Future Waste January 2024 by Future Waste

Issue 9 • january 2024

KELLY TANKS

CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

PEOPLE IN WASTE DEVOTED TO SUSTAINABILITY

CONSCIOUS COMPANIES THE NEW PREMIER INN ECO HOTEL

EVENT PREVIEW: EHS THE UK’S MOST EXCITING HIRE SHOW!

www.cemsolutions.co.uk

Specialists in Continuous Emissions Monitoring ENERGY FROM WASTE • INCINERATION PLANTS • SWIPs

Turnkey solutions including: Duty & Standby CEMS Raw Gas analysers Critical O2 measurements Process instrumentation, including Dust and Flow Full service and repair capabilities including 24 hour call-out, Functional checks and QAL3 testing.

MCA 10 Extractive multi-component gas analyser system and PFM 20 Particle Flow Monitor

in partnership with

CEM Solutions • 10 Stancliffe House • Molyneux Business Park • Darley Dale • Derbyshire DE4 2HJ +44 (0) 1629 734963 • info@cemsolutions.co.uk

SIMPLIFYING CEMS To satisfy permit and regulatory requirements, Energy from Waste plants (EFW’s) and Small Waste Incineration processes (SWIP) are required to monitor their emissions to air via a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS). Plant operators demand a CEM system which: • Is compliant with regulatory requirements. • Offers reliability and availability of measurement. • Has ease of maintenance. • Comes with full-service support.

Compliance Being MCERTs and TUV approved, the Dr. Födisch MCA10 Multi Gas Analyser is our core instrument for the Waste Management sector. This NDIR hot-wet analyser has some of the lowest available certified ranges and can measure up to 12 gaseous components simultaneously. An integrated manifold facilitates expansion / addition of further analysers / measurements in the future if required.

Operating Costs When choosing a CEM system, an important area to explore is that of operating costs. What is the reliability of the system and how can this be proven? What are the consumable parts and calibration requirements of the device(s). What is the maintenance interval and how many days are required to complete a service? These factors should be considered as well as the initial capital outlay to make sure an informed decision is made. The MCA10 has six-monthly maintenance interval for all components, whereas some manufacturer’s equipment requires quarterly or even monthly intervention.

Ease of Maintenance CEM Solutions’ systems are planned / designed / installed by engineers who have practical service experience over many years on multiple manufacturer’s devices. They are executed with the service personnel and operators at the forefront of consideration to make the ownership (and maintenance) as pain-free as possible. Simple considerations, such as full access to all equipment from the front of a panel, means that it can be mounted against a wall. The internal components are suitably positioned and well-lit, all being accessed by a single HMI. O2, H2O and VOC measurements are integral to the MCA10 analyser, meaning less stack ports and wires than typical CEM systems.

Service Support We are first and foremost a service-focussed business. We understand the pressures that operators are under and ensure that remote and site support is available as needed, offering 24-hour phone support and a full call-out package. ProtoQAL, our remote access dial-in service, means that we can dial into a CEM system as a periodic health-check at an agreed frequency to check on instrument performance and perform/validate QAL3s as required.

About Us

Based in Darley Dale, Derbyshire, CEM Solutions (UK) Ltd. manufacture, install and commission CEM systems across a variety of sectors. We provide a complete service package for a variety of manufacturer’s equipment as well as for our own, with customers based throughout the UK. When we recommend a replacement system, we almost always use the MCERT certified products from the Dr. Födisch range. We have been working alongside this German instrument manufacturer since 2013. The products they design are low maintenance, robust and service engineer friendly, which is why we use them in our CEM systems in the UK. There are over 2500 Dr Födisch gas analysers in operation worldwide.

When we sell a CEM system it is the beginning of what we hope is a long-standing relationship with our client. We are passionate about providing top-quality CEM systems alongside a first-class service throughout its lifetime. Take a look at some of the projects we’ve been involved with View Our Latest Projects & Case Studies - CEM Solutions including replacing an existing CEM system on a fluidised bed waste-wood incinerator. Alternatively, we can both show you a demo system at our base in the beautiful Peak District and arrange a site visit where you can see a CEM system incorporating an MCA10 in action on a Waste Management plant.

WELCOME

FUTURE WASTE JANUARY 2024

Power to the People

elcome to 2024 dear readers! Does it feel different to you? It certainly does to us! “And why is that?” we hear you screaming. What a noisy lot you are! Well, we are so excited to announce the launch of a brand new feature this year! Conscious Companies is about Big Businesses with Bigger Impact. The feature will champion those companies whose business isn’t in waste, but they make waste their business. Our very first one kicks off with hotel giants Whitbread, who were very excited to tell us all about Premier Inn’s brand new sustainable hotel in Swindon. People and the push for change is the theme of this issue. Too often the efforts of those behind the scenes goes unnoticed, and what better way to start as we mean to go on, than by championing their efforts! Kelly Tanks take the top spot as our cover story, celebrating 10 years in the business. Not only do we get to party alongside them, but they also showcase their amazing new KT Apprenticeship Award just in time for National Apprenticeship Week in February. As well as all of this, we bring you two feature articles, all centred around the huge changes that people have brought to waste. Happy reading! The Future Waste Team

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CONTRIBUTORS KELLY BRYANT KELLY TANKS WILL SILVERWOOD WHITBREAD HANNAH CHESHIRE RECOUP NICK BURCHETT VEOILA GROUP

partners with: PART OF

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS In this January issue...

32 09 Latest News A round-up of the latest news from the recycling and waste sectors over the past few months.

32 People in Waste: Together We Can Without the care and attention people have devoted to sustainability, this movement towards net zero never would have got off the ground.

40 Cover Story: 10 Year Celebration for Kelly Tanks Mark Stubbs and Kelly Bryant tell us how thrilled they are about their big birthday bash!

43 Conscious Companies: Whitbread For our very first run, Rebecca Phillips sits down with Will Silverwood from Whitbread, to discuss the new Premier Inn eco hotel in Swindon.

50 Event Preview: EHS Everything you need to know about the UK’s most exciting hire show!

56 Health and Safety in Waste Making Protecting People the Priority

43 6

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CONTENTS

50 56

40 JANUARY 24

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NEWS

GREYPARROT NAMED TO THE 2024 GLOBAL CLEANTECH 100

he definitive guide to the top private companies demonstrating excellence in sustainability recognizes Greyparrot’s AI waste intelligence innovation . Greyparrot, the leading AI waste analytics platform, is pleased to announce that it has been named to Cleantech Group’s prestigious 2024 Global Cleantech 100. The annual list, now in its 15th year, serves as a definitive guide to the top private companies making significant contributions to sustainable innovation. It showcases the innovators with outstanding technologies, original business models, and bold plans that can enable us to act on the ever-increasing climate and environmental crisis. Greyparrot’s AI waste analytics platform, Analyser, is addressing the global waste crisis by helping materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and packaging companies recover and recycle more resources, extracting the value of materials that historically end up in landfills, oceans, or incinerators. It powers recovery and sorting solutions with AI-led continuous monitoring that is accurate at scale, covering 100% of recovered material with far less time and money. Greyparrot currently analyses over 75 billion waste

objects annually and has helped customers direct nearly 70K tonnes of waste back into the circular economy. “We’re thrilled that Greyparrot was selected for the 2024 Global Cleantech 100 list,” said Ambarish Mitra, co-founder of Greyparrot. “The recognition from Cleantech Group reflects the real impact that our technology has on sustainability: by putting waste intelligence in the hands of the people recovering, redesigning and regulating waste, we’re diverting reusable materials away from landfills to shape a more resilient and circular future.” “These innovative companies are driving positive change and are at the forefront of enabling the global transition to a more sustainable future,” said Richard Youngman, CEO, Cleantech Group. “The Global Cleantech 100 is a recognition of the market’s positive view on their progress to date and their potential impact in building a cleaner, decarbonized world.” Selected through a thorough evaluation process, Global Cleantech 100 companies provide sustainable solutions for a wideranging array of industry groups: 1. Agriculture & Food 2. Energy & Power

3. Materials & Chemicals

4. Resources & Environment

5. Transportation & Logistics The 2024 Global Cleantech 100 was recognised at the Cleantech Forum North America on January 22-24 in San Diego, CA. Greyparrot’s Ambarish Mitra was on hand to present at the forum’s Innovation Showcase on Tuesday, January 23rd, at 11 a.m. PT. You can download the Global Cleantech 100 complimentary report where Cleantech Group shares further insights and perspectives on the state of global cleantech innovation.

About Greyparrot Greyparrot (greyparrot.ai) is using AI waste analytics to accelerate the digitisation of the global waste sector, enabling it to unlock more value from waste in a climate-positive way. The company’s waste intelligence platform, including Greyparrot Analyser and Greyparrot Sync integrations (APIs), reveals real-time insights on waste material. Greyparrot AI analyses waste objects using 70+ categories across seven layers of data, including financial value, brand, and GHG emissions. It analyses over 75 billion waste objects annually and has helped customers direct nearly 70,000 tonnes of waste back into the circular economy. Recycling professionals, plant builders, packaging producers, and FMCG brands across Europe and North America use Greyparrot insights to increase recycling efficiency and improve recycled packaging design.

About Cleantech Group Cleantech® Group is the leading authority on global cleantech innovation. Since 2002, our research has helped corporates, public sector, investors, and others, identify, assess, and engage with the innovative solutions and opportunities that are related to the world’s massive, and growing, environmental and climate challenges. Our insights and expertise are delivered to clients all over the world through our Research, Consulting, and Events.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Co Founder Mikela Druckman will be doing an interview with Future Waste in their March issue. Stay tuned and watch this space! JANUARY 24

To learn more about Greyparrot AI, please visit: www.greyparrot.ai Future Waste

NEWS

SAINT-GOBAIN ENHANCES ITS DIGITAL SOLUTIONS PORTFOLIO TO ACCELERATE ITS CUSTOMERS’ DECARBONISATION

aint-Gobain has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Glass Service a.s., a leading provider of digital solutions for glass furnaces, including advanced control systems and simulation software, which enables customers to reduce their energy consumption. Closing of the transaction is subject to antitrust approvals and is expected by the end of the first half of 2024. It will complement Saint-Gobain’s range of digital services offering predictive, diagnostic, and data-driven solutions to improve energy efficiency for its customers and reduce the carbon footprint of their products and processes: • Saint-Gobain recently invested in 3 start-ups for breakthrough innovation through its venture arm NOVA: Sysdyne Technologies to enhance productivity

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and traceability for ready-mix concrete production and delivery thanks to a cloud-native software platform, and Plantformance and Newboot to improve manufacturing performance thanks to a comprehensive suite of services and software programs as well as real-time data collection. These partnerships enable Saint-Gobain to integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as IoT (Internet of Things), artificial intelligence (AI), and digital twins which can result in a reduction of up to 10% in a factory’s energy consumption. • Since its acquisition of GCP in October 2022, Saint-Gobain owns and operates VERIFI® in the US, Europe and AsiaPacific: a concrete management system which leverages IoT technology to ensure consistent quality and sustainability in ready-mix concrete production and delivery.

In addition, the SOLU+ and CAP RENOV digital tools sold by Saint-Gobain’s merchanting businesses in France (Point.P in particular) continue to see growing success with trade professionals and renovation companies with about 90% of worksites eligible for MaPrimeRénov’ having used the CAP RENOV advisory, layout and estimation tool in 2023. These digital solutions contribute to the goals of Saint-Gobain’s “Grow & Impact” strategic plan aiming to provide endto-end solutions to its customers and accelerate the decarbonization of their products and processes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about Saint-Gobain, please visit: www.saint-gobain.com

JANUARY 24

NEWS

SANY INTRODUCES ALL-NEW INTEGRATED GW-GRADE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SOLUTION WITH GREEN ELECTRICITY, CHARTING A NEW COURSE IN THE ERA OF CLEAN ENERGY

ANY Hydrogen, the hydrogen energy subsidiary of SANY, has announced the grand launch of the world’s largest single hydrogen electrolyzer. The new S-series square electrolyzer can produce 3,000 standard cubic meters of hydrogen per hour using renewable electricity. This milestone accelerates the adoption of clean energy technologies by industries and marks progress in SANY’s efforts to fuel the shift to greener solutions. At the latest COP28, a strategy for phasing out fossil fuels was endorsed, representing a tangible and significant approach to climate action. However, the GW-Grade hydrogen production method using renewable energy faces three critical challenges: elevated costs of production, increased maintenance requirements, and inconsistency in performance. SANY’s S Series 3,000-standard-cubicmeter square electrolyzer has set a new industry benchmark with significantly

lower system costs and an improved green electricity utilization rate as a practical solution for large-scale applications. It boasts an operation current density of 10,000A/m2 to guarantee high production efficiency, improves green electricity utilization rate by 10 percent, and cuts the maintenance cost by 30 percent.

