is aiming to raise £500,000 to restore the site.
Restored Earth Trustee, Giles Conn, said: “Restored Earth was established to fund projects that will decontaminate, restore and improve areas that have been previously used by the waste industry. The Scrapyard Challenge is a perfect fit for the aims of our charity and we are delighted to be able to assist the project. The plans for this site are really impressive and we look forward to seeing the regeneration work progress.”
Sara Pearce, project officer at Shropshire Wildlife Trust said of the donation: “Quite frankly, I’m bowled over by Restored Earth choosing to support our Scrapyard Challenge project with this generous grant. It’s marvellous and has given the fundraising appeal a real boost. This is a unique and challenging project but one that really fits well with Restored Earth’s vision and aims.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
MEP visits DS Smith’s Croatian facilities
Croatian MEP Davor Škrlec has visited DS Smith’s recycling facility at Novi Dvori, near Zagreb, and the company’s paper mill in Belišće to discuss the European Commission Circular Economy Package and the company’s investment in its facilities.
Kuleš, Croatia general manager (left), and Peter Clayson, General Manager business
development and external affairs (right)
Mr Škrlec is Shadow Rapporteur in the ENVI Committee in the European Parliament and has been responsible for assisting the drafting of amendments to the Waste Framework Directive and Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives that form part of the Circular Economy Package.
Igor Kuleš, DS Smith’s Croatia general manager, and Peter Clayson, general manager business development and external affairs, showed the MEP around the site.
Commenting on the visit, Mr Clayson said: “The quality of paper we collect for recycling is key to us, as it provides the raw material for our paper-making processes. Interacting with senior political figures such as Mr Škrlec allows us to highlight the need for frameworks to support the collection of quality materials for recycling.”
Over 50,000 tonnes of paper and card are handled each year at Novi Dvori, primarily supplying the DS Smith paper mill at Belišće. Plastic bottles, metal cans and glass bottle recycling are also handled at the site.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
European paper recycling rate hits 71.5%
The paper recycling rate in Europe reached 71.5% in 2015, the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) has claimed in its final report for the year.
This represents a fractional increase on the 71.4% European paper recycling rate recorded in 2014, but ERPC says this exceeds the voluntary commitment by ERPC signatories to ensure that at least 70% of paper generated in Europe is recycled.
The ERPC was set up in November 2000 when the First European Declaration on Paper Recovery was launched, with the aim to monitor the progress made towards meeting the recycling targets. Signatories include the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).
Commenting on the report, EPRC chairman Henri Vermeulen, said: “The efforts of the ERPC perfectly complement EU policy on Circular Economy. The paper fibre loop can serve as the perfect model for circularity. All 13 ERPC associations are proud to be part of a value chain ‘Made in Europe’, prolonging value creation and job opportunities.”
Subscribe for free