WEEE Ireland sets new record for e-waste collections
WEEE Ireland, Ireland’s largest electrical and battery recycling scheme, surpassed national targets once again in 2018, with consumers and businesses collecting a total 36,131 tonnes of e-waste and 856 tonnes of waste batteries for recycling.
The scheme’s annual report, published in conjunction with its AGM this week, revealed that WEEE Ireland recycled the equivalent of 10.2kg of e-waste per head of population last year, a new national record.
WEEE Ireland has achieved a 65% collection rate on behalf of its members a year ahead of the EU WEEE Directive target in 2019.
At a time when the country is preparing for the roll out of Irelands 2019 Climate Action Plan, WEEE Ireland’s 2018 recycling efforts contributed to a saving of equivalent of 220,000 tonnes ofCO2 emissions as compared with the same items being sent to landfill.
WEEE Ireland is the largest WEEE & Battery member compliance scheme in the country, boasting a total 970 members as of 31 December 2018.
WEEE Ireland has been chosen as the compliance scheme for the majority of producers for the fourteenth consecutive year.
Among the items recycled were an estimated 3.2 million lamps and lightbulbs, 195,000 televisions and monitors and 13 million small appliances.
48% of all the e-waste recycled was large household appliances such as dishwashers, ovens and washing machines, which can be returned to retailers for free recycling upon delivery of new appliances.
Veolia supports London’s Climate Action Week
Waste management firm Veolia is supporting the Mayor of London’s Climate Action Week through its Recycling Fund for Communities.
London Climate Action Week (1 to 7 July) follows the Mayor’s declaration of a ‘climate emergency’. Veolia’s Recycling Fund for Communities supports London’s grassroots projects that protect the environment and encourage people to “do the right thing” with their waste.
In 2018, the fund expanded to encourage more projects that demonstrated a positive impact on plastic waste.
On 3 July over 50 Londoners will gather at Veolia’s Southwark recycling facility, to see what happens to their recycling after it is collected and discuss their ideas to help solve climate change.
As part of the free event, Veolia will help project creators to shape their ideas for protecting local resources, and provide advice on securing funding through its Recycling Fund for Communities. Attendees will also tour its recycling facility to see what happens to recyclables after collection and learn more about building a circular economy.
As well as taking away new ideas for their projects, all attendees will be offered a climate change tool-kit which will include reusable goodies, plant seeds and Veolia’s peat-free soil improver called Pro Grow, which is made from recycled household food and garden waste.
DS Smith Recycling appoints new managing director
DS Smith has appointed John Melia to the role of managing director for its UK recycling division.
John supersedes Mat Prosser, who takes up a new post as Head of Strategic Business Development and Transformation (Europe).
John brings more than 25 years’ experience in the manufacturing and process industries, where he was responsible for leading complex multi-site organisations. Holding director-level positions in commercial, operations and business development functions, Melia also boasts expertise with companies spanning the chemicals and food sectors.
As managing director, John will lead DS Smith’s UK operations, set against a backdrop of the growing public recognition that effective recycling will be crucial to in cementing the UK as a leader in pioneering a truly sustainable economy.
A key element of this will be managing the UK collection, processing and supply of paper for recycling (PfR) within the context of DS Smith’s own closed loop recycled packaging model, as well as the supply of quality materials for recycling to its recycling partners across the globe.
John will also work to ensure that DS Smith’s strategic goals of delighting its customers, realising the potential of its people and leading the way in sustainability are at the heart of its UK recycling and waste management strategy.