Waste authority to open new transfer station at Wembley

North London Waste Authority (NWLA) has signed a lease with Seneca Resource Recovery to operate a waste transfer station and recycling plant from their Wembley site.

The new facility will be operated by LondonEnergy Ltd, NWLA’s main waste contractor, and will include a new materials recycling picking line. The new pickling line will allow for additional recyclable material to be extracted from the waste stream.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, Chair of NWLA, commented: “It is a hugely exciting development for NWLA.”

“By agreeing a lease with Seneca we have secured a suitable space for an essential new waste transfer station and a recycling facility that will further improve our environmental performance.”

The waste transfer station will manage waste transportation and disposal on behalf of seven boroughs in the North London area.

The transfer station will also facilitate a reduction in the number of vehicles needing to enter Edmonton EcoPark, where construction work on NLWA’s North London Heath and Power Project continues.

The site is expected to become operational in January 2021. NLWA has signed a seven-year lease with Seneca.

Polymateria expands team to focus on addressing the plastic crisis

London-based Polymateria has announced the appointment of Steven Altmann-Richer as Head of Public Affairs and Regulatory Strategy.

Steven has over 10 years of experience in policy and public affairs, most recently leading public policy for the UK, Ireland and new markets at Tesla.

While working at Tesla, Steven collaborated with policymakers and other stakeholders to accelerate the move to more sustainable transport and energy systems, all the while expanding the business.

Before Tesla, Steven held several senior positions managing the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) policy activity. He took the lead on crucial decisions involving changes in the company brought about through Britain’s exit from the EU.

Polymateria’s ‘biotransformation’ process can be time-controlled, based on an item’s shelf life, and allocated a ‘Recycle By’ date to promote recycling by consumers, while also making sure that any plastic that leaks into the natural environment can biodegrade.

Lab tests have demonstrated that the process takes up to 226 days for polyethylene films and up to 336 days for rigid polypropylene containers.

Niall Dunne, CEO of Polymateria, said: “To address the complexity of the large systemic problem that is plastic pollution, we need to continue to build confidence with consumers, industry, governments and policymakers.

“That’s why, from raising £15 million earlier this summer, to expanding our board with industry heavyweights from the retail world, to announcing today a key strategic hire in Steven, our company is moving forward at great speed to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.”

Pilgrims Hospices to roll out Christmas tree recycling for Kent

Hospice charity Pilgrims Hospices is launching its first Christmas tree recycling fundraising campaign in the Kent regions of Canterbury and Thanet, with help from Kent County Council and FCC Environment.

Having been running in Ashford for eight years, the fundraising campaign has raised a total of £115,000 to help deliver critical care for terminally ill patients.

The campaign, which involves establishing Christmas tree drop-off points for residents, will be rolled out in Canterbury and Thanet with the support of Kent County Council and FCC Environment, which have provided Household Waste and Recycling Centres and a transfer station for the waste.

Cabinet Member for Environment on Kent County Council Susan Carey said: “We are very happy to be supporting the popular tree recycling campaign for Pilgrims Hospices and welcome its expansion beyond Ashford.

“The recycling of Christmas trees has raised over £115,000 over the last 8 years and it's hoped the expansion will bring in more much needed funds for the vital work of the hospice. My thanks go to the KCC waste and environment team and to our contractors FCC for supporting the care Pilgrims Hospices provides to those facing incurable illness.”

FCC Environment’s Operations Director Steve Longdon commented: “We only recently took over the running of the 12 HWRCs in Mid and East Kent and so it’s great to be able to get involved so early into the contract with local initiatives like this one which directly benefits such a good local cause."

Residents in Canterbury and Thanet can help their local hospice by donating online and registering their tree to be recycled at the University of Kent or at Arlington Car Park from 9-10 January.

Recycling Rewards campaign gifts £6,100 to local food bank

Conwy Food Bank has received a donation of £6,100 following a ‘Recycling Rewards’ campaign designed by Bryson Recycling.

The Recycling Rewards campaign pledged a £1 donation to a local charity for every tonne of garden waste collected from local homes.

Bryson Recycling provides a garden waste collection service to local residents on behalf of Conwy County Borough Council and currently manages two Recycling Centres in Abergele and Mochdre.

Since April 2020, Bryson Recycling has collected 6100 tonnes of garden waste through their fortnightly service.

The money has been donated to Conwy Food Bank, a voluntary organisation that feeds people who are in crisis or unable to afford food.

“Our 'Recycling Rewards' campaign is a unique approach to encourage recycling and let us give something back to the local community where we deliver our services” said Gareth Walsh, General Manager at Bryson Recycling.

“We want to thank everyone who has used our garden waste collection service this year which has allowed us to donate this amount to Conwy Food Bank who provide vital support to individuals and families in the Conwy area."