Anchoring a new path of hydrogen energy development The latest GW-GRADE offering from SANY Hydrogen capitalizes on the fundamental strengths of the S Series lineup, which includes a compact footprint, modular construction, increased current density, and pressurized operation, among others, to forge a new trajectory for the mass production and utilization of green hydrogen. The company’s breakthroughs and industry cooperation achievements include the establishment of an alkaline electrolyzer production line boasting

annual capacity of 1.5GW, and it has taken the lead in tackling the core technologies such as automatic argon arc welding, prefabricated pressure pipeline, high-precision electrolyzer stacking, as well as the mass production of alkaline electrolyzer systems from 500 to 2,000 standard cubic meters and 4,000 standard-cubic-meter all-in-one separation and purification system. The 20MW electrolyzer test platform developed by SANY Hydrogen has been put into use, laying a solid foundation for its product development and rapid iteration. “The new launch of GW-Grade solution and large-capacity electrolyzer represents the opening of a new chapter of SANY’s hydrogen technology development. With a strong commitment to a strategy of globalization, intelligent and digitalcentric, and low-carbon transformation, SANY Group is focused on putting forward new solutions for various scaled hydrogen production scenarios from wind to green power and has successfully overcome the technical challenges of the large-scale electrolyzer and taken a solid step in the industrialization of hydrogen energy equipment,” said Xiang Wenbo, rotating chairman of SANY. In the future, SANY Hydrogen will continue to boost R&D investment and empower the global green energy transition, making greater contributions to the popularization and application of clean energy. SANY has set an ambitious goal to become China’s largest provider of integrated hydrogen solutions in five years and lead global industry transformation, and it is laying out a comprehensive hydrogen industry chain covering green production, storage, transportation, and refueling equipment. SANY Hydrogen has a focus on elevating the core technological innovation and achieving a closed supply chain across the entire industry ecosystem to support China’s 2030/2060 “Dual Carbon” goals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about SANY, please visit: www.sanyuk.com JANUARY 24

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NEWS

VEOLIA SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES PIONEERING V2G TRIAL IN THE UK: WASTE COLLECTION TRUCKS BECOME A FLEXIBLE ENERGY SOURCE TO BOOST ENERGY SECURITY

t its “Deep Dive Energy” event in London, Veolia unveiled a world-first vehicleto-grid (V2G) innovation that will enable waste collection trucks to power UK homes by feeding back stored energy from their batteries to the grid. UK’s largest waste collection fleet operator, Veolia plans to electrify all of its 1,800 Refuse Collection Vehicles, RCV, in the country by 2040. This transformation will enable the company to provide to the grid around 200 MW of flexible power capacity daily, an equivalent of the evening peak energy demand of over 150,000 homes, supporting the country’s energy security. With electricity demand in the UK expected to double by 2050 and Government’s targets to decarbonise the National Grid by 2035, batteries have a role to play as they can not only recharge from the electrical grid, but they can also feed back stored energy from their batteries to the grid using to V2G. This can provide energy during peak demand periods, contribute to grid stability by regulating frequency and voltage, and even store excess renewable energy for later use. Veolia has taken the potential of this technology to a new level by applying it to collection vehicles, which are ideally suited to V2G as their batteries are six times larger than those in an average car, and the fleet is usually parked at peak energy consumption times for the National Grid. The first phase of the trial performed by Veolia has been successfully completed, enabling 110 KW of energy to be charged and discharged from two specially designed bi-directional vehicles, enough to supply power to 110 households for

over two hours during peak evening hours. Veolia now plans to expand the trial and test it out on the streets, using Westminster council collection vehicles to pilot the innovation. In addition, Veolia will maximize the use of local decarbonizing energy from its wasteto-energy plants to power its vehicles, creating a perfect circular loop. This will include the Landmann Way vehicle depot in North London, powered by low-carbon electricity from the SELCHP plant. Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, said: “We need to innovate in local decarbonizing energy and transform our traditional approaches to take advantage of untapped sources. This requires a change of mindset and a collective willingness to rethink the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. The success of the V2G demonstration illustrates this perfectly. By enabling electric vehicles to become active players in the power grid, we are harnessing their potential to balance energy supply and demand, reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy”. Gavin Graveson, Senior Executive Vice President Veolia Northern Europe Zone said: “Flexibility is the key to super-

charging the UK’s energy security and the transition to a smarter and more sustainable market. We have to adapt to increasing energy demand and adopt smarter energy systems to bring resilient, dependable and low carbon energy to our homes and businesses. Flexibility innovations like this one have the potential to revolutionise the way we manage our energy usage and represent a huge opportunity to cut costs and carbon”. For this project Veolia has partnered with electric vehicle charger manufacturer, Turbo Power Systems (TPS), vehicle repower experts Magnetic Systems Technology (Magtec) and EV charge point management software provider Fuuse, with support from technology provider, Advantics. Veolia has a strong history of innovation in developing local decarbonizing energy solutions for the benefit of local communities and industries. The Group operates 10 Energy Recovery Facilities in the UK. These facilities take around 2.3 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste and transform this into electricity for over 400,000 homes, and this combined generating capacity of 180MWe takes pressure off the stretched UK electrical grid and effectively avoids using fossil fuels for generation. Some of these facilities also produce heating for communities through district heating networks, by using combined heat and power technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION For further information about Veolia, visit: www.veolia.com 12

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NEWS

MATTRESS RECYCLING – SHOULD WE SHRED OUR BED?

he scale of the UK’s mattress ‘waste’ problem cannot be disputed, with the National Bed Federation claiming that 6.4 million of these bulky products are thrown away each year. An interesting study by North London Waste Authority delved deeper into the topic in 2022, stating that a number of bad bed habits – including smoking, eating and sleeping with pets –compound the problem. Their data suggested that one in four people will get rid of their mattress before it is even four years old – staggering when you consider the guarantees commonly now associated with modern products. The research also discovered a worrying lack of awareness among the general public, with a third of people said to not even know that mattresses can be recycled. In truth there are many reasons why mattresses reach their perceived ‘end of life’, unfortunately much sooner than they should. But one thing is for sure – in a world seemingly evermore passionate about sustainability, there is still a long way to go when it comes to this tricky waste stream. 14

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The reduction of mattress ‘waste’ at source is definitely a major issue. But what happens next – when it comes to the treatment of mattresses – is also a worry. These bulky items are difficult to store and handle, which means that far too many are fly-tipped. And even those which do successfully reach a landfill site, shouldn’t in truth end up there. After all, disposal is costly – in both financial and environmental terms. So yes, the oversized nature of mattresses makes them cumbersome to manoeuvre and break down. And they may be made up of multiple composite materials that are considered hard to segregate. There is also a long-standing perception in the eyes of many, that they are economically unshreddable. However, with greater awareness and understanding of exactly what is possible when it comes to mattress recycling, the resource value of this notorious ‘problem’ actually becomes very exciting. Some recyclers – including both mainstream firms and more specialist operators – already acknowledge the valuable recyclable materials that are ‘locked’ inside a mattress. However, they often opt to break down an end-of-life

mattress by hand, despite the labour intensive, time consuming nature of this approach. In fact, UNTHA continually consults peers on a global basis and many either haven’t yet acknowledged the benefits of mechanical mattress processing, or they perceive the use of a shredder to be cost prohibitive. But with ongoing technological advancements comes innovation and consequently, completely new opportunities. JANUARY 24

NEWS Mechanical mattress processing Did you know, for example, that while the manual breakdown of a mattress might typically take around seven minutes, a single step shredding line can now mechanically dismantle a mattress in as little as 30 seconds. Importantly, the shredding process also liberates or ‘unlocks’ the multifaceted materials inside. The secret of success lies in achieving a homogenous shred – a high quality output fraction – which optimises the efficiency and effectiveness of downstream separation technology. This means that clean steel can be extracted for resale and recycling, with relative ease, foam can be processed for use as carpet underlay or animal bedding, wood can be shredded for landscaping mulch or biomass, and the remaining flock material – a 30mm fraction – can be mixed to create a high calorific value Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). For alternative fuel manufacturers with a strong environmental agenda, it is even possible to re-shred any residual contaminated material to achieve a 100% recovery rate. Consequently, a notorious waste problem becomes a closed loop project rich in revenue and environmental potential. Of course sophisticated equipment is required for such a project to come to life, but shredding technology – which continues to evolve at pace – has completely transformed what recyclers can now do.

Some machines are engineered to now comfortably handle even the most complex input materials, with slower speed, high torque drives drastically reducing the wear and maintenance intensity, and thus the whole life running costs of the asset. If the shredder is electric, the operation is ‘greener’ too when compared to competitors’ diesel driven equivalents. In fact, one pioneering UNTHA customer (outside of the mattress recycling sector) is running a shredder using the solar power they generate on site – it will be interesting to see if other organisations follow their lead.

Mattress recycling excellence Shropshire-based Textek is an outstanding example of mattress recycling in action. This organisation runs two UNTHA XR3000C shredders within its advanced bulky waste processing facility, with an intelligent combination of downstream magnets achieving an impressively clean ferrous extraction. Three grades of metals are pulled off the system for resale to different scrap markets, and the highcalorific flock is used for waste to energy, as a fossil fuel substitute. Processing over 300 mattresses every hour, this organisation has its sights set on transforming more than 1 million mattresses into valuable resources, per annum. This project required tremendous foresight and vision, but the result is exemplary – both from a sustainability and revenue generation point of view. Industry data points to only 24% of UK mattresses being recycled at present – with some reports suggesting the ‘real’ figure is closer to only 14%. The scale of the opportunity for change, is therefore vast. But alongside forward-thinking innovators like Textek, who are working hard to achieve environmental progress, we also need to unite as an industry to increase conversation about exactly what is possible. ‘Lack of awareness’ remains an ongoing challenge – a problem within the waste industry itself, let alone the local authority infrastructure and general public. And all too often things sound difficult. Or expensive. But there is a lot of knowledge to be gleaned from hard working people who have already ‘been there and done that’. And yes, a shredder represents a capital investment, but the possible return on that investment is huge. And that’s before we consider how much the planet will benefit from smarter thinking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about the National Bed Federation, please visit: www.bedfed.org.uk JANUARY 24

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NEWS

SITTOMAT HAS APPOINTED SUEZ TO BUILD AND OPERATE THE TOULON REGION’S NEW RECYCLING CENTRE FOR SELECTIVELY COLLECTED WASTE The new household waste, paper and cardboard recycling centre in figures: A 9-year contract (2024-2032) comprising 2 years of construction work and a 7-year operational phase. 35,000 tonnes of waste processed each year, handling all relevant waste produced in the region. A local consortium of specialist businesses led by SUEZ, including Atelier 5, GSE and EBHYS. 45 people employed at the new centre.

n Wednesday 20 December 2023, Gilles Vincent, Chair of the Toulon region’s transport and domestic waste management authority (SITTOMAT) and Antoine Bousseau, Managing Director of Services to Local Authorities for the SUEZ Recycling and Recovery business signed a contract for the construction and operation of a new recycling centre for specific collected waste (household packaging, paper and cardboard). Dr Whitehead, who is also Labour MP for S35,000 tonnes of recyclable waste will be processed every year at this new facility, located in La Farlède, to empower SITTOMAT to better serve more than 566,000 people in the Toulon region. The contract around €65 million will begin with two years of design and construction work, followed by a seven-year operation period.

A new facility to help people recycle more, and more effectively The new recycling centre will have capacity to process 35,000 tonnes of waste per year in order to meet SITTOMAT’s current needs. It is projected to handle up to 42,000 tonnes of household packaging, paper and cardboard waste per year in normal operating conditions. It will be more efficient, allowing simpler recycling guidelines for local residents, in line with those in place nationally. This will make it easier for people to sort their waste so that they can recycle more, and more efficiently. The centre will also help to raise public awareness of recycling: Open days and 16

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guided tours led by recycling experts will be held to allow members of the public to see how their waste is sorted and recycled. Additionally, school excursions will be organized to educate students on the importance of recycling, raising children’s awareness today so that they become keen recyclers in the future. The centre will also mean that trucks no longer have to transport waste outside the département, thereby reducing mileage and emission levels, saving resources while preserving the environment.

