Fiveways expands hire fleet ahead of mandatory food waste collections
Ahead of the introduction of mandatory food waste collections for every household in England, Fiveways Group has taken delivery of the first of ten dedicated food waste collection vehicles as the vehicle hire specialist continues to expand and diversify its fleet.
The Terberg Orus is a compact satellite collection RCV (Refuse Collection Vehicle) that provides an alternative solution for the collection of organic materials. The vehicle offers a leakproof watertight body with optimised compaction ratios for dense organic waste.
In addition to its smooth internal body, which promotes a clean unloading operation, and an integral bin lift that provides a “highly-efficient” collection operation the Terberg Orus boasts a number of features including:
- Hydraulic bin lift for the simultaneous handling of two 120/240/360L bins or one 660/770/1100 L bin.
- DIN arm lifting system for 770/1,100L containers.
- Manufactured from steel or aluminium top help optimise payload.
- Option to unload into a full-size RCV or static open containers.
- Compatible with weighing and RFID systems.
- Leakproof watertight body, an essential requirement for organic waste collections.
- Outstanding manoeuvrability in narrow and/or confined spaces.
Commenting on the expansion of Fiveways’ fleet, the company’s Head of Development, Emma Cheesman, said: “The requirement for local authorities in England to provide separate, weekly food waste collections is likely to increase pressure on budgets which are often already stretched.
“Leasing dedicated food waste collection vehicles such as the Terberg Orus can provide a cost-effective solution in both the short and long term. This first vehicle will soon be servicing the residents of Lewisham and we expect high levels of demand as we take delivery of the remaining nine.”
“Currently only around half of UK local authorities offer a dedicated food waste collection service. More detail on mandatory food waste collection requirements, and plans to improve consistent collection services for other waste streams, are expected soon in the Government’s response to its ‘Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England.”
UK set to become world’s leading exporter of GreenTech
UK-based recycling and waste management software innovators, ISB Global, has joined UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Global Incubator Programme.
Their involvement with the programme signals the potential for the UK to become the world’s leading exporter of GreenTech.
ISB Global secured its place on the Global Incubator Programme following its involvement with the EDGE Scaleup Programme, a separate UKRI programme designed to support companies already on their scaling journey and that has the potential to disrupt existing markets.
ISB Global’s step-up into the Global Incubator Programme also evidences the continued strength of UK businesses to scale internationally.
We are delighted that we’re set to continue to scale globally through the Global Incubator Programme.
Chris Williams, Founder and CEO of ISB Global, commented: “When we joined Innovate UK EDGE Scaleup Programme, we set ourselves the goal to drive the rapid scale-up of our operations across the globe.
“These programmes with Innovate UK, are two of many initiatives launched at ISB Global during 2022 and 2023. All of these are driving the development and deployment of Waste & Recycling One (WR1), our industry-leading waste management software solution.
“A key focus area has been our people, kicking off with a culture survey which our facilitator commented that it was the best result she has ever seen. From the feedback, we identified 49 improvement actions, with 26 completed and 21 in progress for Q1 2023. We have also seen a 95% staff retention since the survey, a 15% improvement from before.
“Our work with the UKRI has already yielded excellent results, and we are delighted that we’re set to continue to scale globally through the Global Incubator Programme.
“The UK is already recognised as a global leader in technology innovation, and at ISB Global, we’re excited to be leading the UK’s charge to now also be recognised as the leaders in waste management technology.”
Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme is a fantastic opportunity to support innovative UK SMEs.
Jon Hazell, Innovate UK Partnership Manager, commented: “Innovate UK’s Global Incubator Programme is a fantastic opportunity to support innovative UK SMEs to explore the potential of overseas markets. We’re delighted that ISB Global has joined the programme, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the business progresses.’
ISB Global joined the UK EDGE Scaleup Programme in January 2022, which runs until May 2023. In addition, ISB joined the Global Incubator Programme in January 2023, which will run for six months.
Latest recycling statistics indicate a drop in landfill rate
Joseph Doherty, Managing Director at Newry recycling company Re-Gen Waste, has been assessing the latest waste collections statistics by Northern Ireland Councils.
The recycling, landfill and energy recovery figures are published every quarter by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the July-September 2022 have been released this month.
“It’s very useful to compare the statistics to July-September 2021. Unfortunately, the recycling rate has gone down from 52.3% in 2021 to 51.5% in 2022. All 11 Councils in Northern Ireland reported decreases in total waste collections between July and September 2022.”
Household waste makes up around 86% of all Locally Authority collected waste.
The largest contributing factor to this rise was the increase in waste sent for dry recycling.
“One of the successes, however, is Newry, Mourne & Down Council which reported the largest increase in their household recycling rate compared to July to September 2021 at 1.4 percentage points. The largest contributing factor to this rise was the increase in waste sent for dry recycling. The Council also had the highest waste energy recovery rate at 42.9%. Newry, Mourne and Down Council had the second lowest rate of landfill (at 5.2%), just after Mid Ulster Council at 3.3%.
