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<lastBuildDate><![CDATA[Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:48:22 GMT]]></lastBuildDate>
<title><![CDATA[Landfill Alternatives]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk]]></link>
<description><![CDATA[This is the RSS feed for Landfill Alternatives Limited ]]></description>
<copyright><![CDATA[Copyright: (C) 2010 Landfill Alternatives Limited]]></copyright>
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<url><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/_assets/page/landfillalternatives.gif]]></url>
<title><![CDATA[Landfill Alternatives]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[GOVERNMENT ABANDONS PAY-AS-YOU-THROW IN FAVOUR OF INCENTIVES.]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Pay-as-you-throw was introduced in the Climate Change Act, and would have allowed local authorities to charge households that generated more than a certain amount of waste.  But the Labour Government included a provision that the powers could not be enacted until a series of council pilot schemes had been completed.

A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesman said “The coalition Government won’t approve any pilot schemes so those powers won’t be enacted.”

Speaking at the extension of the RecycleBank incentive scheme, communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles criticised the Labour plans.  “Rather than helping the environment, ‘bin taxes’ would have fuelled fly-tipping and backyard burning,” he said.  “The best way to encourage people to recycle is not to punish families but to encourage and reward them for going green.  It’s time to rein in the bin bullies and work with local people to build greener and cleaner communities.”
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<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[FUTURE FOR AD IN THE UK WILL BE ‘EXPLOSIVE’]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Lord Redesdale outlined the current challenges facing the AD industry which will need to be addressed to get the Government’s plans off the ground.  He said: “Broadly, there are may be four main challenges: planning, permitting, financing and gas use.”

The financing of AD plants has been beset with problems in recent months, especially in the absence of the grandfathering principle being applied to Renewable Obligation Certificates for AD.

Lord Redesdale believes that although these challenges exist they are all surmountable.  He said it was a very exciting time to be in part of the AD industry as he predicts that this country will see an ‘explosion’ of facilities during the next 10 years.
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<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Conservative Party hits out at rivals 'bin tax' plans]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Their comments come after the shadow secretary of state for communties and local government, Caroline Spelman hit out at Labour and Liberal Democrat waste plans. 

In a statement issued (April 25), Mrs Spelman claimed that there was 'overwhelming evidence' that Labour was planning to 'hit family homes with bin taxes and new waves of bin cuts' - a move which she said was supported by the Liberal Democrats.

She added that the Liberal Democrats were also rolling out monthly rubbish collections in line with advice from government's 'bin quango', the Waste & Resources Action Programme - giving Liberal Democrat and SNP run Fife council as an example.

She said: " If Gordon Brown can cling to power, his bin bullies will impose monthly rubbish collections and make life even harder for hard-working families. Liberal Democrats back Gordon Brown's plans for bin taxes and monthly collections, despite the extra fly - tipping and backyard burning."

"There is a clear choice in this election: Conservatives who will help bring back weekly collections, Labour who imposed fortnightly collections, or Liberal Democrats who are already forcing through monthly bin collections."

Labour

Mrs Spelman's criticism of Labour's policy centred on two reports looking at the feasibility of landfill bans by WRAP and the Green Alliance. The Conservatives said that these both suggested that there was minimal effect from landfill bans alone and that charging schemes might be needed alongside them, and that residual waste should not be collected more than once every fortnight to minimise arisings.  

However, a Labour spokesman stressed that it believed decisions on local waste collections, including their frequency, should be taken locally by councils and that they were best placed to understand local needs.

And, he queried how the Conservatives pledge to help re-introduce weekly rubbish collections would be funded. In January, the Conservatives said this would come from existing council budgets, but failed to go into any more detail.

The spokeman said " The conservatives have been committed since 2008 to providing central funding for councils to provide weekly rubbish collections. However, they have yet to set out how much they think this would cost."

Liberal Democrat

The Liberal democrats meanwhile confirmed that the party was planning to "give councils the power to introduce variable waste charging". However, they pointed out that this was one option to help incentivise people to recycle.

And, with regards to fortnightly collections, the party stressed that many Conservative - run councils such as Wiltshire, Bexley, Runnymede, Daventry had already moved to the scheme in a bid to save council taxpayers money.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said " Councils led by all the main parties are trying to incentivise people to recycle and reduce waste going to landfill so less taxpayer's money goes on landfill tax and so that we reduce the need to build massive new landfill sites near people's homes." ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Waste Management]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[We match waste handling systems to your specific and unique requirements on site. We will visit your premises and make recommendations that will ensure your operation meets current and known future legislation, helps achieve ISO 14001 status and is 'best practice, best value'.

