1. Sainsbury’s recycles 1.5 million Red Noses

Sainsbury’s has announced that it has recycled 1.5 million Comic Relief red noses in partnership with UK carpet underlay manufacturer, Ball & Young, following Red Nose Day 2013 in March.

Customers who purchased the red noses for Comic Relief were encouraged to return them to Sainsbury’s stores, and they have since been recycled into ‘thousands of rolls’ of carpet underlay.

Sales Director at Ball & Young, Ann Shaw, said: “The noses have been processed in our state of the art factory where they have been chipped, bonded and rejuvenated to attain the quality necessary for our carpet underlay. “

Sainsbury’s Comic Relief Partnership Manager, Katherine How, added: “This is great news for the environment and it’s helping Comic Relief supporters make an even bigger, lasting impact.”

2. Local authorities warned about cardboard composting

Paper recycler Smurfit Kappa Recycling, in conjunction with the Organics Recycling Group (ORG), has warned that local authorities that send household cardboard for composting along with green waste are ‘missing out on revenue’, depriving the manufacturing industry of a ‘valuable resource’.

According to ORG, the presence of cardboard can also ‘adversely affect the quality of compost’, a problem particularly prevalent in the winter months when the amount of green waste produced falls significantly.

Business Development Manager for Local Authorities at Smurfit Kappa, Ian Halson, said: “Gate fees for garden waste are today around £25 per tonne and upwards, so any tonnage of cardboard waste that is diverted from composting offers considerable scope for savings.

“What’s more many reprocessors will pay councils for the cardboard, which is a valuable recyclable resource. This is a win-win situation, generating additional revenue for local authorities while helping the UK recovered paper industry to become self-sufficient.”

Smurfit Kappa has been in the news recently following a ‘large fire’ at their plant in Birmingham.

3. New president for BHS

Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) has announced that it has appointed John Warne as its President, effective immediately.

Formerly Director of Sales and Marketing at BHS, Warne will now ‘oversee company-wide sales and operations’, including: sales and marketing, engineering, research and development, supply chain and production, and product delivery and support.

Speaking of the appointment, CEO of BHS Steve Miller, said: “John’s impact at BHS has been significant and immediate… Having the right team in place is fundamental to our success as we continue to offer integrated and innovative solutions to the world’s waste, recycling and energy needs.”

4. New soil treatment facility for Hertfordshire

Contaminated soils specialists Biogénie Site Remediation Ltd have announced that planning permission for a new soil treatment facility in Ware, Hertfordshire, has been granted.

Constructed in conjunction with waste management company, Biffa, the facility will have a capacity of 60,000 tonnes and will ‘enable the restoration of the adjacent Biffa landfill’.

Soil Treatment Facilities Director of Biogénie, Jon Owens, said: “As the regulatory focus moves towards the producers of hazardous waste, we can reassure customers that they can continue to operate as they have been doing with our fully traceable and cost effective service.”

5. Footprint Awards shortlist announced

A number of ‘waste management and reduction initiatives’ have been recognised in the shortlist for the Footprint Awards.

The awards, which feature a total of 13 categories, were set up to recognise ‘work that organisations in the foodservice industry are doing to in some way redress the balance for the benefit of themselves, their community and the industry at large’.

Four companies have been listed in the ‘Waste Management and Reduction Award’: Mitchells and Butlers with Biffa; Nestlé Professional UK & Ireland; Reynolds; and Sodexo UK & Ireland

Other categories include:

• Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Award
• Innovations in Packaging Award
• Environmentally Friendly Logistics Award
• Sustainable Sourcing Award
• Sustainable Supplier Award
• Energy Efficiency Award

Winners will be announced at an award ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects, London on 23 May.

6. Millikenpartners with London Re-use Network

Carpet manufacturer Milliken has announced a partnership with the London Re-use Network (LRN) to create a ‘responsible solution’ for the reuse of ‘used marketing and development materials’.

As part of the partnership, the carpet manufacturer donated carpet tiles that had been used for a photo shoot to promote Milliken’s ‘Joined Up Thinking’ collection to LRN, who sent them to the Enfield Re-use Centre, which had been damaged by flooding.

Director of Design and Marketing at Milliken, Alison Kitchingman, said: “Reusing products is the most sustainable solution – it diverts goods from landfill, extends their service life, and is important in conserving valuable resources. We are delighted to have worked with the London Re-use Network and are pleased to see the tiles used in such a worthy cause.”