1. Veolia advocates merger with Suez Environment

Veolia Environnement’s Chief Cxecutive has told a French radio station, BFM Business Radio, that a merger with Suez Environnement (SITA’s parent company) would “make sense”.

If Veolia and Suez, the two biggest water companies in the world (and sizeable waste management companies) merge, they could face antitrust probes in the UK, Australia and the Netherlands to prevent the ‘super’ company from monopolising the market.

Speaking to BFM, Chief Executive Antoine Frérot said: "Outside of France, the two companies are very complementary, especially geographically, but the project foundered on the issue of competition in France."

However, he went on to say that implementing a merger of the two companies would be “very difficult”.

Rumours of a merger were rife in October last year, but were dismissed by both companies.

Suez has not issued a statement on the topic.

2. New road sweepings technology

Recovery and recycling systems producer, CDEnviro, has unveiled a new screw-feeding hopper for use in its road sweepings and gully waste recycling plants.

The SF500 hopper is a ‘standalone unit’ composed of a ‘fully stainless steel trough and a 500mm diameter screw’ and works as the reception point where the feed material is transferred to before it goes through the treatment system.

Previously this component was outsourced.

The technology is an addition to ‘the growing number of specially designed systems’ developed by CDEnviro to help it fulfill its contracts with UK waste management companies in accordance with the Environment Agency’s regulations on leaf litter.

3. Tony Juniper appointed President of Society for the Environment

Society for the Environment CEO Alex Galloway (Left) and President Tony Juniper (right)

The Society for the Environment has appointed environmental campaigner, Tony Juniper, as its President. The organisation, which regulates the Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) qualification in the UK, hopes the appointment will further its mission to ‘champion the role of environmental professionals’.

Previously Director of Friends of the Earth in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2003-2008) and Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth International (2001-2008), Juniper is a well-established environmentalist.

Talking about the appointment, he said: “As the number of people working in the environmental sector grows, it is vital that Chartered Environmentalists are recognised as professionals in their own right, whatever their role.”

The Society for the Environment’s Chief Executive, Alex Galloway, said: “To have somebody of Tony’s calibre as our President will help us take the status of Chartered Environmentalists to a new level of recognition and reach into new areas.”

4. SWR appointed to manage Scania dry waste in UK

Swedish truck manufacturer, Scania, has appointed Specialist Waste Recycling Ltd (SWR) to manage all dry waste from Scania GB’s 45 service centres across the UK.

According to Scania, the appointment of SWR has ‘almost immediately delivered a significant increase in recycling’ and cost savings in excess of 10 per cent.

The General Manager at SWR, Richard Brown, said the company was “confident” that they could “develop a sound waste plan for Scania”.

Purchaser at Scania, David Ballard, said: “Despite little advancement in our recycling in recent years we are confident that we can now move forward with SWR on board. We look forward to working with SWR to help us deliver 85 per cent landfill avoidance in the first half of 2013.”

5. Viridor appoints new board member

Viridor's Capital Projects and Engineering Director, Alan Cumming.

Following Viridor’s announcement of its plans to invest over £1 billion in energy-from-waste and recycling facilities across the UK, the Taunton-based company has asked Alan Cumming to take on the role of Capital Projects and Engineering Director. He will join in February 2013 to lead the existing engineering department and direct the new investment project.

Cumming’s last role was as Deputy Director of Construction, Project Controls and Procurement for EDF’s nuclear new build programme, and he has an international career history in the fields of construction and engineering.

Colin Drummond, Viridor’s Chief Executive, commented: “Alan’s skills and knowledge will complement the existing Viridor Board and company structure. We look forward to welcoming him to this new and important role.”