We can offer a facilities management service, where having installed your system, we can run it for you, controlling recyclers and contractors while keeping you up to date with the latest legislation. You also receive an annual audit on site and monthly 'one invoice' billing.

Landfill Alternatives not only supply equipment and consumables, but also source recycling partners to accept your material. These solutions may vary between segregating a single stream of material such as film or cardboard for recycling, sending mixed materials to either compost or a MRF (material recycling facility) or bulking everything up in the most efficient manner to get it to landfill. We can offer solutions to handle moving waste - designed around wheelie bins, cages, forklift tipping devices, conveyor or dust extraction systems.

Our customers vary - we supply a broad spectrum of industries, to include: Volvo, BMW, Diageo, Ingram Micro, National Trust, Topps Tiles, The Restaurant Group, Britvic, Fujitsu, Tensator and Thames TV, to name but a few. See our case studies for examples of successful system implementations for various types of customer. We are also regularly recommended to customers by contractors and recyclers themselves. Whatever your industry, contact us for a no-obligation assessment of your requirements.
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<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Landfill Tax]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Every ton of waste which is tipped at landfill attracts tax. This tax is £48 from 1st April 2010. The tax is collected by the waste contractor from you, the end users. Inert waste, such as bricks, rubble and soil only attract a £3 per ton tax as long as it is not contaminated with other waste. Obviously the less waste you generate the better and the more you recycle will lessen your tax liability. (visit Customs and Excise).

The Government has put the landfill tax on an 'escalator' of £8 per annum increase. This means that the tax will be £80 per ton in the year 2014.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Duty of Care]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[To ensure waste is disposed of correctly you need to use a disposal company with a licence and do an annual check to follow your waste to its final destination. Any vehicle leaving your site needs to have your waste securely controlled to prevent spillage and should be accompanied by your premises code on any paperwork. (Visit the Environment Agency site).
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<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Packaging Regulations]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The Packaging Regulations stipulate that any company handling over 50 tons of packaging per annum and have a turnover exceeding £2 million have a legal obligation to comply . To comply you can join a compliance scheme or follow the 'self-obligation' route. Whichever way you decide to go  you need to complete the table to work out your tonnage figures handled. With these figures and dependent on the annual UK target and your company's function, a formulae or two will work out what tonnage you need to reuse and recycle. You must then purchase Packaging Recovery Notes (PRN's) to match your target tonnages. At the end of the year you send your PRN's plus table to the Department of Environment. (Visit the Environment Agency site)]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[WEEE]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Businesses need to separate any goods which use batteries or have a cable to power it. This includes computers, monitors, printers, photocopiers, battery chargers, microwaves etc. We can quote you for the disposal of these items.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Animal By Products Regulations]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[The legislation is in place to stop the risk of 'Foot and Mouth' outbeaks. In essence certain meat wastes, or any other food in contact with meat, must be dealt with separately. 

This material will need to be in-vessel composted, rendered or burnt.  The impact to your business will be dependent on its function. (Visit DEFRA)]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Landfill Directive 'Pre-Sort']]></title>
<description><![CDATA[What is the requirement:

It is now law that waste must be 'treated' before it is disposed of at non-hazardous and inert landfill. The requirement applies to hazardous waste. Pre-treatment came into force in November 2007.

Who is affected:

Landfills cannot accept untreated waste. Waste producers therefore have a choice. They can treat waste themselves or ensure that it is treated elsewhere before being landfilled.

In Layman's terms you either pretreat your own waste prior to it being sent to landfill or PAY someone to do it for you, i.e. the waste contractor. This legislation has major cost implications if not carried out properly.

a) If you don't pretreat your waste yourself and allow someone else to do it for you, expect your present waste disposal costs to increase dramatically.

b) Recycling is an acceptable form of treatment. If you treat your waste by recycling certain items in your waste stream, you not only save money by not paying someonce else to do it for you, you also save money by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. 
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<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[Disposal of Material]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Recycling:

This is when the material will be processed and made into another product.

Composting:

Biodegradable material is shredded and blended. Over a period of between 6 - 10 weeks it will break down into compost.

Incineration:

Incineration can be done on site using a burner or at an incineration plant. Various materials are not suitable for burning and the Clean Air Act 1974 governs emissions.