“In my opinion, the best option for the householder is a commingled bin collection like that in Newry, Mourne and Down, in which they can place their plastics, paper, cardboard, glass and metals.
“Glass in particular can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. We’re able to recycle over 90% of glass which is melted down into new bottles and jars. I believe that manufacturers, recycling companies and re-processors should keep all recyclates in circulation where possible, and out of landfill sites.
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Causeway Coast & Glens also showed an increase in their household recycling rates. The rate decreased in Mid Ulster District Council but the remaining seven local authorities reported similar rates to those in July to September 2021.
The landfill rate has dropped from 23.7% in July-September 2021 to 22.8%.
“The landfill rate has dropped from 23.7% in July-September 2021 to 22.8%. This is great news. Methane from landfill is 21 times greater than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. There is a viable alternative to landfill and, in Newry, we’re manufacturing refuse-derived fuel which is exported to highly efficient heat and power plants. This fuel has a low carbon cost and it is going to energy plants with district housing networks where the fuel is used most efficiently.
“There are three top performing Local Authorities when it comes to landfill and they are Mid Ulster; Newry, Mourne and Down Council; and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council. These three Councils landfill the least waste in Northern Ireland. They are managing their waste effectively and in line with the new waste hierarchy. The DAERA report shows that energy recovery has increased by 12% to 24.4%, and that is a better solution than landfilling material.
“I believe that we all need to work together to ensure that recyclable material gets to the correct bin. The range of facilities such as household kerbside collections, amenity sites, household recycling centres and street recycling bins all have their part to play in increasing the rate of recycling and reducing the level of material landfilled. Householders are to be commended for their part in placing recycling materials in the right bin.”
MP tours UK’s largest waste-wood-powered biomass plant
Martyn Day MP visited the UK’s largest waste wood-powered biomass plant to understand the critical role of biomass in producing renewable energy.
The Member of Parliament for Linlithgow and East Falkirk was shown around RWE’s £300 million biomass combined heat and power (CHP) facility at Markinch in Fife.
The tour on February 10 was organised by the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA), in association with Biomass UK, as part of the WRA’s ongoing MP engagement work to improve understanding of the wood recycling industry.
RWE Markinch is powered by 400,000 tonnes of biomass fuel per year, 90% of which is made up of recovered waste wood which is not suitable for recycling and might otherwise be sent to landfill, while the remaining 10% is forestry residue.
Originally built to provide heat and power to the Tullis Russell Papermill before it closed, the 55MW power plant now provides electricity to the grid and district heating to local homes and businesses.
We were delighted to welcome Mr Day to RWE Markinch.
Mr Day learnt how the Markinch plant contributes to the UK’s net zero ambitions by diverting waste wood from landfill and providing sustainable baseload energy.
Martyn Day MP, said: “It was a pleasure to visit the RWE Biomass CHP plant today and to hear how the plant produces renewable energy from recycled waste wood and provides heat for the local community. This is a brilliant example of how Scotland is leading the way in renewable energy and the low carbon economy.”
WRA chair Richard Coulson, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Day to RWE Markinch. This plant perfectly demonstrates how using recovered waste wood to generate energy has massive environmental benefits and is a great example of the circular economy in action.
“Waste wood is a valuable domestic fuel and plays a vital role in providing reliable, baseload power as part of the wider renewable energy mix.”
Valpak warns new EPR legislation in France is catching UK businesses unawares
Reconomy Group company Valpak reports that UK businesses are being caught unawares by the latest French EPR legislation.
France operates the only extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles and furniture in the world. Last year, following the introduction of the new EPR for DIY equipment, gardening equipment and toys, a team from Valpak organised a scoping trip to Paris.
Reporting back, Kate Loosmore, International Compliance Manager at Valpak – the UK’s largest compliance scheme – said that those UK businesses unaware of the new regulations are facing serious repercussions.
She said: “Unlike UK compliance, the French schemes have no size threshold, so businesses are obligated as soon as they place one item onto the market. And with online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay now held responsible for the compliance of sellers on their sites, companies face more scrutiny than ever. Some businesses have been threatened with suspension from trading on online sites until they can show proof of compliance.”
Many companies are caught out when the products included in a scheme represent only a small part of their business. For example, a fashion retailer may sell a small number of plant pots, or playing cards – items which fall under the new EPR for gardening equipment and toys, Valpak says.
At Valpak, we are seeing invoices for our international customers rise substantially.
Loosmore says that costs and data reporting requirements need to be taken into account when planning: “At Valpak, we are seeing invoices for our international customers rise substantially. Reporting can also be complex and time-consuming – to give an idea of scale, Valpak calculations show that the time required for reporting under the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax, EPR and the Deposit Return Scheme will rise by around 368% compared with current reporting.
