Pledge2Recycle to ‘uncover the truth about household plastic recycling practices’
Pledge2Recycle Plastics, part of the recycling charity RECOUP, has launched a survey to “uncover the truth about household plastic recycling practices.”
Through their “Cutting the Confusion: How do you recycle your household plastics (2023) Survey,” the team aims to “shed light on the items causing confusion in recycling and understand citizens’ commitment to recycling bottles, pots, tubs, and trays”.
Stuart Foster, chief executive at RECOUP said: “We understand that recycling plastics can be challenging for people. Our research shows that even easily recyclable items often don’t end up in recycling bins. Astonishingly, out of the 38 million plastic bottles used daily in the UK, 14 million remain uncollected for recycling. We are determined to comprehend the barriers preventing people from recycling, despite the availability of kerbside collection, and the reasons why some recyclable items aren’t being given a chance to be recycled.”
RECOUP has urged everyone to participate and share it with friends, family, and colleagues. By gathering responses from across the nation, Pledge2Recycle Plastics aims to create a comprehensive overview of the items that confuse individuals the most when it comes to recycling. As an incentive, a £50 high street voucher will be awarded to one lucky winner from the completed surveys each month.
The data collected from this survey will be shared with the plastics industry, local authorities, and other stakeholders. The goal is to identify necessary changes that will better support plastic recycling efforts and drive positive environmental impact.
Volvo electric vehicles to be introduced by Powerday
Powerday, a recycling and waste management company, has “become one of the first companies in the UK to order Volvo Trucks’ fully electric skip loaders.”
This decision follows the successful trial by the company of Volvo’s electric skip loader.
Powerday anticipates saving more than 30 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The new electric skip loaders will initially be stationed at the company’s Old Oak Sidings site in north-west London.
Edward Crossan, chief executive at Powerday, said “In line with our net-zero roadmap, adopting these electric skip loaders into our fleet shows our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to cleaner air and environment in London.
“As a pioneer in the waste management industry, we proudly stand as the first company to embrace the future of sustainability. By investing in electric skip loaders, we lead the charge towards cleaner, greener solutions.”
The company has been measuring Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2020 and has set interim goals of a 20% reduction in 2023, 35% by 2026, and 50% by 2030, with the ultimate goal of achieving net zero by 2040. Their commitment has also been registered with the SME Climate Hub to contribute to the UN Race to Net Zero.
BMRA issues cables warning to metal recyclers
The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has issued a warning to metal recyclers and waste operators regarding the use of the recently issued Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 276 for non-WEEE cables.
According to the warning, these operators must notify the Environment Agency (EA) if they are currently using or planning to use the RPS. Failure to do so could lead to the premature withdrawal of the RPS, impacting sites operating under the T9 exemption and permitted sites.
Howard Bluck, the BMRA’s technical director said: “If you are processing non-WEEE cables, then you are likely to be dealing with a hazardous waste. The rationale behind RPS 276 is to enable operators, whose permits do not include the relevant EWC codes for hazardous cables, to continue operating lawfully. Unless companies can demonstrate the cables they are processing are non-hazardous, they are likely to be in breach of their permit conditions and risk the EA taking enforcement action if they haven’t notified the EA they are using the RPS.”
As of now, only around eight companies have notified the EA about their use of RPS 276. If the RPS were to be withdrawn, affected operators would be required to modify their existing permits, apply for a new permit, or cease accepting hazardous waste cable.
BMRA’s warning highlights the importance of compliance with the regulatory guidelines and underscores the need for proper notification to the EA to ensure the continuity of using RPS 276 for non-WEEE cables.
West Sussex launches campaign to thank residents for recycling
A new campaign designed to thank residents and boost recycling rates has been launched by the West Sussex Waste Partnership.
The ‘Think Before You Throw’ campaign promotes what can and can’t be recycled, the importance of putting the right item in the right bin, and tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle materials more confidently.
A new animated video series has been produced to show what happens after a bin is collected, how recycling and waste are processed, and how to recycle materials that aren’t collected within your recycling and waste bins at home.
Cllr Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex county council cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “Thanks to our residents, last year we reused and recycle over 200,000 tonnes of waste in West Sussex. This is a fantastic achievement but there are still many items going into rubbish bins that could be recycled.
“We’re asking people to ‘Think Before You Throw’, especially when it comes to materials such as black plastic pots, tubs and trays, empty aerosols, and other items that can go in special collections at home such as small electricals.”
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