Mercury, crime and lost cars top the EU agenda The EU has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury to improve how the dangerous metal is mined, used and disposed of, a project to develop hi-tech solutions to waste crime has issued a report, and the problem of missing end-of-life vehicles has been exposed.
Waste needs to be a safer place to work More needs to be done to reduce work fatalities and life-changing injuries in the UK waste sector, which has a relatively poor health and safety record, explains Christine Cole, research fellow at Nottingham Trent University.
Service efficiencies and the internet of things Dr Stephen Wise and Richard Garfield from Amec Foster Wheeler take a look at how technology will impact the sector in years to come.
Is it time we took control of our own waste removal? Managing director of waste removal firm Yes Waste James Scarlett looks at the benefits of using a waste removal service.
Why social engagement in the waste sector is important Each month Dr Adam Read, external affairs director at Suez, discusses the big issues. For September, he reflects on how networking and quality social time remains core to the waste sector. 1 comment
Improving your chances of success with EPC I recently spoke at a European conference on the successful delivery of waste management engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts.
Can businesses achieve a zero waste to landfill target? Waste hierarchy systems were introduced in 2011 in order to reduce the amount of waste arriving at landfill sites.
Why we need to be ready for a circular economy As we move closer to a circular economy becoming a reality, we need to consider the implications for the waste management industry and its future role – because less waste will require a different infrastructure from what we have now.
Is Michael Gove already a lame duck Defra secretary? Environment Secretary Michael Gove doesn’t seem to have much of a plan for waste and resources, while Defra has rejected calls to reform the packaging note recovery system.
Waste crime: the multi-million pound swindle Christine Cole is a Research Fellow, Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University. Here she looks at the devastating cost of waste crime.
Moving away from the image of a dirty and smelly industry As we journey towards reducing and reusing the rubbish mountain produced from an increasingly consumer driven population; resource management, waste recycling and energy from waste (EfW) have become major growth markets across the UK, and globally, explains Charles Cocklin, team leader waste for ...
Talking dirty Laura Tainsh, a waste specialist lawyer at Davidson Chalmers, gives her impressions of the ‘Resourcing the Future 2017 Conference – a partnership event by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, Environmental Services Association, Resource Association and Waste and Resources Action ...
Paradigm shift or step-by-step evolution, where must the UK waste sector go and by when? Each month, Dr Adam Read, practice director for resource efficiency & waste management @ Ricardo Energy & Environment discusses the big issues from his point of view, and this month reflects on what has been a busy week in the waste sector as we debated the future of UK waste management post Brexit ... 1 comment
50% recycling and beyond: challenges and opportunities To achieve real progress beyond 50% recycling rates the waste management and recycling industry needs closer collaboration and recognition of shared cross-sector goals and challenges, along with a shared risk and responsibility from producers, packagers, retails, recyclers and reprocessors, ...
Companies should take responsibility for recycling their own mattresses The rising issue of irresponsible recycling has been hitting landlords, retailers and housing associations where it hurts in recent weeks, with ill-equipped recycling companies abandoning mountains of mattresses and other waste materials and failing to adhere to the proper processes, says Nick ...
How do we protect our lands and oceans from plastic waste? Adrian Griffiths, founder and CEO at Recycling Technologies, looks at the growing problem of plastic waste finding its way into every corner of the globe and promises a technology that is capable of recycling over 90% of plastic waste.
Dealing with REACh: The regulation that can drive companies to distraction, says SWMF REACh – the EU’s regulation designed to protect human health and the environment from chemical risks – celebrated its 10 year anniversary on 1 June 2017. Here Chris Mayer, health and safety environmental manager, at South West Metal Finishing (SWMF), looks at the regulation that drives many ...
How the UK needs to take a giant step in energy from waste Stephen Wise, associate director, waste technical leader, Environment & Infrastructure, Amec Foster Wheeler, attended the first Global Energy from Waste from Waste Innovation summit in Berlin earlier this month. He argues that while many see energy from waste (EfW) as the simple burning of waste to ...
Navigating the ocean plastics current It was along the UK coastline in 1998 that Julian Tranter, MD of Kier Environmental Services, first encountered the pollution caused by marine plastic when he was conducting research for a UK utility company. Here, he looks at the dangers presented by the amount of waste plastics in the ocean, the ...
What the party manifestos promise to do with waste Where do the main political parties stand on waste? In the run-up to this month’s general election, Maxine Perella took a look at the manifestos of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party in search of answers on issues from EPR to the circular economy
Imagine what the circular economy could do for us The circular economy, where an increasing number of products are sold as services and the priority is extending product life as much as possible, will be truly disruptive and won’t immediately benefit everyone – but it will be worth it, says Ken Webster, head of innovation at the Ellen MacArthur ...
Eastern promise: the potential for waste to energy, power and fuels in Asia Each month, Dr Adam Read, practice director for resource efficiency & waste management @ Ricardo Energy & Environment discusses the big issues from his point of view, and this month reflects on what is happening with energy from waste solutions in Asia and what this means for UK businesses.
Taking Resources Forward webinar series: 1 down and 3 to go! Kath Warren & Adam Read of Ricardo reflect on this new series of webinars and look back at their first session which focused on energy from waste.
Taking control Phil Davidson, senior manager sustainability, Europe & Asia, at HAVI, a specialist in packaging, supply chain and waste management, takes a look at how waste and recycling are shaping the circular economy.
Diesel manifestos are "short sighted", says scientist The head of a team of renewable fuel scientists says he is concerned that "current party manifestos clearly demonstrate politicians’ lack of understanding of true fuel emissions and engine efficiency".
Why social engagement in the waste sector is important Each month Dr Adam Read, external affairs director at Suez, discusses the big ...
Is it time we took control of our own waste removal? Managing director of waste removal firm Yes Waste James Scarlett looks at the ...