Valpak’s horizon scanning service highlights the growing trend for environmental legislation around the world, while its sister company RLG operates close to 40 compliance schemes globally. Valpak research shows that EPR is catching on around the world. Sweden, the Netherlands and Spain all have plans to implement textiles EPR; Finland is due to obligate all UK-based companies, and countries as far apart as Canada and Thailand are introducing new legislation.
Loosmore added: “Each country has different requirements – in some European countries, for example, a board game box is classed as packaging; in others, it is not. France plans to require retailers to organise take-back for products like toys, garden equipment and electronics. For online sellers especially, this will be challenging. Preparation is crucial.”
CRJ Services Ltd appointed as the exclusive dealer for Kentek Systems Ltd
CRJ Services says it is delighted to announce an exclusive dealership agreement with trommel screen manufacturer, Kentek Systems. The new agreement sees CRJ Services appointed as their dealer across England and Wales.
Kentek Systems Ltd is an Irish manufacturer of recycling systems, specialising in static and semi-mobile, electric trommel screens.
CRJ Services says Kentek is renowned for combining robust build quality with the energy-efficient operation and its XD range of trommel screens, available in a range of sizes, uses only two motors, offering “significant operating cost reductions” compared to other electric and diesel-powered trommel screens.
Ben McQuaid, Director at CRJ Services Ltd, commented: “We are excited to bring another quality brand into the CRJ Sales portfolio in Kentek. Their electric trommel screen solutions align with our objective of offering our clients quality equipment solutions that cater to the ever-evolving waste management and recycling industry. The energy efficiency of their trommels will be an appealing concept for our customers as energy prices continue to rise.”
Gerard McFadden, Director at MacMachinery (Kentek Systems) Ltd, said: “We are thrilled to bring CRJ Services onboard as our exclusive dealer for England, Scotland and Wales. Having worked with CRJ Services on previous projects, it was the obvious next step to bring them into our dealer network.
“Their ethos and proven track record as quality distributors of recycling equipment makes them a fantastic asset to the Kentek brand, and we look forward to working closely with them.”
Feature
The ticking clock gets louder
Dr Stephen Wise, Chief Strategic Development Officer, Advetec, explores the challenges facing Scottish waste handlers in the future.
When Scotland’s Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater confirmed the ban on new energy from waste (EfW) plants in July 2022 – it presented a new and very pressing challenge for waste handlers and local councils: what will they do with their waste?
The 2025 ban on biodegradable matter to landfill is imminent and will require volumes of waste to find a new home unless it is AT4 compliant. Before the moratorium on new build EfW, this may well have sparked greater demand for incineration, however, no new capacity limits that route. While greater waste exports are predicted as a consequence – it’s not a responsible long-term solution grounded in the values of the circular economy.
A more viable incineration exit strategy is of course welcome for Scotland, but only when there is the infrastructure elsewhere to handle that waste.
Act local
The answer almost certainly lies in a greater focus on local solutions – especially for a country full of remote and rural communities where the logistics of waste collection and processing are challenging. Instead of taking waste ‘elsewhere’ for processing – cooperation and partnership between local authorities, businesses and waste handlers could drive innovation and create local capacity.
For example, a local business in need of an AD plant could partner with a local authority to create a solution for all. When communities think more collegiately, we can achieve greater change.
Recycle more?
The newly published Ricardo report, commissioned by Scottish Environmental Services Association, is right to call for Scottish waste infrastructure to shift towards more recycling and reduction of carbon – but we need technology to support this shift and deliver the circular economy.
Even the top-performing countries globally for recycling – Germany, Austria, South Korea and Wales – still generate over 40% as residual waste, which requires management and treatment. Even with a greater focus on recycling in Scotland – there will still be a residual waste fraction which requires treatment.
All of this highlights Scotland’s lack of a clear and considered residual waste strategy. But while it would be easy to lambast the decision-makers for this lack of detail – a better use of collective endeavour would be to help Scotland to stave off an impending crisis.
To do that, the waste industry must push for the barriers to change to be removed. Inexperienced resources, a lack of urgency in the planning and permitting process and siloed thinking are hindering the adoption of important new technologies.
Innovate now
Whether that relates to AI to improve the accuracy of waste sorting, using Advetec’s biotechnology to make residual waste AT4 compliant or turn it into SRF, or adopting new mindsets to deliver shared community solutions – innovation is vital to Scotland’s waste future.
New technologies and the capacity they create could help Scotland deliver the change now, despite challenging economic circumstances and limited time to implement the infrastructure. A country full of rural locations and remote communities needs local, flexible, scalable, and innovative waste treatment solutions to deliver change quickly.
Scotland urgently needs a residual waste strategy – and one which gives due consideration to the power of innovation. 2025 is not far away and the ticking clock is getting louder.