An innovative recycling centre fully embedded in its community The centre will be the first in ProvenceAlpes-Côte d’Azur to feature a dualarm robotic sorter that operates using both artificial intelligence and 3D vision, accurately identifying all items of unwanted waste on a sorting conveyor belt and automatically removing them from the recycling process. This is another step forward in improving the Var département’s waste recycling performance. These technological innovations will allow the centre’s staff to shift their focus towards quality control. There will be 45 people working at the La Farlède centre, with 30 newly created jobs and a team of 12 people recruited through a workforce integration programme. Gilles Vincent, Chair of SITTOMAT, said: “For many years, SITTOMAT has wanted to have a new recycling centre in the heart of its region, and has aspired to provide an innovative service, fully suited to the needs of its community while maintaining cost efficiency.

€64.4 million of investment to build the centre: €34.7 million for the design/build phase and €29.7 million for the operational phase. The project is being funded by: SITTOMAT Central government via the “Fonds Friche” brownfield regeneration fund: €3,601,030 ADEME: €1,100,000 Région Sud: €500,000 CITEO: €950,000 This project will also support local businesses, combining their expertise with that of an international group like SUEZ.” Antoine Bousseau, Managing Director of Services to Local Authorities for the SUEZ Recycling and Recovery business, added: “This project is the result of a successful collaboration between SUEZ and local entities to develop the best waste recycling solutions, ones that meet SITTOMAT’s ambitions. The synergies achieved from combining our international expertise in waste recycling centres with the skills of a group of advisors who are experts in their field will give fresh impetus to waste management in the region. It will allow people in Var to recycle more, and more efficiently. We are proud to be working with SITTOMAT and helping it to lead the Var département’s ecological transition while involving its residents in the process.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about SUEZ, please visit: www.suez.co.uk/en-gb JANUARY 24

NEWS

THE AZURA GROUP SIGNS A NEW CONTRACT WITH SUEZ TO RECYCLE ITS ORGANIC WASTE IN THE SOUTH OF MOROCCO

he AZURA group, one of the world leading companies in the fields of fruits, vegetables and aquaculture, and SUEZ, a leader in circular waste solutions, announce the signature of contracts to operate two composting platforms dedicated to organic waste emanating from Azura’s operations that are located in Agadir and Dakhla regions. The two contracts, with a duration of six years each, for the implementation of two platforms to transform organic waste into compost. With an overall capacity of 116,000 tons of organic waste per year, these platforms will produce 42,000 tons of compost and 43,000 tons of semi-finished Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) annually. This solution aims to address circular economy and resource preservation challenges to which the Azura Group and SUEZ have shown strong commitment. In the context of water stress, compost as an organic amendment, represents

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a valuable alternative to increase water retention and improve soil quality. It also responds to climate challenges by reintegrating carbon into the soil. Furthermore, the compost produced will be sold by a local partner to agricultural producers in the region, creating value to the local economy. This collaboration is the culmination of a strong partnership between the Azura Group and SUEZ, which began in 2020 with the contract for the management and re-circularization of waste from the Azura Group’s activities. “Sustainability and Responsibility are at the heart of all the Azura Group’s activities. This new partnership with SUEZ demonstrates, once again, our strong commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and which was notably formalized by signing an agreement with the “science-based initiative” (SBTI). Indeed, thanks to the implementation of composting units for our organic waste, we will reduce our carbon footprint by

around 16,000 tons CO2eq each year.” declared Mr. Hicham Harakat, Chief Executive Officer of the Azura Group. “This contract marks a new stage in the relationship with Azura. It is a testament to the ability of SUEZ’s teams in Morocco to continuously offer its customers resilient and innovative, differentiating, and high value-added solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of their activities. The know-how of our local teams, at the service of Azura and other Moroccan companies, also contributes to local economic growth”, underlines Benjamin Vauthier, General Managing Director of SUEZ in Morocco.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about the Azura Group, please visit: www.azura-group.com/en

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VOLVO EW240 ELECTRIC MATERIAL HANDLER SETS NEW STANDARD FOR DECARBONIZATION

helping to deliver a more sustainable way of working to match the environmental ambitions and operations of the very business itself.

With a continuous cable connection, the near-silent EW240 Electric Material Handler can work round the clock without any need to stop for refueling or recharging, making it the perfect partner for indoor use or in waste and recycling applications.

No time for downtime

olvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is introducing the grid-connected EW240 Electric Material Handler, the latest addition to its leading range of zero exhaust emission machines working towards a carbon-neutral future. This solution was developed in collaboration with one of our authorised partners.

It delivers a significant reduction in noise, vibration, and heat as well as zero exhaust fumes – creating a more comfortable work environment and opening up new business opportunities. The grid-connected wheeled excavator will be available to select customers in Europe from January 2024. The EW240 Electric Material Handler is not only a better choice for the environment, but it opens up a range of new business opportunities too. With zero exhaust emissions and near silent operation, it is the perfect solution for noise sensitive areas, outdoors or even indoors, low carbon zones and for working during unsociable hours. Its quieter operation means less disruption to the operator and to people working on site, as well as to those in the surrounding areas.

Sustainability in Action Electric solutions like this EW240 Electric Material Handler are perfectly suited to waste and recycling applications – 18

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Thanks to electrification, the EW240 Electric Material Handler can go longer between services which means lower maintenance costs compared to a diesel alternative. With no engine-related consumables such as engine oil, filters and water separator, it also reduces downtime and costs.

A cable connection makes the EW240 Electric Material Handler the perfect choice to increase productivity and lower operating costs in static applications. This electric-powered Material Handler gives operators the same performance and control as provided by conventional machines – with the added advantage that there is no need to stop work to refuel or recharge. Instead, operators can keep working for as long as they want – and with outstanding levels of operator comfort, this might be some time. Operator experience is further enhanced with a heated and suspended seat, and outstanding visibility thanks to the flat machine hood, rear and side view camera and LED lights.

Grid-Connected Solutions Grid-connected solutions like the EW240 Electric Material Handler are ideal for use in static applications that are required to carry out repetitive tasks such as material handling, for example in the waste and recycling industry. Volvo CE continues to invest in technological solutions tailored to industry needs.

“The EW240 Electric Material Handler is the ideal hardworking sustainable solution for waste and recycling – an industry where circularity is in close focus. By providing near silent and zero emission electric solutions, we are supporting our customers need to work more sustainably and deliver on their transformation journey as well as lower the cost of their operations.” Thomas Nather

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about Volvo, please visit: www.volvo.com JANUARY 24

NEWS

PARTNERING WITH ANDUSIA TO DIRECT WASTE DOWN RDF ROUTE

J has signed a contract with Andusia, creating a new partnership that will see them exporting up to 10,000 tonnes of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) in 2024 on TJ’s behalf. Directing waste down the RDF route aligns with TJ’s dedication to diverting waste from landfill, as it enables waste that cannot be disposed of in any other way to be put to good use as an energy source. The RDF will be collected loose in trucks from TJ’s Materials Recovery Facility in Southampton and exported to Germany where the waste will be recovered and used to provide electricity and heating to local communities and businesses. Entering into this 12-month contract with Andusia gives us a confirmed route for

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waste that cannot be reused or recycled, which in turn, enables us to provide stable pricing for our customers disposing of this type of waste with us. Andusia Recovered Fuels Limited was established in 2012 when the RDF export market was in its infancy. Since then, they’ve become the UK’s largest independent exporter, offering a full and flexible supply chain solution for collecting and delivering RDF from UK producers (independent managementowned waste businesses) to the energy from waste plants in Europe. Energy and heat generation by Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants is highly efficient and brings UK waste disposal higher up the waste hierarchy. TJ Waste’s General Manager, Luke Haskell said: “Partnering with Andusia was the natural choice for us. We were looking

for a cost-effective diversion solution, but were faced with a lack of locally available waste treatment infrastructure. We can now be confident that Andusia will handle our waste responsibly and look forward to embarking on this journey with them.” Mark Terrell of Andusia said: “We are delighted to be working with TJ Group, who are a long established company running well maintained operations. This collaboration will also serve to strengthen our supply networks further in the south of the country to meet growing overseas demand for waste-derived fuels.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about TJ Waste, please visit: www.tj-waste.co.uk

JANUARY 24

NEWS

THE EU BUILT A RECORD 17 GW OF NEW WIND ENERGY IN 2023

he EU built 17 GW of new wind energy in 2023, slightly up on 2022 – and more than ever in a single year in fact. But it’s not enough to reach the EU’s 2030 targets. The EU should be building 30 GW of new wind every year between now and 2030. The actions set out in the EU Wind Power Package and European Wind Charter will help increase the annual build-out – national implementation is key. Wind was 19% of all electricity produced in Europe’s last year.

Germany built the most new wind capacity followed by the Netherlands and Sweden. The Netherlands built the most new offshore wind, including the 1.5 GW “Hollandse Kust Zuid” – for now the world’s largest wind farm.

According to WindEurope data, the EU built 17 GW of new wind farms in 2023: 14 GW onshore; 3 GW offshore. These numbers are slightly up on 2022 and are the most the EU has ever built in a single year. But it’s well below the 30 GW a year that the EU needs to build to meet its new 2030 climate and energy security targets.

To that end the commitment to deliver the Wind Power Package that 26 EU Energy Ministers signed before Christmas in the European Wind Charter was key. Crucial actions include the further simplification of permitting, improvements in the design of the auctions to build new wind farms and public financial support for wind turbine

The IEA estimates that Europe will build 23 GW a year of new wind over 2024-28. The actions set out in the EU Wind Power Package should deliver a significant increase in the annual build-out – and strengthen Europe’s wind energy supply chain. National implementation of the actions is key.

manufacturing and key infrastructure. Wind was 19% of the electricity produced in the EU last year. Hydro was 13%, solar 8% and biomass 3%. Renewables in total amounted to 44% of electricity produced. The amount of electricity produced from 1 GW of wind continued to grow. The “capacity factor” of new onshore wind farms now ranges from 30-48%, and new offshore wind is consistently 50%. The capacity factor measures how much output you get from a unit of capacity – it varies between different renewable technologies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about WindEurope, please visit: www.windeurope.org/windflix/

Wind was 19% of the electricity produced in the EU last year. Hydro was 13%, solar 8% and biomass 3%. Renewables in total amounted to 44% of electricity produced. JANUARY 24

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HINKLEY POINT C SETS OUT PLAN TO CREATE SOMERSET SALTMARSH

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

inkley Point C, the new nuclear power station in Somerset, is asking for views on its plans to create more than 800 acres of saltmarsh on the River Parrett. The proposed saltmarsh at Pawlett Hams near Bridgwater would create new habitat for fish and animals, improve local water quality and help prevent flooding. It’s one of a number of proposed measures to help wildlife and the environment around the Severn estuary. These include planting of seagrass and kelp, developing native oyster beds and removing weirs on three rivers to help migrating fish to reach their breeding grounds. The plans are being developed with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency as a natural alternative to installing an acoustic fish deterrent. The deterrent had been proposed to keep some fish species away from the power station’s cooling water system. Creating saltmarsh is a proven way to increase and protect biodiversity. It will JANUARY 24

To learn more about Hinkley Point C, please visit: www.www.edfenergy. com/energy/nuclear-new-buildprojects/hinkley-point-c help fish by providing breeding grounds and provide food and shelter for birds and animals. Tidal marsh also filters and cleans water, prevents floods and locks away carbon in one of our most effective weapons in the fight against climate change. Steart Marshes, opposite the proposed new wetland, was created nine years ago and is now teeming with birds, fish and wildlife, and is a popular place for recreation. The creation of new habitat to help protect fish populations replaces a proposal to install an acoustic fish deterrent system. This system would use 280 speakers to make noise louder than a jumbo jet 24-hours a day for 60 years. Its impact on porpoises, seals, whales, and other species is unknown. Independent studies showed it would offer a very small potential benefit to protected fish species. It would also risk the safety of divers in the fast-flowing tides of the Bristol Channel.   Hinkley Point C is still the first power station in the area to have any fish protection measures in place – including

a fish recovery and return system and low velocity water intakes. Power stations have been taking cooling water from the Bristol Channel for decades with no significant impact on fish populations. Chris Fayers, Head of Environment at Hinkley Point C, said: “The new wetland would be a fantastic place for wildlife and a beautiful place to visit. Using natural and proven ways to improve the environment is better than creating sixty years of noise pollution with a system that is untested far offshore in the fast-flowing waters of the Severn. “Hinkley Point C is one of Britain’s biggest acts in the fight against climate change and its operation will provide significant benefits for the environment” The proposals for habitat creation and other changes to Hinkley Point C’s design, such as alterations to the way the power station will store spent fuel, will be included in a public consultation launching on 9th January. More information on the consultation events will be available on the Hinkley Point C website from the 9th of January. Future Waste

