European Union reaches provisional agreement on batteries
The European Council said last week (9 December) that it reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a proposal to strengthen sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries.
The legislation is set to regulate the entire life cycle of a battery for the first time, ensuring that they are safe, sustainable and competitive. The Council said that the deal is “provisional pending adoption in both institutions”.
The Council explained that batteries are a “key element” of the EU’s shift towards zero-emission modes of transport.
It outlined that the agreement sets targets for producers to collect waste portable batteries (63% by the end of 2027 and 73% by the end of 2030), and introduces a dedicated collection objective for waste batteries for light means of transport such as electric bikes, e-mopeds and e-scooters (51% by the end of 2028 and 61% by the end of 2031).
Amongst others, targets were also set for lithium recovery from waste batteries and mandatory minimum levels of recycled content for some types of batteries, with an obligation for batteries to hold a recycled content documentation.
The Council concluded that the new rules aim to improve the functioning of the internal market for batteries and ensure fairer competition.
Essex council partners with reuse charity
Essex county council announced yesterday (13 December) that it has launched a partnership with the Lighthouse Furniture Project, through which larger electrical appliances can be donated for repair and reuse.
The local authority outlined that residents visiting Brentwood, Chelmsford and Harlow household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) can drop off items such as electric cookers, washing machines, fridges and freezers.
It explained that these are collected from the sites by Lighthouse and then repaired and refurbished before being tested by engineers. These items are passed on or sold at affordable prices in the local community, the council said.
The partnership aims at helping families in need struggling with the cost of living, while helping to minimise waste in the county.
Cllr Malcolm Buckley, Essex county council cabinet member for waste reduction and recycling, said: “I’m delighted to see this partnership with the Lighthouse Furniture Project come to fruition and deliver positive impacts to support the local community.
“Working like this with others helps to protect our natural resources through the repair and the efficient reuse of materials.”
Colas appoints Reconomy as waste management partner
Infrastructure contractor Colas announced has appointed Reconomy as its waste management partner in the UK.
Colas explained that the decision to appoint Reconomy, and consolidate its waste management to a single supplier, follows a successful trial on the company’s National Highways Area 9 contract.
Colas outlined that once fully implemented, Reconomy’s service will cover 19 depots and multiple satellite sites including the Portsmouth Highways Management project. The company added that mobilisation of the contract has already begun and will be complete by the start of 2023.
Commenting on the partnership, Colas’ CSR and environmental manager, Emma Murray, said: “Waste duty of care can be an administrative burden but with the help of Reconomy, the portal allowed us to store duty of care records including licences and waste transfer notes.
“We also took advantage of using the API so waste data is added automatically into Smartwaste which we use for carbon and waste reporting. The relationship has just started but Reconomy have been keen to help us in using local suppliers, reducing waste going to landfill and increasing compliance to waste regulations.”
Environmental organisations warn of unnecessary Christmas waste
Environment coalition Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link) has called on the government to prioritise plans to make business tackle waste in 2023, warning of “unnecessary Christmas waste”.
The call comes after new estimates showed that around 104,946 tonnes of plastic packaging are likely to end up burnt, in landfill, or exported overseas over the festive period the group said.
And, Link added that 2,164 tonnes of aluminium foil could be thrown away and not recycled this Christmas. It added that approximately 277,400 tonnes of cardboard are likely to be used over the holidays.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “At Christmas, too often consumers end-up pushed toward waste by the choices on offer. Businesses shouldn’t be allowed to barrage consumers with unnecessary packaging or place badly-designed single-use items on the market.
“Industry-led voluntary initiatives have failed to deliver the scale of change we need, and 2022 has seen Government plans to tackle waste fall far behind track. Next year, government should prioritise its deposit return and producer responsibility plans, so that we can finally stem the flow of unnecessary waste.”
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