CIWM announces plan to fund Oxford University’s ‘Uncover Engineering’ programme

Students on Oxford University's Uncover Engineering programme

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has announced that it is to fund Oxford University’s ‘Uncover Engineering’ programme – designed to increase the number of engineering students from socio-economically disadvantaged or under-represented backgrounds and help address the UK skills shortage.

The five-year funding aims to enable 36 female and 36 black or mixed black heritage year 10 students to attend a four-day engineering residential programme hosted by the Department of Engineering Science every year. The funding will include all teaching, accommodation, food and site visit costs.

As part of the programme, students will visit a company, where they are able to see some practical applications of the subjects they could choose to study at university. In the past, this has included Viridor’s Ardley Energy Recovery Facility, the Grundon/Viridor Colnbrook Energy Recovery Facility and the BMW Mini Factory.

CIWM’s Honorary Treasurer, John Kutner, commented: “Improving our ability to encourage more engineering applications from female, Black or mixed Black heritage students is fully aligned with the CIWM’s EDI ambitions.

“It is also vital to addressing the skills gap that exists in the resource management sector and more broadly in terms of skilled scientists or engineers. In addition to increasing applications from underrepresented sections of society, the Uncover Engineering programme will inspire UK students to consider careers in engineering and encourage them to apply to study engineering for further education.”

IAG Cargo trials new biodegradable film wrapped around transported goods

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced that it is trialling a new film to be used for wrapping transported goods as part of its sustainability strategy.

IAG Cargo is working with disposal company and film manufacturer Verpa Folie, who has developed reduced-thickness polyethylene films with US-based BioNatur Plastics. Not only does the material have an indefinite shelf life, prohibiting unnecessary waste, but it can also be used for food and temperature-controlled items – which are popular services for IAG Cargo.

The new sustainable material is 15-micron thick, 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable by landfill. IAG Cargo will save up to 15 tonnes of virgin polyethylene a year. This is beneficial on a global scale, where the receiving country will be able to sustainably dispose of the film.

David Rose, Chief Transformation Officer at IAG Cargo commented, “We are continuously looking at ways in which we can reduce our impact on the environment in line with our commitment to sustainability. This solution provided by Verpa Folie, which we plan to roll out across our operation, will reduce our plastic consumption and is another step forward for IAG Cargo as we become fit for future.”

Keep Britain Tidy launches £1 hire scheme to combat bodyboard pollution

Keep Britain Tidy's Ocean Recovery Project has launched a £1 hire scheme, after collecting 1,082 broken bodyboards from South West beaches during summer 2021.

Over the 2021 summer holiday season, 1,082 snapped plastic bodyboards were recovered from Croyde Bay, Fistral beach and Bude by the environmental charity.

To stop the demand for cheap, disposable boards the hire scheme will work with resorts by supplying them with ‘quality bodyboards’ to hire out to their visitors. This should prevent the effects of poor-quality bodyboards which snap after just a few uses and end up in landfill or incineration. As well as this, when the bodyboards snap, they often unleash thousands of miniature polystyrene ‘balls’ into the marine environment, posing a direct threat to wildlife.

The first resort to join the #WaveOfWaste £1 hire scheme was Wooda Farm Holiday Park near Bude. Owner Charlotte Veale said: “We are really proud to be a part of Keep Britain Tidy’s hire board scheme here at Wooda. It has been an unbelievable success; from the moment it was promoted on our social media platforms, the demand has been amazing!

“Encouraging our customers to hire the boards from us prevents the purchase of polystyrene boards and saves them space when packing their already very full cars!

“With the price being so affordable, it allows customers to try bodyboarding without committing to the purchase of the board, which is great! The funds raised [go to] Bude Sea Pool, of which we are also very proud to support. The hire scheme has been so popular that we are investing in some more boards ourselves for hire next summer.”