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Resource efficiency

PAWRS for thought: Plant and networking in Devon

Held in Paignton, the Plant and Waste Recycling Show (PAWRS) is one of Europe's largest outdoor events in the recycling and waste management sector and prides itself on attracting exhibitors from as far afield as Canada, Pakistan and Europe. Richard Hunt, chairman, PAWRS, reports on some of the exhibitors you can expect to see at this year's show.

Whitehall's waste policy power shift

The government is expected to respond to calls from an influential House of Lords committee to install a ‘waste champion’ at ministerial level in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. Could this stimulate the bioeconomy, and what does it mean for Defra? David Burrows reports.

Financing for growth amid the green shoots of recovery

There have been more than a few green shoots noted in the economy in the recent past, so it’s no surprise that senior decision-makers are now turning their minds to growth opportunities and how this can be achieved in a sustainable and successful way. Sean Dixon, head of services sector, Royal Bank of Scotland, looks at how businesses can plan for growth.

Easier collection of recyclables in the Costa del Sol and Malaga

Geesinknorba Spain has recently delivered six GPM III waste collection vehicles for the collection of paper, cardboard and plastic recyclables to the provinces of Costa del Sol and Malaga. Tim Byrne, specialist in waste collection in Mediterranean countries, explains what makes these vehicles unique in Spain.

Demolition's changing status to waste handler

Demolition operators should no longer be regarded as part of the deconstruction sector, but more as waste handlers, says Howard Button of the National Federation of Demotion Contractors. The chief executive office explains how the industry is moving from being perceived as dirty and dangerous to modern and high tech.

Illegal packaging and its impact on the UK

Europe’s packaging firms are calling for more testing of overseas products following a flood of cheap imports from the Far East that don’t comply with regulations and threaten to contaminate recycling streams. David Burrows, freelance writer, investigates.

What impact will the new MRF Regulations have?

What will the new materials recovery facilities (MRF) Regulations mean for the waste sector, in particular for local authorities and their services? Victoria Hutchin and Dr Adam Read report.

Business options for aircraft recycling

About 25% of the current civilian aircraft fleet will be decommissioned in the next 15 years, creating a potential of approximately half a million tonnes of valuable materials and a multi-million Euro business. Professor Joerg Woidasky, Peter Saile and Sebastian Jeanvré report on a unique recycling challenge.

IFAT: Innovation, resources and solutions

IFAT, the trade show for environmental technology, takes place on 5-9 May in Munich and, once again, intends to be a showcase for innovations designed to meet the environmental challenges in countries around the world. Silvia Fritscher reports.

Conveyors and screens to ensure long life and productivity

Recycling plants need to move a vast amount of material through their facilities effectively, maximising productivity and ensuring quality output. Claire Col looks at operators who supply conveyors and screens and the options they provide.

Eradicating nasty niffs and dangerous dust particles

Although it’s a cliché to refer to a company as the ‘industry’s best kept secret’ it’s difficult to describe dust and odour suppression specialist, APPS UK, as anything else. Darren Cornforth tells Geraldine Faulkner why, and explains how he has no time for some dust and odour companies who don’t ‘walk the walk’.

Matching the needs of today: Bins get clever

With waste management demands becoming more challenging, manufacturers of bins and containers are developing increasingly more sophisticated solutions. Freelance writer Claire Col takes a look at a selection.

Recycling in Wales: One year in office

Minister for natural resources and food in Wales, Alun Davies reflects on his first year in the post, the achievements so far and what still needs to be done.

Making more of waste heat: Introducing ORC

DECC estimates that between 10 and 40 terawatt hours of heat is currently lost and rejected from industrial sources in the UK every year. More of it could be recovered, but where there is no local demand to exploit the heat directly, an alternative is to use it to generate electricity. Trevor Smith reports on a new technology.

Moving waste in a safe and responsible manner

The Health & Safety Executive ranks waste and recycling as a high risk industry. Although the sector employs only about 0.6% of the employees in the UK, it accounts for over 4% of all workplace fatalities. Freelance writer, Joe Morris looks at how the materials handling sector is working to keep its employees safe.

Helping waste make the change to resource

With ever more emphasis on resource efficiency and waste being seen as ‘stuff with value’, a sector that is playing a significant role in helping waste achieve its transformation into a valuable resource is shredders, balers and compactors. Joe Morris, freelance writer, speaks to four players in the market.

An Irish David takes on sector's IT Goliath

Limerick-based AMCS Group specialises in the provision of integrated waste management software and vehicle technology. Geraldine Faulkner finds out how the group is taking on the international market and how it is launching a mobile app that is expected to revolutionise communications and data collection.

Helping RCV operators save time and money

Hefty insurance premiums and rising fuel costs are encouraging waste collection fleets to use new logistics technology. David Burrows, freelance writer, looks at present innovation and takes a peak at the future.

Overcoming barriers to hospitality's food waste

Last month, the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association held a hospitality-specific event to find out why restaurants, hotels and caterers are still throwing so much food waste into landfill. How much more of what’s unavoidable could be recycled into energy through anaerobic digestion? David Burrows, freelance writer, investigates.

Weighing in on the 'Mind the gap' debate

With the UK predicted to have a waste infrastructure shortfall by 2025 and an urgent need for more data on waste collection, Claire Col speaks to weighing specialists who are going to play a significant role in helping to forecaste future trends.

Are UK landfill sites potential gold mines?

In the second of two features focussing on metal recovery from landfill mining, David Burrows looks at the first full-scale enhanced landfill mining project in Belgium and considers whether our landfill sites in the UK are a potential gold mine of resources too.

EU e-waste collection boosted by legislative revision

The increasing volume of WEEE is recognised by the European Commission as the most rapidly growing waste, therefore it is seen as an environmental concern. The latest revision of WEEE 2 Directive (2012/19/EU) emphasises a much higher rate of collection, recovery, and recycling. Monika Chrusciak reports.

Encouraging growth in resource efficiency

An economy that is committed to achieving higher levels of resource efficiency is somewhat of a pipe dream right now for those trying to deliver intelligent-led waste solutions, but if an influential group of Conservative MPs get their way, this could soon become a reality. Maxine Perella, freelance journalist reports.