1. Northern Ireland bag declaration

Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has urged businesses to to declare the number of single use carrier bags that they have issued

The Department of the Environment (DoE) is asking businesses dispensing new single use bags to register at the NI Direct website to declare the number of single use carrier bags issued and to make the associated payment to government.

Durkan said: “On 8 April my predecessor introduced a five pence levy on single use carrier bags. The levy has been well received by both consumers and retailers and early indications are that the target reduction of at least 80 per cent is within our reach.

“It is now essential that retailers complete this process and make the associated payment by 28 July. I expect the levy to generate useful monies to help community and voluntary organisations, businesses, schools and charities improve the environment.”

Read more about Northern Ireland’s bag levy.

2. Environment Agency Triennial Review cost over half a million

The Triennial Review of the Environment Agency and Natural England cost over half a million pounds (£530,686), figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have revealed.

The figures were published by Defra earlier this week following a Freedom of Information request last month from an undisclosed source.

According to Defra, between 1 July 2012, when preparatory work for the review began, and 26 June 2013, when it was published, the full costs attributed to the review team were £442,000 (however these costs were also attributed to the Triennial Reviews of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Veterinary Products Committee). A further £98,686 was spent on an accountancy services contract to accountancy firm KPMG.

Defra said that it was publishing the figures ‘in keeping with the government’s Transparency Agenda’.

Read more information about the EA/Natural England Triennial review.

3. Biffa boss to star on ‘Undercover boss’

UK waste management business Biffa is to feature in the Channel 4 series Undercover Boss, next week.

In one of six episodes to air this summer, Channel 4 follows Biffa Chief Executive Ian Wakelin as he goes undercover at Biffa sites across the UK, masquerading as an unemployed worker seeking employment in the waste sector.

According to the Channel 4 website, ‘tears and trauma come to the fore’ as Wakelin discovers what it is like to work in challenging conditions.

The episode of Undercover Boss featuring Biffa will appear on Channel 4, Monday 29 July at 9pm.

Read more about Undercover Boss.

4.Real Nappy pack for royal baby

Carmarthenshire County Council has sent a real nappy trial pack to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their newborn son, HRH Prince George.

The council’s waste and recycling team put together the pack for the royal prince, who was born on Monday (23 July), in the hope that the Duke and Duchess will consider using real nappies, which are reported to be better for the environment.

The trial pack includes half a dozen ‘prefold’ nappies, three wraps (covers) and a roll of biodegradable liners as well as an information leaflet and folding guide.

Executive Board Member for Technical Services Councillor Colin Evans said: “I would like to congratulate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy on behalf of the council and the people of Carmarthenshire.

“We are delighted to be able to send them a real nappy pack and hope they will help to raise awareness on the benefits of using cloth nappies.”

Read more about real nappies.

5. Novelis hosts recycling camp in South Korea

Aluminum rolling and recycling company Novelis has held a recycling education programme for elementary children in South Korea.

‘Greenbiz Camp’, co-sponsored by Junior Achievement Korea, a global youth educational group, was held between Wednesday (24 July) until today (26 July) in Andong, North Kyongsang Province, near the company’s Yeongju plant (pictured right).

Hosting 52 children, the three-day camp aims to ‘teach the importance of recycling’ and provide ‘eco-friendly experiences’ including making a solar energy car. Campers will also visit the Novelis Yeongju Recycling Center, which is Asia’s largest aluminum recycling facility.

Campers and attendees, including An HyoJong, Deputy Mayor of Yeongju City, and Yuh MoonHwan, Chief Operating Officer from Junior Achievement Korea, have also signed a recycling pledge to commit to recycling at least once a day for the sake of the environment.

Commenting on the initiative, President of Novelis Asia, Shashi Maudgal, said: “Our business growth is built on a foundation that encompasses economic, environmental and social needs.

“Novelis has a strong focus on making our agenda relevant to our employees, customers, partners and the community.”

Read more about Novelis.

6. TUCO signs Hospitality and Food Service Agreement

Julie Barker, Managing Director of the University Caterers’ Organisation (TUCO), signed up to WRAP’s Hospitality and Food Service Agreement at the 2013 Annual Members Conference.

In front of an audience of 110 members from across 59 institutions, TUCO committed to encourage its members to contribute to the attainment of WRAP’s dual targets of reducing food and associated packaging waste arising by five per cent and increasing the overall rate of food and packaging waste being recycled, sent to anaerobic digestion (AD) or composted to at least 70 per cent by the end of 2015.

Barker commented: “It goes without saying that reducing food and packaging waste are a challenge for university caterers today. In an age where people expect a product or service to be responsibly sourced, produced, delivered or disposed of, students are no exception.

“In signing WRAP’s agreement, we hope to harness the commitment and passion already demonstrated by member institutions, encouraging them to go one step further, reducing waste even further, recycling more and together, reaping the significant environmental and financial rewards.”

Read more about the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement or TUCO’s annual conference 2013.

7. WEEE Free Week schools competition

Bromley Council has announced that the winners of the WEEE Free Week schools competition is Pratts Bottom Primary School.

The competition, run in partnership with Sweeep Kuusakoski and Veolia Environmental Services, encouraged pupils to bring in broken and unwanted electrical goods for recycling. Each participating school was given a large recycling container and one week to fill it with as much WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) as possible.

The winning pupils, who filled their container with everything from hairdryers to radios, were presented with a cheque for £500 by Councillor Stephen Carr. The top students reportedly generated 8.95kgs per head.

Burwood School came in second, winning £300 for recycling 8.71kg per head, with the £200 third prize going to Downe Primary School for collecting 7.64kg per head.

More than 16,000 pupils from the 37 participating schools joined the competition, collecting a total of over 21,000kgs.

Councillor Stephen Carr said: “This competition shows just how enthusiastic our young people are about recycling. Any initiative that encourages waste to be diverted from landfill, helping to keep council tax down is essential.”

Read more about WEEE Free Week.