Rendering:

This is where meat bi-products are processed to generate an inert product.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[Legislation]]></category>
</item>
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<title><![CDATA[Waste Fines double in five year to top £3m in 2008]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Courts made 454 presecutions for waste crimes in 2008, one less than in 2004, but the total value of the fines rose from £1.4m to £3.2m in that period. Waste crimes include flytipping, illegal export of waste, and failing to register with packaging waste recovery schemes.

Southwark Magistrates court in London hit drinks importer Red Bull with the largest-ever waste fine of £261,268. Red Bull had failed to contribute to the recovery and recycling of packaging waste over an eight-year period.

Environment Agency policy advisor Adrian Harding said prosecuting non-compliant companies was important to ensure a level playing field between firms, but said the organisation was not looking at menial transgressions.

"Its about protecting those firms that are doing the right thing. It's not about prosecuting people who've missed registering a tonne of waste, but people who've not contributed for several years" he said.

Mr Harding said that since the Produce Responsibility Obligation (Packaging waste) Regulations were introduced in 2007 there have always been free riders, but they had made a major contribution to reducing waste sent to landfill.

"The UK's approach to the Packaging and Packaging waste Directive  is one of the lowest-cost in Europe. The regime is being actively enforced and delivering the environmental outcome."

Liz Parkes, EA head of waste and resoure management said waste regulations were important to protect people's health and the environment.

"This is not about people putting waste in the wrong bin. We concentrate on those individuals and companies whose illegal activities have the potential to cause serious damage to the environment," she said.

UK WASTE PROSECUTIONS

2004 - 466 (25 packaging prosecutions) - £1,424,843
2005 - 514 (31) - £2,215,688
2006 - 441 (53) - £2,202,657
2007 - 510 (67) - £2,664,423
2008 - 454 (56) - £3,156,427

Source: Enviironment Agency]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[Bedfordshire agrees MRF contract with 'Community Waste' MK]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Th County Council is to reduce the amount of recyclable material it sends to the Shanks facility to 10,000 tonnes per year - the minimum amount under the existing 25-year contract - with up to 50,000 tonnes being sent to the Community Waste Facility in Milton Keynes.

The Milton Keynes site, which is over 20 miles away, already handles some of the overflow from Bedfordshire.

The council placed the four-year contract out to tender last year after deciding to increase the range of material it collects, claiming that it would get better value-for-money by using an alterative contractor.

However, council minutes revealed that Bedford borough council Liberal Democrat leader Michael Headley expressed 'disappointment' at a meeting of the county council's Implementation Executive on December 16 that executive members were not involved in the decison to award the contract to Community Waste in light of 'environmental, transportation and reputational concerns'.

In particular, he was fearful the Community Waste was not assured the contract to operate the Milton Keynes MRF beyond spring 2009.

He also highlighted the fact that a contingency plan could see Bedfordshire's recyclable material processed at another Community Waste facility as far away as Oxford. 

He said: "The cost implications are very positive but there are a few questions marks over other aspects. We have heard the prospect, that if this organisation does not get the contractat Milton Keynes, our recycling may actually go to Oxford, never mind Milton Keynes." 

The contract to operate the Milton Keynes MRF, which is believed to be for between 5 and 15 years in length, is currently out to tender with existing operator Community Waste competing against five other companies.  

Materials

Richards Watts, director of environment for Bedfordshire county council, said that the agreement with Community Waste would increase the range of materials the council could sort - in particular mixed plastics.

He said "As part of our objective to improve recycling and reduce the cost of waste disposal, Bedfordshire county council has awarded a recycling contract to Community Waste - utilising its Milton Keynes materials recycling facility, which is one of the most up-to-date in the country."

The contract with Community Waste will see the company process between 30,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes of recovered material a year at the Milton Keynes facility, although the firm expects that amount to grow over the length of the contract.

Richard Cutts, director of Community Waste, said he believed that the signing of the deal with Bedfordshire was 'imminent', as it was currently being scrutinised by lawyers.

He claimed that the council has chosen Community Waste because its Milton Keynes MRF was ' one of the premier MRFs in the UK and able to deal with a variety of materials'. 

He said "I believe that Bedfordshire wanted a wider range of material and so perhaps it needed to go out to the market place to best see how that might be produced, and we supplied a competitive and substantial bid which was accepted and welcomed."   ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 BST]]></pubDate>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.landfillalternatives.co.uk/]]></link>
<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
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