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CIWM UNITES GLOBAL CIRCULAR ECONOMY PROFESSIONALS THROUGH ACQUISITION OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY INSTITUTE

ncorporating the Circular Economy Institute and the Circular Economy Club, its non-profit arm, into the CIWM Group is in line with CIWM’s stated strategic objectives to pioneer professional standards and enhance engagement and connectivity – worldwide. It will deliver significant benefits for each organisation and comes at a critical time in the battle against climate change and resource scarcity. CIWM (the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) has announced the acquisition of the Circular Economy Institute (CEI) in a move that will also see it assume leadership of the Circular Economy Club (CEC) – a global network for those committed to developing the circular economy. Bringing CEI and CEC into the CIWM Group will deliver significant value for members, learners and customers of each organisation and meet the needs of a rapidly growing community of professionals who are focussed on sustainable circularity. CIWM, CEI and CEC will continue to operate autonomously whilst their respective members will now benefit from access to even more world-class thought leadership, collaboration, and the sharing of knowledge, ideas and resources. The Group will also now offer true international impact, scale and influence – more than doubling the respective memberships. CIWM is committed to delivering the resources required by both the CEI and CEC and to continue their rapid growth and add further value for their respective communities. Commenting on the acquisition, CIWM CEO, Sarah Poulter, said: “Whilst we recognise that each of the organisations we have brought together will have their own

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distinct priorities, there is also a significant degree of common thinking and a shared desire to better manage the Earth’s finite resources. The creation of this group will facilitate the growth of a powerful and respected global community with the scale and resources required to drive meaningful and lasting change. We look forward to supporting CEI in its mission is to promote the highest standards of practice in the circular economy field, and in building the strong international leadership needed to shift from linear to circular practices. We are also extremely excited by the opportunity to grow the CEC community and cement its position as the primary platform for ambitious professionals committed to a circular future.” The CEI, founded by the circular economy pioneer, Anna Tari, provides a range of training courses, workshops and seminars. To date, these have taken place in over 30 countries and are a fast and convenient way for organisations to integrate circular economy strategies into all phases of their offerings. Organisations which have benefited from CEI training include United Nations One Planet Network, Harvard School of Design and London City Council. The three-tier CEI certification scheme provides highly regarded professional credentials to those aiming to excel in the circular economy arena. The CEC was established by Anna in 2012 and is free to join. It currently has over 7,000 members who are part of more than 280 local clubs across 140 countries. Members include representatives from businesses of all sizes as well as governments, financial institutions, non-profits, marketplaces, research institutes and academia. CEI founder Anna Tari also commented, saying: “The recent growth of the CEI and

CEC means the time is right to hand over their custodianship to those with a shared purpose and strategy. With 125 years of experience, CIWM has proven itself as a highly successful membership organisation and training provider which has been instrumental in developing and promoting the more sustainable use of resources. It was this, together with its clear commitment to developing the circular economy, that led me to approach them. I am confident that their support for the CEI and CEC will ensure they retain their individual identities, keeping each community’s best interests at heart. The CEI and CEC have come a long way in a short space of time and I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in this journey. I look forward to witnessing the next stage of its evolution and growth and will continue to be involved as part of the CEI steering group.” CIWM is the leading professional body for the resource and waste management sector, representing over 6,600 individuals in the UK, Ireland and overseas. Established in 1898, CIWM is a non-profit making organisation, dedicated to moving the world beyond waste through the promotion of best practice and professional competence amongst waste, recycling and resource managers. A number of its members are already CEC members and are actively working to develop sustainable cross-sector solutions to resource scarcity and climate change.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION For more information about the CEI, please visit: ceinstitute.org; or to join the CEC free of charge, please visit: circulareconomyclub.com JANUARY 24

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GROWTH IN UK EXPORT FOR PLASTIC PACKAGING RECYCLING IN 2023 SHOWS NEED FOR RETHINK ON USE OF NON-OECD

ECOUP has found that new data reveals an increase in the amount of plastic exported for recycling in 2023, and significant quantities are now going to developing, non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Year-on-year, despite increases in material being recycled in the UK, quantities of plastic waste exported for recycling from England have increased by more than 10% to just over 600,000 tonnes. Of this, more than 25% was sent to Turkey, 25,000 tonnes more than in 2022. This also means that just short of 1 million tonnes of plastic has been sent to Turkey for recycling since 2017. The next largest destination, Germany, received just under 10%, whilst material sent to Asia, overall, increased from around 9% in 2022, to almost 20% in 2023. Malaysia and Vietnam, two non-OECD countries that had received decreasing volumes of UK waste in recent years, took around 8% each. Indonesia took a further 3.4%, and Taiwan 2.5%.

Material to non-OECD Countries More than 26% was sent to non-OECD or developing countries. This is significantly more than the 16% in 2022, and 6% in 2021, when overall quantities were also lower, resulting in an increase of 500% in three years. This amounts to 155,000 tonnes sent to non-OECD countries, 15,000 of which was to European Union (EU) Member States Bulgaria and Romania, and the remaining sent to a combination of countries in non-EU Europe, Asia and Egypt. Whilst discussions take place around a ban on export to non-OECD countries, these figures show the market’s resilience and flexibility at a time when recycled plastic demand was at a low across Europe, not least in part due to low virgin oil prices and high virgin plastic production, particularly outside of Europe. As such, this material exported for recycling would likely have otherwise gone to landfill or incineration. A ban on export of waste from the UK to non-OECD countries is expected, being part of the Conservative party’s manifesto,

but a consultation on this did not materialise as expected in 2023. Whilst the non-OECD EU Member States are not included in the proposed ban (Malta, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania), this still leaves around 140,000 tonnes of plastic exported that would need new receiving destinations. On top of this, the EU is in the midst of various changes to legislation. These include restrictions on import and export of waste into the bloc, its own ban on exports to non-OECD countries, and requirements for export to any country outside of the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) being notifiable waste. As background, the OECD is made up of 38 countries and is often used as a synonym for high-income or ‘developed’ countries. Membership has therefore been considered a suitable measure for if a country has the infrastructure and regulation in place to receive and process plastic waste for recycling. However, it should be noted that the OECD’s remit relates to a broad range of topics, including policy and trade. Furthermore, non-OECD countries China, Indonesia and India are all considered ‘key partners’ of the OECD, with Indonesia having expressed an interest in joining in late 2023. Bulgaria and Romania are also both applicants to join the OECD.

The Metric for UK Waste Export Policy

A map showing the receiving destinations of plastic waste from England for recycling. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%

87%

30%

74%

61% 39% 43%

26%

23% 13%

20% 10% 0%

84%

77%

57%

50% 40%

94%

2017

2018

2019

2020 OECD

16% 6% 2021

2022

2023

Non-OECD

Split of plastic packaging exported for recycling by receiving country’s OECD or non-OECD status. 26

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It is known that whilst countries seen in the news with poor quality waste management and incidences of illegal burning or burying of waste are more often non-OECD countries, there are high quality reprocessing facilities in a number of these countries. Equally, being an OECD country does not guarantee that all facilities and national waste and environmental policies are of a sufficient quality. This follows on from RECOUP’s Plastic Waste Exports Position that material should only be exported as long as there is robust evidence that the infrastructure is in place to handle it, and to help that ensure illegal, unethical or unnecessary exports are stopped. All of these factors bring into question the use of OECD membership as the sole metric for whether a country is suitable for accepting plastic waste for recycling. To help address these issues, the UK requires development of its recycling infrastructure, as well as its policies, to JANUARY 24

2021

limit the need for exporting of material in the first place, regardless of where to. An outright ban does not feel an appropriate course of action, at least not without sufficient time and planning to develop domestic infrastructure to compensate for the loss of available markets. A sudden ban would likely result in more material being sent to landfill, incinerated or exported to other markets. Worse still, this may increase the likelihood that these countries merely act as a transfer station for the material to move on to other markets. The consultation on a ban to non-OECD countries will be welcome, though should not be a foregone conclusion. Further consideration is needed to ensure that this is not implemented at the expense of countries like Turkey merely taking more material instead, or material making its way to developing countries by unregulated and illegal means. Worse still, if existing countries that currently receive plastic waste for recycling can join the OECD without evidencing suitable infrastructure or practices in relation to imported plastic waste for recycling, then this calls into question the use of OECD as the sole criteria for being permitted as a destination.

2022

2023

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500000 446000 447000

2021

2022

2023

500000 446000 447000

155000 89000 32000 OECD

1550

Non-OECD

Comparison of export to OECD and Non-OECD countries between 2021, 2022 and 2023. 32000

OECD

89000

Non-OECD

Importance of Digital Waste Tracking and Reviewing the PRN System Digital Waste Tracking will be a vital policy, albeit one that may not come to fruition until 2025. A system that should allow a live, accurate and, most importantly, transparent reporting of material transportation both in the UK and overseas, replacing the archaic paper-based system that is currently in place. This much needed update will help ensure confidence in exports and material end destinations. This is especially important for import and export out of England, where the lion’s share of UK material is exported from, and Wales. Historic legislation means that Annex VII and Green List export data is not necessarily provided to the EA and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), unlike for material going out of Scotland or Northern Ireland. Furthermore, revisions should be made to the Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) systems first designed in the late 1990s, as they have financially incentivised the export of waste over processing domestically. A formal review of the system was called for following the 2021 packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) consultation in 2025. These notes act as the current packaging producer responsibility scheme, purchased based on the amount of packaging placed on the UK JANUARY 24

Graph showing the total tonnages of plastic sent to countries for recycling 2017 to 2023. market, with the money then intended to be reinvested into the infrastructure to manage the waste at the end of life. However, PRN prices are volatile, fluctuating based on recycling rates and demand, making them unsuitable for business planning. At present, material recycled in the UK is measured at the point that the recycling has taken place once any contamination or nontarget material has been removed and material yield losses in the recycling processes have taken place. Material that is exported using Packaging Export Recovery Notes (PERN) includes the weight of any contamination or nontarget material that may be lost in the recycling steps that take place overseas, prior to reaching any end-of-waste status. Removing the economic variable between PRNs and PERNs based on the point the note is claimed would make UK

recycling more economically attractive to recyclers and help balance the market. Whilst data for overall recycling quantities for 2023 will not be available for a few months, the amount sent for export appears likely to have increased. Whatever the solution, the UK cannot continue on its current trajectory, and efforts must be made from the legislators to the exporters, and everyone in between, to help turn the tide in effectively, ethically and transparently managing our nation’s own waste.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about LondonEnergy, please visit: www.londonenergyltd.com Future Waste

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WASTE COLLECTORS IN WALES GEAR UP FOR NEW WORKPLACE RECYCLING LAW SET TO HELP MAKE WALES A ZERO-WASTE NATION

ith just two months to go until the new workplace recycling law comes into effect, waste collectors across Wales are preparing for the change. From 6 April, it will become law in Wales for all businesses, charities, and public sector organisations to sort their waste for recycling, in the same way as households do across most of Wales. Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association, Jacob Hayler, said: “The new Workplace Recycling Regulations mark another large step forward for Welsh recycling, building on the successful household system. The recycling and waste management industry very much supports measures to harmonise requirements, which reduces confusion, increases participation, and boosts performance. The certainty that clear and timely regulation provides also enables industry to invest in, and deliver, the services needed to support higher recycling rates.” Julie James, Minister for Climate Change said: “Wales’s new workplace recycling law is important in delivering against the climate and nature emergency but will crucially also deliver benefits to the economy by capturing a resilient supply of high-quality recycled materials. This shows how we can work together to reduce our environmental impact and lay the foundations for a stronger, greener economy.”

