News in brief

UKCM double decker bus promotes reuse

The refurbished vehicle, which will be used for trade shows and school visits, has been restored by reusing materials that were also saved from disposal.

Offcuts have been used to reupholster the leather seats, a second-hand TV and iPads have been installed, and the bus also boasts a bar and an open garden on the top deck furnished with artificial grass and deckchairs.

UKCM hopes the bus will provide an educational experience and teach schoolchildren the value of recycling.

Co-founder of UKCM, Emma Elston, said: Although it was once considered for scrap, we have made very good use of the bus and hope that we can teach others the importance of recycling waste containers.

ODonovan becomes cycling safety champion

ODonovan Waste Disposal has agreed with Transport for London to be one of the first cycling safety champions in the UK.

The Construction Logistics and Cycling Safety (CLOCS) Champions must meet rigorous standards to protect cyclists and vulnerable road users.

The firm has a fleet of 75 vehicles in its fleet and to date has spent over 5,000 per vehicle on safety enhancements and invested a further 80,000 on bespoke telematics equipment.

Jacqueline ODonovan, managing director of ODonovan Waste Disposal, said: We have been involved with CLOCS from the very beginning, forming part of the working group that developed the very standard by which CLOCS now operates and are proud to be leading the way in making London safer for all.

Taylor unveils Brighton & Hove recycling bins

Bin manufacturer Taylor has rolled out 12 pink coloured recycling bins on the Brighton seafront.

The bright coloured design, which was commissioned specifically for the city, intends to make the bins easy to spot and are already receiving positive feedback from users.

The bins come as part of a wider roll out of 600 Taylor communal recycling bins introduced by the council in Brighton, following a successful trial of the firms 1,100-litre continental containers in 2012. The bins also incorporate Taylors new, patented Push-2-Lock security device.

Councillor Pete West, chair of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: These new recycling bins, alongside the general waste bins, will make it easy for the thousands of visitors to our seafront to dispose of their waste responsibly and help keep our beaches litter free and safe.

They are in addition to the 700 new on-street recycling bins in our city centre communal recycling scheme which is currently being rolled out to serve 32,000 households.

West Sussex firm fined after worker loses legs

Scrap metal firm H Ripley & Co. was fined 60,000 and ordered to pay 34,633 on Tuesday (June 24), after an employee lost both his legs in a 16-tonne baling machine.

The 42-year-old man had been carrying out maintenance inside the five-metre long baler at the firms Westfield site when the doors of the machine began to close.

When the worker realised the remote control was failing to respond, he made a desperate attempt to escape but was trapped under the jaws, which severed one leg and severely crushed the other.

Lewes Crown Court heard how a Health and Safety Executive investigation had found the firms isolation procedure for the baler was totally inadequate and the remote control manufactured by West Sussex firm John Platt Services – was seriously flawed.

In addition to H Ripley & Co., John Platt, of John Platt Services, was fined 10,000 and ordered to pay costs of 5,000.

HSE inspector Stephen Green said: This was a horrific incident in which a worker suffered the loss of both legs, endured a sixth-month period in hospital and who will now spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Veolia supports sculpture for Tour De France

Residents in Worrall have raced to build a sculpture made from recycled bicycles in time for the Tour De France, which passes through the Sheffield village next week (July 6).

Backed by waste firm Veolia, the project was initiated by the local Community Association and saw a number of organisations and individuals get involved including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is MP for the constituency.

Veolia provided 60 unwanted bicycles for the project from the citys five HWRCs, which were dismantled and cleaned by residents before adding them to a tightly compacted wreath that makes up the sculpture.

David Wright, HWRC assistant manager for Veolia, said: The sculpture will not only celebrate the Tour De France but also demonstrate and symbolise recycling as we strive to make Sheffield even greener by urging residents to recycle as much as they can for the future of our city.

The sculpture has been installed at the junction of Haggstones Road and Kirk Edge Road in Worral in time for the cycling race.