Resource Event announces DS Smith as lead partner

The Resource Event has announced that packaging company DS Smith will be the lead partner for the conference and exhibition for the second year in a row.

The annual event, which brings together circular economy exponents to share learning on resource efficiency and waste reduction, will take place from 3-5 March 2015 at the ExCeL centre in London.

This year, DS Smith will offer delegates practical support on how to move away from the linear supply chain and embrace the circular supply cycle.

Commenting on the continued partnership, Mark Greenwood, Group Sustainability Director at DS Smith, said: “We found exhibiting at last year’s Resource an ideal platform to interact with a cross section of organisations and discuss how the development of the circular economy can help with their business needs.

“We are looking forward to exhibiting again in 2015 as it provides a productive environment to share our supply cycle thinking amongst companies from a variety of sectors.”

Resource Event Director Stephen Gee added that he was “delighted to welcome back DS Smith as lead partner for 2015”, stating that the company’s “sustainable supply cycle thinking is a message which chimes well with the leading brands from the retail, manufacture, design and resource management sectors who will be participating in Resource 2015”.

He continued: “We look forward to announcing further details of their participation, across the programme, in the coming weeks.”

Find out more about Resource Event 2015.

FCC’s ‘Re-love a bike’ scheme restores 500 bikes

Waste management company FCC Environment, the Abacus Furniture Project (Abacus) and HMP Rochester have announced that, since launching in June 2014, their ‘Re-love a bike’ salvage scheme has seen more than 500 old bikes restored by prisoners for resale.

Abacus, part of the social enterprise strand of West Kent Extra, the charitable arm of West Kent Housing Association, collects bikes from the three household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) operated by FCC Environment on behalf of Medway Council at Capstone, Cuxton and Gillingham.

The bikes are then sent to HMP Rochester for refurbishment by prisoners or to be stripped for parts. The refurbished bikes are safety checked and sold at Abacus’s three shops in Medway, Maidstone and Sevenoaks. More than 500 bikes have been salvaged so far, with approximately 100 bikes being sold by Abacus so far.

Celebrating the 500 bike milestone, FCC Environment Chief Executive Officer Paul Taylor commented: “The bike reuse scheme is a great project; it saves bikes from landfill, enables prisoners to develop skills which will help them gain employment when they leave prison, and local people can buy bikes at good prices, which in turn benefits Abacus. I would like to thank everyone involved for making the bike reuse scheme such a success.”

Darren Conroy, prison officer at HMP Rochester, added: “The bicycle repair workshop gives offenders so much more than time out of their cell; they say refurbishing old, often rusty bikes gives them a sense of job satisfaction, especially as the bikes are sold through a charity. It is a popular and highly attended workshop which even has a waiting list and will soon offer a City & Guilds qualification in Bicycle Maintenance.”

Find out more about Re-love a bike.

Viridor retains contract with South Lanarkshire Council

Waste management firm Viridor yesterday (22 Jan) confirmed that it will retain its contract with South Lanarkshire Council for at least another four years.

The new contract reinstates Viridor’s role as the sole provider of mixed recycling, food and residual waste services to some 355 premises across the authority’s estate, including council offices, depots, schools, libraries, day care and community centres.

According to Viridor, the award safeguards 20 local jobs and supports the employment of 150 staff at Viridor facilities across Lanarkshire.

The contract win comes shortly after Viridor was awarded a two-year contract with neighbouring North Lanarkshire Council in November 2014.

Steven Don, Scottish Regional Manager for Viridor, commented: “With a firm focus on giving the world’s resources new life, the reconfirmation of this important partnership between Viridor and South Lanarkshire Council is great news. Not only will it transform waste across the authority’s estate, it will ensure that 355 council offices and depots, schools, libraries, day care and community centres meet the requirements of the Scottish Government’s ambitious zero waste agenda.

“Our offer to the council was one based on value, service, compliance, continued investment in Lanarkshire and associated community benefits. We look forward to continuing to transform waste for South Lanarkshire in the time ahead.”

Find out more about Viridor.

Lord Deben to talk at Waste-Works event

Waste-Works, an event on resource efficiency in the food and drink industry, has announced that its leading talks will be given by Lord Deben, Chairman of the UK’s Committee on Climate Change, Inder Poonaji, Head of Sustainability at Nestlé, Louise Nicholls, Head of Responsible Sourcing for Packaging and Plan A at Marks and Spencer’s, and Mark Little, Head of Food Waste Reduction at Tesco.

Running between 22-25 March at the ExCeL centre in London, the Waste-Works event will highlight waste reduction and prevention work being undertaken within the food and drink industry.

Representatives from organisations such as the Sustainable Restaurant Association, the British Retail Consortium, the British Hospitality Association, the Anaerobic and Biogas Association and the Industry Council for Research on Packaging and the Environment will also take part in the line-up of free seminars.

Michael Stewart, Group Content Manager at Fresh Montgomery, the organising company, said: “Reducing waste and improving efficiencies presents a huge opportunity to the food and drink manufacturing sector with many companies already reaping the rewards. Our line-up of the most respected authorities in sustainability from leading companies, brands and organisations in the industry will provide inspiration to visitors looking to reduce business costs and increase profitability.”

Waste-Works will take place alongside the International Food and Drink event (IFE), and Pro2Pac, the UK’s only packaging event designed exclusively for the food and drink sector.

Find out more about Waste-Works.