New Earth Solutions has contracted metal recyclers, Alutrade Limited, to recycle non-ferrous metals (metals with little or no iron content) produced through mechanical biological treatment (MBT) at its five residual waste-treatment facilities.
The contract, running for ‘at least the next 12 months’, will see Alutrade receive non-ferrous metal from the plants in southern and central England, separate it into its different components, and send it for UK can production. Alutrade will then return any waste collected during its metal-sorting process back to New Earth for further separation and recovery.
New Earth Solutions processes residual household waste for several local authorities through MBT facilities to extract recyclable material for reprocessing and produce a refuse-derived fuel. According to Andrew Powell, Commercial Buyer from Alutrade, MBT is a “growing area” in the recycling industry and contracts such as these are seeing industry “getting on the front foot” by coming up with “innovative ways of further recycling”.
Spokespeople from both companies welcomed the partnership, with Malcolm George, Director of Alutrade, saying: “It is nice to see real recycling taking place. New Earth Solutions are processing throw-away waste and Alutrade Limited is helping them put that back into UK can production.”
Richard Brooke, New Earth’s Commercial Director, added: “I’m delighted to be working with a secure established recycling business like Alutrade. It’s important for New Earth to secure destinations for its recyclable products to maximise the benefits of the process to our customers. This arrangement with Alutrade provides both security and quality re-processing within the UK.”
New Earth Solutions is part of the New Earth Solutions Group Limited, which also includes New Earth Energy, a renewable energy company, and New Earth Advanced Thermal, which supplies technology.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.