Eunomia creates department to focus on efficient and circular businesses

Eunomia Research & Consulting has created a specialist team dedicated to resource efficiency and the circular economy.

The new resource efficiency and circular economy team will be based at the consultancy’s new Manchester office and will be led by Mark Hilton. The team’s work will focus on everything from eco-design and sustainable procurement to process efficiency and behaviour change.

Eunomia says that the new team is already engaged in a variety of projects, including a study on circular economy indicators for the European Commission. Work for Zero Waste Scotland is also underway on both reverse logistics and procurement in the context of a circular economy, and on resource efficient construction. The team is also working with WRAP on a study into more durable products.

Eunomia Chairman, Dr Dominic Hogg said: “This new team will link closely with our established area of expertise in related areas of policy, and will allow us to offer advice to businesses at the sharp end of delivering a circular economy.

“Business practices and policy are co-evolving and we are keen to shape the evolution on both sides. These insights will also benefit our clients working in waste collection, recycling and reuse, to whom who we’ll be able to give a clear view regarding the shape of things to come, and how they can stay ahead of the curve.”

More information on Eunomia can be found on the company’s website.

Grundon switches to bio-based refuse and recycling sacks

Grundon Waste Management has decided to switch to a bio-based polythene material for its refuse and recycling sacks as it seeks to improve its environmental credentials.

The 100 per cent recyclable Polyair™ sacks, supplied by Polythene UK, are developed using sugarcane polymers that are created from the waste product of sugarcane extraction. Polythene UK insists the material is ‘carbon positive’.

John Stephens, Group Logistics Manager for Grundon, said: “At Grundon we are always looking for initiatives that mitigate the environmental impacts of our operations, especially those that offer carbon reduction benefits. For our customers, seeing Grundon using innovative and environmentally-friendly products such as the Polyair™ carbon-neutral refuse and recycling sacks and having a CarbonNeutral® vehicle fleet is a reassurance. It is living proof that they are working with a business that is proud of its commitment to the promoting a green agenda and operating its business responsibly.”

James Woollard, Managing Director of Polythene UK, added: “It’s fantastic news that Grundon has chosen Polyair™ for both its refuse and recycling sacks. There’s a huge gap in the secondary packaging market when it comes to bio-based materials and we’re currently the only polythene provider actively looking to fill it.”

More information about Grundon can be found on the company’s website.

Balcan lamp recycling system hits Phoenix

Lincolnshire-based Balcan Engineering has sent its fourth lamp recycling system to America, as part of a partnership with Lighting Resources Inc.

The company says that its custom-built Balcan MP8000 lamp recycling system can take up to 5,000 linear tubes an hour, recycling all elements of a lamp safely, with metal ends caps and glass separated and cleaned and mercury vapour withdrawn to ensure clean emissions.

The latest acquisition by Lighting Resources’ Phoenix facility will help the company deliver light recycling contracts for electrical contractors, government departments, environmental management companies and state agencies, among others.

Balcan Managing Director Alistair Rinfret believes that America could be a growing market for lamp recyclers: “We have an excellent working relationship with Lighting Resources and can see a need for more lamp recycling systems as American companies continue to move to LEDs, which means there will be more spent lamps and bulbs which will need to be recycled. Energy saving initiatives and legislative efforts in the US are also driving sustainable and responsible disposal.”

More information on Balcan can be found on the company’s website.

Andy Milner appointed as new Amey CEO

Public services company Amey has announced that Andy Milner will become its new CEO at the end of March, when Mel Ewell steps down from the role.

Ewell will retire on 31 March after 15 years at the company, which included supporting Spanish company Ferrovial with its purchase of Amey in 2003. Milner, currently Managing Director of Consulting and Strategic Infrastructure at the company, will take over the running of the business, which turns over £2.5 billion a year while employing around 21,000 people.

Commenting on the changes, Ewell said: “I want to congratulate Andy who will be an outstanding CEO and will oversee the ongoing and future growth of our business. Our focus remains on delivering excellent services for our customers through the transition and beyond.”

Milner added: “I am delighted to be offered the opportunity to be CEO of this outstanding company, and wish to thank Mel for the leadership and guidance he has given to me over the last decade. I am inheriting a strong, profitable business that is extremely well placed to help our customers at a time of change in our markets.

“We will continue to deliver a first-class service, ensuring we get the job done for our customers as we have committed, safely and efficiently.”

More information about Amey can be found on the company’s website.

£110,000 funding available to make Merseyside ‘cleaner and greener’

Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) and the Veolia Community Fund are offering community and voluntary groups across Merseyside and Halton a share of £110,000 for projects to make the region a ‘cleaner and greener place’.

New and existing projects, by groups such as schools, faith groups and NGOs, capable of reducing household waste, preventing carbon emissions or encouraging recycling and reuse in their local communities can apply to the fund, which has been awarding money to community groups annually since 2006.

Schemes that are only of benefit to local authorities can receive up to £8,000, whereas initiatives with wider-ranging impacts across Merseyside and Halton can be awarded up to £25,000.

Following the award of funds from the 2014/15 scheme, 743 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill saving £74,300. In the same year, 322 volunteers took part in community projects and the equivalent of 160 full-time jobs were created or safeguarded.

Previous projects funded have involved the provision of reused furniture to vulnerable people, setting up workshops to improve upcycling skills and using secondhand materials to transform a disused hall into a women’s community centre. A recycling superstore, which provides local homeless people with housing employment and training opportunities, has also been formed.

Chairperson of the MRWA, Councillor Graham Morgan, said: “We’ve made this money available for new and existing projects which can have an impact on their local community and make Merseyside a cleaner and greener place for us all to live and work. Giving groups the opportunity to get involved in looking after their environment can only bring benefits to all and can help us appreciate items as valuable resources rather than something which otherwise might be just thrown away.”

More information about the MRWA community fund can be found at the authority’s website.