It will be responsibility of each workplace to ensure recycling is separated for collection. If multiple workplaces are in a shared location, the collection should be agreed with the landlord or facilities manager if a central recycling system is required. Many businesses have already started making changes to their waste management system and have been enjoying the benefits it has brought. The Isle of Anglesey County Council has experienced a significant increase in recycling across its schools and council buildings following the introduction of separate collections in September 2023. The overall rate has increased by almost 15%, with several schools now recycling more than three quarters (80%) of their waste. Meiron Edwards, Chief Waste Management Officer at the Council said: “We have taken a very considered approach to making the changes to the separation of waste in our council managed buildings across the county. We began our journey over 12 months ago and started our new collection service in September 2023. As part of the planning process, the Council ran a four-week trial in seven of its key sites across the county. This helped inform them of potential challenges, logistics, and processes involved in rolling it out across the full 70 sites. The Council procured and awarded a contract to Veolia UK to perform the new collection service. They worked together

to determine the volume and quantity of bins for each site based on their general waste production, as well as the frequency of collection required.” Meirion added: “We are only a couple of months into the new waste separation process but so far, so good. The feedback from the changes has been positive, and the results show for themselves. Most people separate their waste streams at home already, so the changes align with current household waste guidance, which should help. There are still some challenges that need addressing, but overall, we are pleased with the progress.” In just 20 years, Wales has gone from recycling less than 5% to recycling over 65% of our waste and is ranked third in the world for household recycling rates. This helps to save around 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. The new law will help to continue to increase recycling rates while supporting Wales’ commitment to become a zerowaste nation by 2050. For more information on how the changes will affect your workplace and for guidance on what you need to do visit: www.gov.wales/workplacerecycling

Advice for workplaces preparing for the new law: • Plan ahead – find out what the changes mean to you, what you need to do to comply and allow plenty of time to implement changes. • Talk to your recycling and waste collector – you need to make sure they can collect your separated waste. • Look at where and how your waste is collected – can you reduce the amount of waste you produce? What materials will you need to separate and what is the best way to do it. • Think about what internal and external bins you might need – what containers will you need for each of the different recycling materials. • Communicate – develop a plan to communicate the changes to staff, guests, visitors, customers etc so they understand what they need to do with their waste. • Think about health and safety – make sure your bins are accessible, are easy to access and move.

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JANUARY 24

NEWS

HEXAGON’S R-EVOLUTION LAUNCHES GREEN CUBES: A DIGITAL REVOLUTION FOR RAINFOREST CONSERVATION

-evolution, Hexagon’s sustainable innovation and green-tech investment subsidiary, today announced the launch of its forest initiative Green Cubes to accelerate biodiversity rainforest conservation worldwide. Utilising Hexagon’s reality capture technology to accurately measure and visualise the volume and complexity of the rainforest in 3D, R-evolution is enabling corporations to sponsor rainforest segments on a cubic metre basis.

University of Vienna, to map 100 square kilometres of rainforest, focusing on 500 hectares, which represents 125 million Green Cubes.

The world’s first Green Cubes are introduced in Costa Rica to support the preservation and expansion of the COBIGA corridor, which is home to numerous endangered species. R-evolution has launched a partnership with La Gamba Tropenstation, an Austrian research station associated with the

Powered by Hexagon’s digital reality platform (HxDR), R-evolution has led the development of the Green Cubes Methodology, a pioneering approach to forest monitoring and visualisation. This approach combines technology and science to generate a digital twin of the forest, leveraging Hexagon’s state-

“We are turning the tide for biodiversity and our planet’s future, harnessing the power of Hexagon’s technology to protect the world’s critical ecosystems,” said Paolo Guglielmini, President and CEO, Hexagon. “Green Cubes presents a transformative opportunity for local communities, ESG-committed corporations and our environment.”

of-the-art airborne hybrid image and LiDAR sensors and ground-based reality capture technology to measure and visualise forest volume, complexity and biodiversity indication. Deforestation, livestock farming and palm oil production have caused an average 69% decline of wildlife populations according to the World Wildlife Fund. In response to this alarming decline, R-evolution initiated Green Cubes to protect crucial biodiversity rainforest corridors. In collaboration with leading scientists and local communities to enhance conservation initiatives, the project meets ESG contribution requirements for corporate sponsors and provides forest owners with a sustainable, recurring income to make conservation financially viable

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, contact: Erik Josefsson, CEO, R-evolution, Hexagon AB, erik.josefsson@hexagon.com

Madlen Nicolaus, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexagon AB, media@hexagon.com JANUARY 24

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NEWS

FORMER ELLINGTON IN-VESSEL COMPOSTING PLANT TO BE REUSED AND RECYCLED!

he development of a hightech facility near Ashington in Newcastle, which will see food waste transformed into renewable energy for up to 5,500 homes, has started out on the right environmental footing by ensuring every building at the existing site has been reused or recycled. SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, which owns the former landfill, composting and wood shredding facility in Ellington Road, received planning permission in July to build a state-of-the-art £35m anaerobic digestion facility which will turn the region’s food waste into reliable, renewable energy and a biofertilizer. However, with construction activity accounting for more than a third of global CO2 emissions, SUEZ was keen to ensure that a facility designed to alleviate the environmental impact of waste avoided inadvertently becoming a contributor to the problem during removal of the existing structures and development of the new ones. Fortunately, a plan to carefully dismantle and reassemble the old buildings elsewhere, provided by Ashington based contract services provider Thorntons, has

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delivered a solution that aligns exactly with SUEZ’s commitment to a circular economy by placing reuse and recycling at its core. Contracts Manager for Thorntons, Will Higson, said: “We opted for careful deconstruction and proposed rebuilding elsewhere rather than demolition as when we assessed the condition of buildings on site, we were confident we could find new homes for them. “The dismantling work has been more intensive as much of it had to be done by hand and has obviously been more timeconsuming than demolition. But, by doing it this way, we have avoided sending tonnes of steel to the “scrap man” by ensuring the buildings can be reused/ repurposed.” So far, one of the buildings has been repurposed as cattle shed on a local farm, another has been kept by Thorntons for their own use and the other two buildings have been purchased by local farmers. In total, more than 10,500 tonnes of concrete have been saved during the demolition and will be crushed for use in the foundations of the new AD plant. Approximately 300 tonnes of reclaimed steel will also be reused in the construction.

Steve Patterson, Regional Director in the North for SUEZ said: “We are delighted with the solution that Thorntons have provided for us. Whilst we work very hard to promote the need to recycle, reusing materials is even more sustainable from an environmental point of view and we would always look to work with partners who can match our ambitions to consistently reduce our impact on the planet.” The new anaerobic digestion facility will be completed by 2025 in time to accommodate anticipated legislation which will prohibit food waste going to landfill. Food releases methane as it decomposes which is a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than CO2 . All gas and electricity generated by the new facility would be exported to the local distribution network as well as being used to power the plant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To learn more about SUEZ, please visit: www.suez.co.uk/en-gb JANUARY 24

ARTICLE • PEOPLE IN WASTE

PEOPLE IN WASTE : TOGETHER WE CAN Care, Commitment, Change By Rebecca Phillips

When you think of waste, what’s the first image that springs to mind? Is it people? Maybe a dustbin man or two but really, it’s likely landfills and recycling bins. Or maybe that’s just me. In any case, the people that make up the world of resource management are not often championed properly. Expos such as ESS have taken great strides to showcase the amazing work these people do, but there is still a wealth of machinery and tech to draw the crowd’s eyes elsewhere. What can I say, it’s human nature right? Well, it’s human nature that really drives the waste workforce. Without the care and attention people have devoted to sustainability, this movement towards net zero never would have got off the ground. 32

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ARTICLE • PEOPLE IN WASTE

“Whilst we recognise that each of the organisations we have brought together will have their own distinct priorities, there is also a significant degree of common thinking and a shared desire to better manage the Earth’s finite resources.” CIWM CEO, Sarah Poulter

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Care

Of course, it’s us as a society that is producing the multitude of rubbish that we need to manage it, but understanding the ill effects and inventing proper management systems is also all down to us humans. If there was no resource management, there would be a severe lack of hygiene, contaminated drinking water (which effects humans, animals and plant life), detriment to the environment and not to mention the terrible aesthetic issue of piles of rubbish everywhere! Waste and recycling have certainly been more at the forefront of civilian minds in the last 15-20 years, but really, the collective effort to keep the world waste free dates back thousands of years. The first landfills came into creation in 3000BC! That’s right; ancient Greeks gave us philosophy, medicine, and the beginnings of an effective waste management system. In fact, whilst most were rudimentary pits in the ground, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that municipal landfills were built in Athens and had their own governing legislation to reflect that! So all those thousands of years ago, people realised that proper waste management had such a huge effect on both the population and the environment. That sense of community has carried all the way through to today. Now, it’s not just up to the great minds of the time to take responsibility, everyone understands the united effort that is needed to inspire change. The work of organisations such as WasteAid prove this in abundance. Their latest project, in Gambia, to support the development of a formalised approach to waste management, has been named by Gambian participants as Dennakuwo, which translates as together we can.

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ARTICLE • PEOPLE IN WASTE Ceris Turner-Bailes, Chief Executive at WasteAid, said: “Our activity in The Gambia is a flagship example of what WasteAid is all about – convening diverse actors to support the transition from linear to circular economies and we are hugely grateful to CIWM for its continued financial and advisory support. By working together, we are taking a huge step towards a cleaner and healthier future for all in The Gambia. Providing people at all levels of the waste management value chain with training, coaching, and access to targeted funding to deliver innovative and impactful waste management solutions to the people who need help the most.” This sort of ethos is pervasive in so many different areas of society, and of course, it is wholly people driven. For many years now, education has delved into the importance of the resource management sector, and looks at this is in a variety of ways. (You can trust me on this; my partner is a science teacher, and my best friend teaches geography. I bring up waste, and they have A LOT to say.) We are passing on the change we want to see from a young age, which is beyond vital to the future of our world. Eminent economist, Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, whose 2021 review provided recommendations for changes in education to protect the natural world, says “Rooting Nature into our education system is a vital part of tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. The National Education Nature Park programme aims to do exactly that, by embedding Nature across subject areas and giving the next generation the opportunities to connect to Nature, along with the knowledge and skills needed to help both themselves and Nature to thrive.”

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ARTICLE • PEOPLE IN WASTE We, as a society, hold ourselves accountable for the health and well being of the entire planet. Which is pretty nifty if you ask me. It makes my heart soar to see how we all pull together to strive for something better, something that Harriet Lamb, CEO of WRAP highlighted perfectly. “With a general election on the horizon, we wanted to check how important recycling is among policy pledges. And the message is clear to all parties – positive news on expanding recycling would be well received by voters across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland – particularly those who’ll decide how to vote based on what is happening at the time of the election, and who decide based on manifestos promises.”

Commitment

And what’s more amazing than everyone working together to make things more effective and efficient? Well, I’ll tell you! The general experience and opportunities for people in the waste workforce is a factor that is now being prioritised. Lets be honest, we appreciate the great minds of the ancient Greeks coming up with landfills, but the likelihood that their labourers had proper rights was likely slim to none. And when doing work that is so vital to the community, it’s important that we in turn, look after the people that make it possible. That can come in many possible ways, but the main two that are being focused on is job security and gender equality. With the rise in amazing technology, there are many people who have long played an important part in recycling who worry that their jobs will become obsolete. And perhaps that is true in some cases, but there are so many examples of a human heart 36

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ARTICLE • PEOPLE IN WASTE being better than a robot brain. Some work needs a person’s experience, judgment and wisdom to get it done. For example, when it comes to construction waste, there is a big movement to dismantle rather than demolish buildings. Not only is it better for the environment, but also needs a keen eye to get it done correctly. Contracts Manager for Thorntons, Will Higson had this to say: “The dismantling work has been more intensive as much of it had to be done by hand and has obviously been more timeconsuming than demolition. But, by doing it this way, we have avoided sending tonnes of steel to the “scrap man” by ensuring the buildings can be reused/ repurposed.” Speaking of hearts and minds winning through, there is a huge movement for gender equality in waste.

