Energy from Waste technology is at the heart of a shift to a circular economy I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of the Environmental Services Association (ESA) report on the role of energy recovery in a circular economy last week (6 June) at the House of Commons, which was both well attended and well received.
Clean energy is losing out to the 'Blue Planet' effect If you can avoid being distracted by the daily headlines on plastic straws, coffee cups and deposit schemes, there are some deeper developments materialising that could have quite significant implications for this industry as it looks to modernise and operate effectively within a new, low-carbon ...
How we can move away from a throwaway society In his second blog, Rob Edmondson picks up on the theme of single use plastics and what it will take to move away from the throwaway society.
We need positive PR to raise the UK's recycling rates With the UK forecast to miss the government target of recycling 50% of household waste by 2020, a stronger connection between the public and the recycling and waste management Industry has never been more important.
CIWM'S New Member Network lays the foundations for the sector of tomorrow I always look forward to May.
What's in store for the environmental services sector? Over the next few months guest blogger Rob Edmondson will be exploring a number of industry issues and trends. In his first blog, Rob sets out some of the key issues of the moment and the themes he will be covering.
Food waste reporting makes business sense Open disclosure of food waste by major food businesses has obvious sustainability benefits, but taking action can also improve other efficiencies.
Can householders be persuaded to accept pay as you throw? Earlier this month LARAC re-ignited the debate about pay as you throw (PAYT) when it called for research into how a ‘discretionary direct charging system’ could be implemented in the UK.
Why is the waste sector pulling its PR punches? I guess all generations reflect similarly, but as I grow older it strikes me that I joined a sector, and a movement, at the same time as some incredibly wise people. And now we’re all knocking on a bit.
There are no easy answers to the fight against plastic With Defra's announcement of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in England and the existing packaging recovery note system subject to a National Audit Office review, there seems to be no end to the raging plastics waste debate.
We've missed the point about coffee cup recycling The point about the coffee cups debate is that everyone is missing the point.
We are finally asking the right questions about deposit return schemes Last week was perhaps a pivotal point in the evolution of UK waste management policy and practice, and that had nothing to do with our stagnating recycling rate or our hopes and fears post Brexit.
Plastic pledges mount- but how long is their lifecycle? The government is making big promises on the environment but despite a few glimmers of hope there is concern that May and Gove may be jumping on the bandwagon of fleeting public sentiment.
When it comes to the PRN system, we must lead change or have it dictated to us The writing is on the wall for the current packaging recovery note system, which means that our industry must find an effective solution before the government forces an unsuitable one on us. 2 comments
Is energy recovery a critical transition step towards a more circular economy in the UK? This month, I reflect on two days of heated debate at the 2018 EfW Conference hosted at etc.venues County Hall, London.
How the NHS can improve its waste management systems Graham Flynn, managing director of Anenta, an independent environment services contract management partner, revisits Adam Read's RWW blog on waste management infrastructure in the NHS. 1 comment
Where next for Europe's Energy from Waste? With calorific value, technology efficiency and output volume now considered imperative to the profitability of energy from waste (EfW), European demand for more refined feedstock continues to increase.
Are biodegradable plastics better for the environment? Plastics are indispensable in many areas of our modern lives, yet questions over the material’s sustainability are rarely out of the headlines these days. 1 comment
Is Defra paying lip service to natural capital goals? When Environment Secretaries clutch reusable coffee cups as they walk into 10 Downing Street, you can bet a green policy announcement is due.
Cut backs and staffing concerns leave recycling in the shadows at UK hospitals Here I am two weeks into my rest and recuperation period at home following the removal of my gall bladder at Warwick Hospital on the 19t January 2018. 1 comment
Identifying the UK's recycling issues is the only way to reach the country's 2020 target The decline in the UK’s household recycling rate has increased concerns over the ability of local authorities to collectively meet the 50% target for 2020.
The only way to reach government's avoidable waste by 2050 target is if we're all seeking to achieve it The earth's resources are becoming scarce and extremely costly to access and it's now time for legislation to be put in place to stop the linear products from going to landfill and to create a circular economy.
Bioeconomy offers big promises for the future Back in 2014, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee concluded that government policies had resulted in stagnation rather than stimulation of the bioeconomy.
Political pledges point to a positive 2018 News headlines of 2017 have been dominated by the increasingly heated debates over controversial political issues, from Brexit to President Trump’s provocative Twitter feed.
Improving the quality of SRF/RDF The industry must maximise opportunities where RDF and SRF can become a more sustainable fuel source, according to Dr Stephen Wise, waste sector director and waste technical leader at Wood Plc.
CIWM'S New Member Network lays the foundations for the sector of tomorrow I always look forward to May.
How we can move away from a throwaway society In his second blog, Rob Edmondson picks up on the theme of single use plastics and ...