CCE unveils shortlist of ideas to improve household recycling

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has announced the shortlist of ideas submitted to its recycling challenge in partnership with open innovation platform, OpenIDEO.com.

The 11-week Recycling Challenge, launched in April of this year, asked the platform’s 60,000 members to come up with ‘innovative, yet practical solutions’ to encourage people across Europe to recycle more.

From 205 submissions, the top 25 ideas have now been selected for further development. They include: mobile phone apps to tell you what can be recycled in your area and what different materials can be recycled into; a customisable recycling bin concept; a platform to source materials for re-purposing projects; and a recycling-themed story writing contest for children.

The ideas with ‘the most potential for impact’ will be revealed on 17 June, having been evaluated both by the community and an external panel (comprising representatives from WRAP and Forum for the Future, amongst others), which has been providing advice throughout the challenge.

Nathan Waterhouse, Director of OpenIDEO.com, said: “We hope that some of the ideas generated from this challenge will help to meet the recommendations that came out of the CCE study into recycling rates, by calling time on outdated recycling habits and providing popular, straightforward solutions for households.”

View all 25 shortlisted submissions to the Recycling Challenge.

New Shanks baler allows site to produce RDF

Waste management firm Shanks UK, part of the Shanks Group, has installed a new baler at its Jenkins Lane facility in East London, which the company says will help it divert an additional 30,000 tonnes of waste from landfill.

Part of the 25-year East London Waste Authority (ELWA) municipal contract, the new baler at Jenkins Lane will provide the Jenkins Lane facility with the capability to produce refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for the first time.

Waste will be baled in the machine and then used for the production of electricity. The second phase of the programme will include the integration of a shredding unit.

Managing Director of Shanks UK, Peter Eglinton said: “We are delighted to install the second baler at our Jenkins Lane facility, which is capable of diverting an additional 30,000 tonnes from landfill. This shows our commitment to make more from waste by offering improved diversion rates for our client.”

Read more about the Shanks Group.

Work begins at Scunthorpe Household Recycling Centre

Work to refurbish Scunthorpe Household Recycling Centre (HRC) on Cottage Beck Road has begun today (6 June), and residents are being advised to make use of alternative HRC’s until the site reopens on 27 June.

During the closure, furniture reuse schemes, community recycling centres, glass, can and paper recycling points, and other HRCs will stay open.

Residents are being advised to utilise the nearest alternative HRC sites, which are:

• Winterton, North Street, DN15 9QN
• Broughton, Brigg Road, DN20 0JW
• Kirton-in-Lindsey, Redbourne Mere, DN21 4NN

While Scunthorpe HRC is closed, these three sites will be open seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm.

Asbestos, tyres and plasterboard can only be taken to Winterton HRC. Asbestos can be taken between 10am to 4pm.

The work forms part of a £650,000 investment to improve all recycling sites for residents.

Find out more about recycling in North Lincolnshire.

Biffa boosts The Garden Centre Group recycling

Waste management firm Biffa has helped The Garden Centre Group (TGCG) double its recycling rate and divert 95 per cent of its waste from landfill.

The group, which operates 140 garden sites throughout England and Wales, undertook a waste audit with Biffa in January 2013 and found that it could recycle and recover more of its waste.

As such, Biffa introduced new food waste collection services from all centres with restaurants and implemented full services for the recycling of dry mixed recycling, green waste, wood, metal and glass, and reduced general waste collections.

Mark Evans, Group Maintenance Manager for TGCG, said: “By engaging with the staff at all of our stores and separating our resources efficiently, TGCG has achieved excellent results. We are still in the early stages of our recycling programme and, with help from our waste and recycling partner Biffa, are completely dedicated to managing our resources as sustainably as possible into the future."

Sam Smith, Biffa Corporate Account Manager, added: “It has been a fantastic experience to work with TGCG on turning around their resource management practices... Our 12-18 month project plan is now in place and will see us review other waste streams and ways to drive down costs.”

Find out more about Biffa or The Garden Centre Group.

VEKA Recycling acquires Trafford Services (Midlands) Ltd

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) recycling firm VEKA Recycling has acquired waste PVC collection and processing facility, Trafford Services (Midlands) Ltd, for an undisclosed sum.

The family-run firm, which comprises a weighbridge and processing and storage facilities (covering 20,000 square feet), will continue to be run by Brad Higgins under VEKA Recycling’s ownership.

Speaking of the deal,Tony Cattini, Managing Director of VEKA Recycling, said: “Trafford Services has worked closely with us since 2007, so the company is already familiar with our focus on getting the infeed quality right and reducing contamination.

“Having restructured our business and launched our pellet sales, now’s the right time for this strategic acquisition. It’s also great news for environmental sustainability; with our VEKA model here in the Midlands, we will be ensuring more waste PVC frames will be diverted from landfill for recycling back into new windows and other PVC-U [unplasticised PVC] products.”

Trafford Services (Midlands) Ltd’s sister company, Trafford Services Ltd, a larger recycling company based in Manchester, will remain privately-owned.

Read more about VEKA Recycling or Trafford Services.