“Mainstreaming gender in the waste sector and strengthening the participation of women in the waste sector can lead to more efficient and effective waste management operations.” UNEP For a long time, resource management has been seen by most people as a boy’s club. And it certainly had its reasons. For the on site work crews, the hours and manual aspect of the work was more alluring to men than women. And even though there were more women on the office side of things, it still seems like higher up the chain, is more men. JANUARY 24

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ARTICLE • PEOPLE IN WASTE But what has always been, doesn’t need to remain, and much like innovating the tech and machinery to support workers, there is also a drive to bring that same fresh approach to the hiring process. Organisations such as WOW! : Women of Waste, who are part of the ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) are pushing to see a real change in the way waste works: “There are women pioneers, activists, researchers, policymakers, as well as highlevel managers and ministers of government – women are out there, but just not very visible. Furthermore, women still face very real challenges. The range of barriers to women’s full participation is broad: from a lack of well-fitting safety equipment, to persistent bias in legislation, culture and gender roles, to harassment and even physical assault at dumpsites. Women of Waste wants to change that.”

Change

The world of waste is changing around us, very much for the better. And all of that, is due to the efforts of the people. They are the fuel that runs the machine. Without people’s thought, care and drive, nothing would come into place. Whilst researching this article, my social media coordinator (another person, might I add) had this to say: “People in waste is all of us at all levels. From individuals on the ground to CEOs of companies coming together, to international ties and beyond. Its everyone, isn’t it?” Why yes. Yes it is.

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THE DUST CONTROL EXPERTS...

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COVER STORY • KELLY TANKS

10YEAR CELEBRATIONS FOR KELLY TANKS

ncreasing environmental responsibilities and sustainability targets are driving the construction industries ongoing needs for cost effective, easy to use solutions for dealing with wastewater onsite. Sites need quick replies, concise information, simple transactions, and deliveries without hassle. Mark Stubbs, Director of Kelly Tanks, has been involved in Water Treatment for over 30 years, leading him to establish Kelly Tanks, alongside Kelly Bryant, a decade ago. Mark and Kelly have been guided by customer demand to provide the UK’s largest, most diverse fleet of Concrete Washouts and have further developed their range of Water Treatment Solutions to include pH Control, Remote Monitoring, Flow Proportional Dosing and Renewable Energy. Having reached their 10 year anniversary in December, Kelly Tanks will be celebrating ’10 years of excellence’ throughout 2024. Mark told us “To thank all of our connections, friends, suppliers, supporters and customers for being part of our journey so far and myself, Kelly and Team KT will be hosting an Open Day Celebration at Kelly Tanks with a hog roast, live music, drinks and the grand opening of our new office Facility – Date TBC”. 40

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In Feb, set to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, Kelly Tanks will be launching an annual KT Apprenticeship Award, “We want to recognise and reward apprentices that have shown dedication and promise in the Plant Industry Sector”, details to be released later this month. Kelly Tanks will also once again be exhibiting throughout the year, first at the UK Concrete Show, NEC in March, then at Hillhead in June and finally back to the NEC in Sept for the Contamination Expo. Mark, Kelly and team KT provide a selection of Water Treatment and Concrete Washout Solutions for hire or purchase. Their popularity and proven track record is a result of providing the kit you need, in the manner you want, at a price you’re happy with. Match this with their eager to please attitudes and above and beyond aftercare and it’s easy to see why their customers keep returning. All of this alongside their ongoing commitment to innovation and excellent customer service, 2024 looks to be another successful and busy year for Kelly Tanks. To read more about Kelly Tanks journey so far or to learn about the Concrete Washout and Water Treatment Systems they offer, go to www.kellytanks.co.uk. JANUARY 24

COVER STORY • KELLY TANKS

JANUARY 24

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The Premier Fire Protection Solution Early detection, zero false alarms Targeted suppression Fully maintained

External Storage

Special Hazards

Waste Transfer Stations

Tipping/Storage Areas

Arrange your LIVE DEMONSTRATION today! Call +44 1234 357357 or email sales@blazequel.com Visit www.blazequel.com/ﬁrerover to ﬁnd out more, or scan the QR code to watch the system in action!

FEATURE • WHITBREAD | FORCE FOR GOOD

WHITBREAD FORCE FOR GOOD

Premier Inn is a household name. There isn’t a single person in Britain who doesn’t know, or for that matter hasn’t been to, a Premier Inn. They’re not, however, usually synonymous with a green initiative. I confessed myself truly surprised to see them on the Net Zero Pioneer’s report. After all, how can a hotel chain hope to be so environmentally friendly? The very nature of their business deals in tonnes and tonnes of additional waste. Imagine my shock and delight to learn of all the wonderful steps that Whitbread have taken to help the planet, in more ways than one! Whitbread plan to eliminate unnecessary single use plastic by as early as 2025, as well as cutting food waste by 50% by 2030.

Will Silverwood

Will Silverwood and I sat down for a lunchtime chat to delve into the truly fantastic work they’re doing in their sustainability programme ‘Force For Good’. JANUARY 24

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FEATURE • WHITBREAD | FORCE FOR GOOD So, you must be thrilled to be included on the Net Zero pioneers report? Absolutely delighted! It’s a fantastic achievement. It must be hard won though. What complications do you face as a hospitality business when it comes to staying green? There are definitely significant challenges as a sector around space, water, heating, cooking, you name it. They’re all fundamental to the comfort of our guests. We need to make sure people are appropriately cared for. And at scale, we have 890 hotels as well as 400+ restaurants. Obviously, that’s a big part of our challenge. So the sector has to take some fairly significant steps and investment steps to move in the right direction. Our Swindon hotel is a new all-electric model, for example, and we’re also trialling retrofit solutions in 4 hotels, so we’ve got different solutions to help us to reach our carbon goals for different scenarios across our estate. In those, we’re looking to replace gas with electricity, and use air source heat pumps for space heating and hot water. So, we start with the four, then we’re looking to roll it out to a significant number next year, with the ambition of growing across our entire state in time for our net zero goals. That ultimately mean that we’re removing natural gas from our sites. Can you tell me a bit more about your all electric Premier Inn in Swindon? It used to be an old office block, 195 rooms and designed without a connection to the mains gas supply. In fact, last week, we won the Edie’s net zero award for the ‘best built environment project’! That’s amazing! We thought so too! So electricity in the Swindon hotel is provided from the grid, but it’s all 44

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FEATURE • WHITBREAD | FORCE FOR GOOD renewable energy, and the solar panels on the roof. It also uses the Mitsubishi Q-Ton CO2 Heat Pump to heat water, which is an energy efficient air source heat pump. The design of the building also follows BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards, using an innovative Passivhausinfluenced ‘fabric first’ design to optimise energy use, which means it will stay hot for longer. The minimal heat exchange is based on using natural sunlight and the heat generated from activity on site. Those facilities use so much power and end up generating heat, so we make sure we harness it. When people chose Swindon as their place to stay, do you know if they’re going there specifically for the eco aspect? Is it because it’s a sustainable hotel? I don’t think so. I mean, while it’s on the website as an all-electric or renewable hotel, I think ultimately, people choose primarily based on location and because they have an association and love of the brand. They know they’ll get good service, a comfy bed, and a fantastic breakfast. I’ve used that breakfast many, many times while traveling for this job. It’s a very, very good breakfast. Perfect, so you can endorse it. Fantastic breakfast. I do very much endorse it. Good, I’m glad. Sorry, please continue. I just get so excited about breakfast. Don’t we all! The Swindon hotel is an important milestone in our route towards our ultimate 2040 goal. It’s all about energy reduction and looking carefully at how we use water. But going forward, our focus has to be on looking at how we work with our suppliers to reduce emissions of the products we buy; How they are sourced, processed, transported, consumed, and ultimately disposed of. So there’s a lot to do there. JANUARY 24

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FEATURE • WHITBREAD | FORCE FOR GOOD No small planning then, it’s all big scale. Well, there are big things, I call them the ‘building blocks’. But there’s so many different aspects of the business. Something else fundamental is certainly food waste. That’s a gnarly subject because it’s about all about data and operations. Plastics is also something we’re looking into. We’ve identified our problem plastics, and we need to look, as a collective industry, at how we deal with that, because it’s not something a single person or business can do. But there are also some other awesome things we’re doing, which might be a little less related to net zero. Your website also says you’re a top employer and top for apprenticeships. How do things like that aid your sustainably programme? Training in house allows us to teach others responsibility. Force For Good is central to how we operate and we always have a focus on the environment, responsible sourcing and community which is about how we interact with, add value, and do good in the communities that we serve. It’s about making sure that our colleagues feel included, and that it’s an inclusive, authentic environment for them to come to work in so they can deliver the fantastic service that we expect. It does also to give people the opportunity to progress. We currently have 2100 working apprentices across the business, and that’s from level two, all way up to level five. Ultimately it provides people of all ages with an opportunity. Our apprenticeship scheme includes colleagues for 16 to 60, the apprenticeships go up to level 5 which is management level. We know that our apprenticeships have a really good retention rate, and provide strong employment opportunities for those that otherwise might not get them. 46

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FEATURE • WHITBREAD | FORCE FOR GOOD So, you make sure they care about it right from the start? Absolutely. But force for good is so much more than just sustainability. The work we do with Derwen college really stands out. Derwen is a college specifically for students with special educational needs and disabilities, and they have about 300 students there. We’ve actually built a mini-Premier hotel there. It’s aimed at bringing young adults into employment and giving them the skills they need to do so. I love that! What does the mini Premier Inn have in it? So, in the mini hotel, there are three of our new model hotel rooms, a reception desk and a back office. Students are trained up to be able to carry out the of the everyday tasks. I’m really proud to say we currently have 20 students from that school working in our teams at Premier Inns and they love it! They’re brilliant to what they do. That’s truly amazing. And what’s next for Whitbread in the sustainability venture? Well, the structure of our business enabled us to take effective action. We own and operate our hotels, which is not that usual, a lot of the big operators don’t do that. But that control helps us shape and deliver significant change more effectively. We have big plans, that’s all I’ll say for now.

JANUARY 24

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SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW

HIRE INNOVATIONS 2024: THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW – LEADING THE HIRE INDUSTRY INTO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The 2024 Executive Hire Show is a key event for those in the construction industry, offering a preview of the latest innovations and a move towards a more sustainable future. Taking place on 14th and 15th February at the CBS Arena in Coventry, this year’s show is a complete sell-out, indicating the high level of interest in new technologies and sustainable practices within the industry. 48

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ere’s a sneak peek at what to expect at the 2024 event in addition to an impressive array of 150 exhibitors. There will be a comprehensive display of electric and alternative fuel technology. This shift towards greener options is not just a trend but a necessary step in the industry’s evolution. From compact, battery-operated tools to larger electric excavators and dumpers, the range of equipment on show highlights the industry’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. The innovation trail will be a key feature, along with 31 new exhibitors adding their products and ideas to the mix. These new additions bring fresh perspectives and solutions, making this event an essential visit for anyone in the construction sector looking to stay ahead of the curve. JANUARY 24

SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW

Among these are leading names including Takeuchi UK, who are marking their return, after a year’s hiatus, with an impressive lineup of new models and electric machines. Walsall Wheelbarrow Company, a top supplier in the market and the sole manufacturer producing all its parts in the UK, will also be present. Additionally, ASKA International, a renowned generator manufacturer, will be part of this year’s exciting lineup. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect from other new exhibitors on their stands at EHS 2024: Other new participants visitors can expect to see on the exhibition floor include attachment manufacturers Auger Torque Europe who is showing its award winning Cone Crusher Bucket which is making its Executive Hire Show debut. The company is also offering 10% discount off standard pricing for Cone Crusher Bucket for purchases at the Show. Ohashi distributors, TH WHITE Machinery Imports, will be showcasing Ohashi - Compact Woodchippers. Leading the lineup is the Ohashi ES151GH, which is claimed to be the only compact tracked 6-inch woodchipper in the market. Key features of the ES151GH highlight its position as one of the most powerful compact chipper in its class. With a width of 730mm, the ES151GH’s high manoeuvrability ensures access to various job sites without the need for extensive labour in carrying green clippings or timber. Lap Electrical, who is a designer, manufacturer and distributor of automotive electro-mechanical products. Will be showcasing its new Amber/Green seat belt beacons, and will also be introducing its new range of CV Lighting. which includes many parts used within the plant hire and construction sector. JANUARY 24

Xummitt - Luxtronik Technology, Xummit is a brand owned and operated by Luxtronik Technology, and will be showing its mobile light and power solutions. The company will use the Show to launch its new portable light tower – Sierra, which is a more compact, brighter, smarter, safer than any light tower in its class. Designed from the ground up, Sierra is optimized for LED, delivering what he company describes as an unparalleled lighting performance from a robust, 5-metre light tower that fits in your car. Also debuting is Spartan Solutions, who will be showcasing PHALANX 6, which is an all-in-one software platform that streamlines rental operations by digitizing logistical and service processes. Refina will be showing the Eibenstock range of power tools and equipment for the UK plastering and rending, flooring, surface prep, plumbing and drilling trades. These premium power tools are built to the highest standard by Eibenstock in Germany. They are designed and manufactured for professional use with powerful robust motors and gearboxes ensuring durability. Multi Mover UK, sells and supplies a range of material handling solutions for the commercial, industrial and healthcare. At the Show the company will be highlighting its portfolio and also its custommade moving solutions, from tow tugs and tow dollies, through to rail shunters and rail stock movers. Look out for the Addex Group, whose products range from small industrial vacuums to large electric sweepers, and scissor lift manufacturer Skyjack, signifies the diversity and comprehensive offering the show will hold. Generator manufacturer e-power International, recently announced the opening of new branches Future Waste

SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW

in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and the United Kingdom (UK). This is part of their expansion plans and marks an important milestone for the company. The company will be showcasing its rental range at the event. At the EHS event, Tyre Boss Ltd will showcase their expertise in supplying a wide range of tyres, including pneumatic tyres, cushion solids, tracks, and custom solutions. Highlighting their innovation is the TY solid tyre, designed for the waste and metal recycling industry, offering four times the lifespan of regular pneumatic tyres and a maintenance-free experience. Golz Group has been supplying diamond drilling equipment in the UK for over 25 years. Golz announces the launch of their new generation of hand-held and rig mounted diamond drilling motors at the EHS. Renowned across Europe for their exceptional build quality and durability, the Golz brand introduces the HDM22, EDM22, and EDM33 drilling motors. These additions to their established range boast innovative features designed to simplify diamond drilling for both seasoned and novice operators. The new models exemplify the Golz Group’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and user experience in the diamond drilling industry. Rollins & Sons, a leading supplier and distributor of professional quality American and European hand tools, will be showcasing their latest solutions and equipment, highlighting the continual innovation within the hire industry. Access Platform Sales represents a wide array of access platforms from renowned manufacturers including LGMG, Genie, Hinowa, Niftylift, BoSS, and Omme Lift. Additionally, they offer an impressive selection of push-around material lifts 50

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from Genie and Wienold Lift. The company is also known for their highly-regarded Hinowa series of tracked mini-dumpers and forklifts. Recently, they have launched a new Parts division, stocking OEM parts and consumables for leading access manufacturers. This company will be showcasing their diverse range at the Executive Hire Show. Owners or decision makers in hire/leasing companies, particularly in mining rental and construction leasing, are likely familiar with MPMC mobile power solutions (MPMC China). Recently, MPMC has produced and sold over 2000 diesel generators and 1000 mobile light towers, known for their low operating costs and robust, environmentally resistant designs. For the first time, MPMC will be showcasing its solutions at the EHS, offering an opportunity for attendees to experience their wide range of products, including customisable gensets and light towers designed for stability, safety, and heavy loads. These products are notable for their large capacity fuel tanks, enabling long-term, full load operations. Adamo Precision Engineering will be showing the company’s innovative Tigerbite Mini Crusher, designed to efficiently recycle waste into reusable materials. Hallsdale Commercial Insurance Brokers Limited is exhibiting under the name of Insurance4Plant. co.uk, who specialises in insurance for the plant hire and construction industry, offering comprehensive coverage for plant and machinery, including shortterm hire insurance. Their services are tailored to meet specific industry needs, covering equipment damage and liability concerns, ensuring thorough protection for clients in this sector. JANUARY 24

SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW

The list of new exhibitors making their Executive Hire Show debut continues with Q Climates, a leading supplier of Evaporative Air Coolers to the UK hire market, supplying the Honeywell range. Evaporative Air Coolers have grown in popularity as a more energy efficient and low maintenance way of cooling. Look out too for Cramer, who supplies landscaping and gardening equipment. The company will be showcasing ‘AiConic® Powered by Intelligence’, which is now enhanced by AI. Genesis Equipment who are the official UK dealers for XCMG Access Equipment, will be bringing XCMG to the EHS for the first time. The aerial lift and telehandler division of Chinese equipment manufacturer XCMG appointed Genesis Equipment in May 2023. Trailer manufacturer Nugent Engineering will be at the event. Among the products on display , Nugent is showcasing its Plant trailer range, known for robust strength and durability. With full type approval (ECWVTA), these trailers offer an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, suitable for various industries. The range features Nugent’s patented Dual Drive™ suspension, enhancing towing experience. Incorporating new materials and innovative designs, alongside top-quality components, Nugent’s trailers are designed to be the preferred choice for professionals. Construction consumable company ProSolve will make its first appearance at the Show. ProSolve, established in 1982, is a company known for offering a diverse array of quality industrial and construction consumables. Their product range includes paints, construction essentials, tapes, hygiene wipes, tools, PPE, abrasives, cleaning products, marker pens, crayons, and various hardware items Echo Barrier supply eco-friendly acoustic barriers. The company is a renowned provider of temporary noise control solutions, is adept at addressing the significant demands placed on main contractors during construction projects in residential or commercial districts. Acknowledging the diverse requirements of various states, Echo Barrier tailors its approach to meet these unique needs effectively. Their temporary noise control barriers, popular both nationally and internationally, are designed to significantly mitigate noise pollution. These barriers have been proven to reduce noise energy by up to 99%, effectively eliminating nuisances and contributing to a more harmonious construction environment. JANUARY 24

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SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW

The EHS team is also pleased to host the ‘Innovation Trail Eco – Live’, once again, which has become a big highlight of the show, hosted by industry vlogger and content creator, Peter Haddock, that highlights emerging eco-friendly technologies poised to shape the industry’s future. Attendees will engage with cutting-edge, sustainable solutions that promise to elevate operational efficiency and safety standards within the hire sector and lead us into a net zero future. Here’s what visitors can expect to see on the 2024 Innovation Trail: Atlas Copco is presenting their new range of lightweight, portable battery energy storage systems. These are notable for their use of high-density lithium-ion batteries, which makes them up to 70% lighter than traditional battery solutions. They offer over 12 hours of power on a single charge and can be fully charged in under an hour, depending on the model. This makes them a versatile and low-maintenance alternative to traditional diesel generators. Husqvarna has expanded its battery-powered offerings with the K 540i power cutter, which operates on the BLi 36 V battery platform. This cutter features an adjustable blade guard, deep cutting capabilities, and an ‘X-Halt’ electronic brake system for enhanced safety. The BLi system supports a range of tools, including core drills and dust extractors, indicating a move towards a more unified, efficient battery platform. Golz introduces the BattPak 5048, a fully weather-proof portable power solution with an IP67 rating, meaning it can operate even when submerged in water. This power pack is notable for its capacity expansion capabilities and flexible charging options, including solar, mains, and electric vehicle charging points. It represents a robust and versatile power solution for heavy-duty equipment. E-power focuses on sustainable solutions with its hydrogen and hybrid generators. Their hydrogen generator adapts internal combustion engines to run on hydrogen, while the P-Grid hybrid solution combines a diesel generator with batteries for efficient energy management. These innovations showcase a commitment to reducing environmental impact in the power generation sector. Takeuchi’s TB20e, a 100% battery-powered mini excavator, offers a working time of eight hours at 65% load, comparable to its diesel 52

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SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW

equivalent. It demonstrates the growing capability of battery-powered heavy machinery to match the performance of traditional fuel-powered equipment. Fuelbox is launching a new 500-litre AdBlue Box, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional bulk containers. This innovation highlights a push towards more sustainable solutions in the industry, coupled with the convenience of their efficient nationwide delivery service. GGR Group’s Faresin electric telehandler range, including the 17.45 model, exemplifies the shift towards electric machinery. These telehandlers offer significant run times and come with standard onboard charging and intelligent charging capabilities, aligning with the industry’s move towards more sustainable equipment. Pramac Generac adds the PRAMAC LX LFP Series to its product line, a silent battery system with advanced technology and a high level of safety. This system is characterized by its ease of use and diverse applications, indicating a trend towards user-friendly and environmentally conscious solutions. Auger Torque’s Cone Crusher Bucket offers a cost-effective method for reprocessing small volume construction rubble into usable aggregate. This innovation highlights the industry’s focus on recycling and efficient resource utilization. Lifos Fort introduces a compact solar PV and battery storage system, designed to reduce the cost, noise, and emissions associated with diesel generators on construction sites. This product represents a significant step towards more sustainable power solutions in the industry. J-strut’s award-winning telescopic steel prop, J-Strut, is designed to make propping safer, quicker, and easier, highlighting a focus on safety and efficiency in construction and renovation projects. InspHire has announced a new what3words integration with its Office Edition, enhancing the precision of location tracking in rental management. This integration points towards the industry’s embrace of digital transformation and innovative technologies. Groundcare Products’ ZipLevel is a user-friendly altimeter/level that simplifies surveying and level checking tasks, indicating a trend towards more accessible and efficient tools in various industries. JANUARY 24

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SHOW PREVIEW • THE EXECUTIVE HIRE SHOW Trime’s range of fuel-saving, low-emission Stage 5-compliant generators, including solar hybrid models, showcases the industry’s commitment to reducing emissions and enhancing fuel efficiency. Powr2’s POWRSYNC device, which allows for the parallel connection of multiple battery systems, demonstrates an innovative approach to enhancing the flexibility and scalability of temporary power solutions. Wirtgen’s Vögele MINI pavers, both in diesel and battery-electric models, are designed for small-scale construction projects, illustrating the industry’s move towards more compact and environmentally friendly machinery. Rotair introduces the MDVN32B and MDVN34E compressors, addressing the increasing demand for zero-emission units in urban areas, reflecting a wider industry trend towards sustainability. Mecalac’s REVOTRUCK combines a revolving cabbed dumper with off-road trucking capabilities, emphasizing safety and efficiency in material transport on tight jobsites. These entries on the innovation trail at the Executive Hire Show demonstrate the construction and hire industry’s ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and efficiency, promising an exciting future for these sectors. “The Executive Hire Show stands as the epitome of innovation in the hire industry, consistently offering a dynamic platform for professionals seeking to rejuvenate and upgrade their equipment. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome 31 new exhibitors, each bringing a fresh wave of cutting-edge products and expertise. It’s not just an event; it’s a celebration of progress and excellence in the hire sector. Too good to miss!” said Chris Moore, the Show’s Publishing and Events Director. Chris concluded, “The Show, held on February 14th and 15th at the Coventry Building Society Arena, has proven its prominence in the hire industry by selling out all exhibition spaces. This year’s event, featuring a record 150 exhibitors confirms the industry’s robust enthusiasm and commitment, solidifying EHS as the top destination for hire professionals to discover cuttingedge innovations and connect with colleagues.” Prospective attendees are encouraged to register for a visit, ensuring their participation in this pivotal industry event. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with an impressive roster of new exhibitors. Prepare for a comprehensive, engaging, and insightful experience at the Executive Hire Show 2024, where the latest, most innovative, and effective solutions in the hire industry will be showcased. For more details on the show and a full exhibitor list, visit www.executivehireshow.co.uk 54

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JANUARY 24

MAKE A DATE AT THE HEART

FREE PARKING SHOW PARTY & AWARDS

OF HIRE

GET IN FRONT OF KEY SUPPLIERS FREE BREAKFAST

Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 February 2024 Coventry Building Society Arena, CV6 6GE

FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE

HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE Making Protecting People the Priority

t’s a known fact that nowadays, every job comes with health and safety regulations. As it should. A healthy happy workforce is a productive one, but more than that, it’s the culmination of years of experiential learning that can now be used to protect people from harm… and sometimes themselves! But when it comes to waste, there are so many different avenues for potential hazards to sneak in. How do you know what sort of things to look out for? We hear you, dear readers. We hear you! Don’t worry! Future Waste has put together all the H&S legislation guidelines you’ll need, all in one simple article, so you don’t have to! We’ve even divided them into four relevant sections… how nice are we?

Collection

ALL INFORMATION TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM www.hse.gov.uk/waste/index.htm. FOR FULL INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE HSE WEBSITE Collection activities are responsible for a large majority of the accidents within the industry. Key areas of concern include: • Transport relate lifting operations • Musculoskeletal injuries from handling receptacles of waste and recyclables; • Slips and trips; include • Personal hygiene • Noise, particularly in glass collection • The use of appropriate personal protective equipment eg high-visibility clothing and cut-resistant is an essential requirement. 56

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FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE

Municipal and Commercial Collections

The main causes of accidents include: • Manual Handling (Muscular skeletal disorders (MSDs)) • Slips and trips • Hit by moving, flying or falling object • Falls • Hit by something (object) • Hit by moving vehicle • Contact with moving machinery • Needlestick/sharps

Procurement of Waste Services All local authorities (LA) are responsible for the collection and disposal of waste. HSE has produced guidance on the procurement and management of waste services. As client local authorities have a significant influence on how the service will ultimately be delivered whether it is undertaken in-house or contracted out. The guidance is applicable to procurement of all activities associated with waste services but is of particular relevance to collection activities.

Design and maintenance issues

Main Factors: The ergonomic design of waste materials receptacles The design of vehicles and systems of work used for ‘kerbside sorting’ The maintenance of lifting points on skips, ‘bottle banks’ and similar

Civic Amenity, Bring Sites and HWRCs Major injury risks include: • Transport • Slips and trips • Falls • Cuts • Machinery • Violence at work JANUARY 24

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FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE Skip Hire and Waste Transfer

Skip hire Lifting operations typically involve hoists fitted to refuse collection vehicles, lifting equipment fitted to skip loaders, lifting equipment on hookloader vehicles, skips and other containers. Workplace transport accidents are one of the most common causes of in waste management, particularly when related to lifting operations. There are no national standards for the manufacture of skips and containers. However, a number of commonly used industry standards exist which are produced by and available from the Container Handling Equipment Manufacturers Association (CHEM) Stacking of skips Loaded skips - The stacking of loaded skips on top of each other is bad practice, be it on vehicles or in yards. If encountered on the highway these vehicles are likely to be subject to enforcement action by DVSA. Empty skips - Transportation of stacked empty skips should be subject to a load securing assessment. Empty skips stacked 3 high or more are also likely to be subject to DVSA enforcement. Empty skips stored in yards or transfer stations should be determined by stability factors, such as ground conditions, accessibility for the skip loader and safe access for an operative to attach and detach chains should be taken into account. Skip Safety Alerts • False engagement of tipping hooks on ‘builders’ skips • Skid-steer loader safety alert • Hook-loaders and skips, load security when raising and lowering • Wishbone bale bars • Failure of lifting bars on waste compaction containers • Training

Waste transfer Workplace transport accidents relating to traffic movements are one of the most common causes of serious accidents and fatalities in the waste management industry, so it’s vital they are adequately controlled. There is general guidance on safe transport in waste management and recycling facilities which is aimed at industry professionals, as well as specific guidance relating to hand sorting of recyclables (‘totting’) with vehicle assistance. For those carrying out hand totting, tatting or picking from floor activities, a Self Audit Checklist is available. Although it is not comprehensive, the self-audit can be used to assist you in carrying out a risk assessment at your own premises. 58

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FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE

Processing/Sorting

ALL INFORMATION TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM www.hse.gov.uk/waste/index.htm. FOR FULL INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE HSE WEBSITE Based on the nature of the source material, the chosen method of sorting will depend on many factors such as the nature of the waste, the ease of segregation and the yield and quality of the resultant recyclates.

Municipal (household) sorted recyclables A proportion of waste is sorted into its fractions (typically glass, plastics and paper) at the kerbside. These pre-sorted materials are forward to transfer stations for bulking up and compacting prior to transportation onto processing facilities, or in some cases export. The process can involve manual picking lines for removal of erroneous materials and the use of compacting machinery. If not sorted at the kerbside, municipal recyclates may be taken to centralised premises, such as transfer stations or materials recycling facilities (MRFs) for sorting and or processing. The waste stream can be sorted into various constituent components depending on the set-up at each particular MRF. Commercially derived waste is treated in much the same manner.

Industrial Waste Generally this type of waste is collected by skip and delivered to waste transfer stations where the material (primarily construction based) is sorted into its component parts prior to processing or disposal. Hazards include: • Hand sorting with vehicle assistance • Conveyor belt workstation design • Musculoskeletal disorders • Transport movements • Occupational health and personal hygiene • Noise • Slips and trips • Machinery issues – cleaning, maintenance and repair • Fires • Processing JANUARY 24

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FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE

Disposal

ALL INFORMATION TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM www.hse.gov.uk/waste/ index.htm. FOR FULL INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE HSE WEBSITE

Landfill • Landfill involves burying waste in quarries. The main risks are: • Fire and explosion caused by uncontrolled ignition of landfill gas (largely methane) generated during decomposition; • Exposure to landfill gas (PDF) • Transport hazards caused by heavy earth-moving plant and vehicles. • Vehicles and edge protection

Incineration and Energy from Waste A smaller quantity of waste is incinerated, the preferred option for disposing of some hazardous wastes. Risk assessment should be completed for handling and disposing of fly-ash following incineration and implement suitable control measures. Precautions should be taken to prevent ash from becoming airborne and subsequently inhaled, so far as is reasonably practicable. Due to the technical nature of the processes and the composition of the feedstock there are a number of additional hazards associated with these processes. In addition to general health and safety requirements consideration of the following legislation may be required: • Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) • Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 • Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 • Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) The term ‘anaerobic digestion’ refers to a natural biological process which converts organic matter such as commercial and household food waste, garden waste and farm slurry, into energy. There are two main types of anaerobic digestion called thermophilic and mesophilic – the primary difference between them is the temperatures reached in the process. Thermophilic processes reach temperatures of up to 60C and mesophilic normally runs at about 35-40C. AD sites also have to comply with the Animal By Products Regulations so a mesophilic site would also have a pasteurisation unit to make sure the end product is safe. The main products resulting from anaerobic digestion are biogas (a mixture of mainly methane and carbon dioxide), which is very similar to natural gas, and digestate (liquid and solid fractions). The biogas can be used to generate surplus heat and electricity, or compressed for use as a biofuel. The material left over at the end of the process (digestate) is rich in nutrients and it can be used on land as fertiliser or soil improver (liquid fraction) or further processed in composting operations (solid fraction). Further information is available from: • Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) • Renewable Energy Association (REA) • Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 60

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FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE

Occupational Health Issues

ALL INFORMATION TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM www.hse.gov.uk/waste/index.htm. FOR FULL INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE HSE WEBSITE Within the waste management and recycling industry, some key health hazards include: • Bioaerosols • Needlestick injuries • Personal hygiene • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) • Noise

Green and food waste collection – health issues When green waste is left, microbes grow quickly in the warm, moist environment and can create bioaerosols (microbes suspended with dust in the air). Research suggests that the health risks of breathing in these microbes from handling green waste are no greater than those from handling any other mixed household waste. Good practice to reduce green waste dust by operating a system of controls that help minimise dust clouds is set out in the following guidance written in consultation with the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH).

Discarded needles The issue of dealing with drug-related litter, and especially needles, remains a matter of concern. WISH has produced guidance on this issue in Handling needles in the waste and recycling industry

Personal hygiene Good personal hygiene is vital for waste and recycling workers so as to prevent infections and other ill health caused by working with waste. The quality and performance of any on sit washing facilities should reflect this need and be of a high standard. Adequate education and training to ensure workers understand the importance of hygiene and utilise the facilities that are available should also be provided.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) Musculoskeletal disorders account for approximately one third of all reported injuries in the industry, the majority of these being associated with collection activities, and can be both acute (sudden injury) or chronic (cumulative injury). There are sources of information and guidance throughout the HSE website, both waste management and recycling industry guidance and general guidance to be found at the HSE’s MSD portal. JANUARY 24

Future Waste

FEATURE • HEALTH AND SAFETY IN WASTE Noise Noise-induced hearing loss is a matter of concern and can occur within the industry at: • Kerbside glass collections when the methods of glass collection, the equipment provided and/or the personal protective equipment has not been adequately risk assessed and effective preventive measures taken. • Material recovery facilities (and similar facilities) where acoustic barriers or similar preventive measures have not been provided to attenuate the noise coming from process machinery (eg separation magnets, eddy current separators, drive motors etc).

Asbestos Asbestos waste should be disposed of properly and in accordance with Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency requirements. Following demolition and refurbishment work, asbestos debris can end up in waste disposal streams. This should take place in a properly controlled manner ie contractors utilising properly licensed transportation and disposal activities, or through civic amenity collection facilities the general public. Full guidance on asbestos health and safety can be found on the HSE website

Conclusion

When assessing the risks and evaluating the various options available it is essential that all hazards are identified and evaluated. Any assessment process may also need to consider the hazards and level of risk presented across the entire process, from collection to final re-use/recycling/disposal. Help to control risks on your site by: • Selecting and maintaining suitable equipment, especially vehicles and materials handling equipment • Adopting a safe site layout and traffic control measures • Designing and maintaining safe operating procedures • Organising competency training for employees • Providing visitors with adequate supervision, information and instruction.

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JANUARY 24

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FEATURE • PLASTICS PACTS NETWORK

SOUTH AFRICA HOSTS FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING OF PLASTICS PACTS NETWORK Twelve national and regional Plastics Pacts meet in-person to ensure voluntary action sets the groundwork for forthcoming changes under the Global Plastics Treaty to end plastic pollution.

Public/private plastics partnerships, including more than 800 major business, are driving practical action towards a plastics circular economy in 18 countries with a combined population of nearly 2.4 billion people (30% of the world’s population). The first ever meeting of the international members of the Plastics Pact Network convened in South Africa today, with delegates from around the world meeting in Cape Town. The inaugural three-day intensive programme is a chance for all to share experiences and knowledge to accelerate critical work reducing the global impact of plastic waste, and pollution. Representatives from twelve of the thirteen Plastics Pact Network members – convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WRAP – attended from Australia (representing New Zealand and four Pacific Islands), Canada, Chile, Colombia, India, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, the UK, and the USA. 64

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The public/private partnership model or voluntary agreement, adopted by many nations ahead of the United Nations Global Treaty to end plastic pollution, drives practical action around a comprehensive plastics’ circular economy approach that embeds elimination and reuse within measurable targets. Each Pact is working independently across the packaging value chain in its own geography to bring together key players to address its own unique situation. Pact members include major FMCG brands, packaging companies, producers, traders, processors, academia, trade associations, NGOs, and governments who are all working towards a shared vision, with business signatories measured against a series of science-based targets to reduce the impact they have on the environment through their use of plastics. The Network connects those individual national and regional initiatives to better implement solutions towards a circular economy for plastic. JANUARY 24

FEATURE • PLASTICS PACTS NETWORK

Harriet Lamb

With plastic in the bloodstreams of animals and fish, we need to ramp up action on plastics across the world through regulation and voluntary action.

JANUARY 24

More than 800 major business are signed up to all thirteen Plastics Pacts with the combined population impacted by their work estimated to be in the region of as many as 2.4 billion people, or 30% of the world’s population. Today’s meeting was the first time the majority had sat down to share their learnings in person, with WRAP’s CEO Harriet Lamb opening the inaugural meeting. Harriet Lamb said “With plastic in the bloodstreams of animals and fish, we need to ramp up action on plastics across the world through regulation and voluntary action. We welcome the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations underway and call for an ambitious Treaty. Alongside that, we need to fast-track collaborative action by companies, governments, and civil society. That is the power of this voluntary network, bringing together members from across the world to share best practice – from major companies to waste-pickers to bring about practical, empowering change.” Whilst regulation is critical, public/private partnerships delivered through the Plastics Pact model accelerate action and deliver tangible results. These collaborative partnerships can play a key role as a mechanism for nations to meet mandated obligations under the United Nations Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. The All-Plastic Pacts workshop will share best practices, insights, and experiences of what works in terms of member engagement, collaborative projects, and policy influence to achieve impact on the ground. It will identify approaches to accelerate progress within each country, with all at varying stages in their journey. The three-day workshop will also explore the future ambition of the Network and how it can have more impact. The meeting will also begin important preparations for the first global report across the entire Pact Network, which will present the impact achieved by all thirteen Plastics Pacts. This report will be published in preparation for the next round of INC4 discussions for the Global Plastics Treaty framework, taking place in Ottawa this April. Future Waste

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