Poland to send back 1,000 tonnes of illegal waste to UK
The Environment Agency (EA) is in talks with Polish authorities about taking back around 1,000 tonnes of waste that had been illegally shipped from the UK.
45 containers that contained plastic recycling were intercepted and found to be full of boxes, tins, detergent packaging and engine oil.
The containers were marked as plastic recycling and destined for Polish waste facilities. However, when they were intercepted by officials at a port in Gdynia they were found to contain tins, detergent packaging, boxes and engine oil.
A criminal investigation has been launched into three firms after the illegal waste marked as plastic recycling was intercepted at the Polish port of Gdynia.
Waste and recycling trade body the Environmental Services Association (ESA) warned firms and councils to watch out for waste crime.
Waste Crime
Two years ago, EA chief Sir James Bevan warned that waste crime was becoming “the new narcotics” and cost the country £1bn a year.
“If it’s correct as alleged in the press about the involvement of organised criminals then that is very serious indeed and local authorities and businesses need to be vigilant and make sure they understand their duty of care requirements,” recycling policy adviser for The Environmental Services Association – Jakob Rindegren – told Unearthed.
A Government watchdog warned earlier this month that millions of tons of waste intended for recycling may instead end up in landfill sites across the globe.
Much of the UK’s plastic earmarked for recycling is sent overseas on the understanding that it will be turned into new products and reused but there have long been concerns it is simply dumped in countries such as Turkey and Malaysia.
More and more countries are saying ‘no, thank you’ to Britain’s plastic waste. This should be a wakeup call that out of sight, out of mind is not a viable solution to deal with the overproduction of throwaway plastic and exporting plastic pollutions is simply not a solution.
We here at North West Waste Management deliver a variety of services suited to helping businesses to dispose of and recycle their waste. When it comes to waste management, we work with many different businesses covering all sizes and sectors. However, if you’re a new business-owner, or if you own an established business and you are looking at ways to handle your waste management for the first time, there are some important things which you will need to know.
Firstly, consider what waste management involves. If your business happens to be producing a large amount of waste far exceeding regular dustbins and dumpsters, then you will need to consider your options. Waste management involves the mass handling of the different types of waste produced by your business, with a view to carefully and sensibly removing the waste whilst also protecting the environment.
Waste disposal is the easiest and most effective way of getting rid of your waste if the intention is solely to remove it and leave it at that. However, should you wish to benefit the environment and future products by making the most of your waste, our waste recycling services will be more advisable, as these make more use of the waste your business has produced whilst also protecting the air around you and reducing pollution. Different businesses opt for different waste management services based on the level and type of waste, so there is no right or wrong service to choose. We at NWWC can offer a bespoke waste management service to suit your business needs.
However, one thing we do not recommend is to allow your waste to end up causing harm to the environment and pollute the airwaves by sitting on a landfill. Regardless of how much waste you may be producing or the budget of your organisation, it is vital to put the wellbeing of others and the good of the environment before the “quick fix” of sending your high levels of waste towards a landfill. Fortunately, North West Waste Consultants can steer you away from landfills and towards healthier and more logical waste management options. As important as it is to learn about waste management, it’s just as important to learn why landfills are a no-no, especially for bigger businesses who produce waste in high numbers.
Now, let’s consider what the waste management services actually involve. Waste disposal can come in several forms: bespoke waste packages, commercial food waste disposal, finished goods destruction, hazardous waste disposal and warehouse and property clearance. As the names imply, there are different types of waste which require varying forms of waste disposal, since the way in which we deal with waste that could be hazardous to one’s health is very different from how we handle food waste. In addition, waste disposal can be done on-site, so the process can be done quickly and easy, and procedures can be put in place so that the on-site process can be made even speedier in future.
As for waste recycling and re-use, as the names suggest, this involves putting the waste to good use as opposed to simply dumping it, whether it be for products created from natural sources or for other purposes. It’s important to note that around 75% of waste can be recycled, and yet a much smaller percentage of this figure actually ends up being recycled or re-used. Therefore, it’s imperative to ensure that the latter figure rises, and all businesses can do their bit to contribute to this. Our waste recycling services include cardboard and paper recycling, recycling balers, scrap metal recycling, skip hire, tyre disposal and recycling and WEEE recycling. Our waste re-use services include anaerobic digestion, contaminated plastics, commercial waste management, chemical waste management and industrial waste management.
Finally, consider why waste management happens. Big businesses, in particular those from the restaurant and hotel sectors, produce a massive amount of waste on an annual basis, so if this is managed every couple of months, it is a much better option than having to find a way to shift all of the waste every year. Not only that, but if the waste is allowed to pile up, it can cause some seriously harmful problems for both employees and the environment, which could have bigger costs in the long-run, both in terms of health and on a financial level. Therefore, proper waste management is essential, and by using our waste disposal, waste recycling or waste re-using services, you can be confident that all of your waste will be handled carefully, safely and quickly, with positive ramifications for the environment and with minimal disruption to your business.
With the FIFA World Cup now reaching the business end of the tournament, fans in attendance are in almost unanimous agreement that it has been a complete success – at least from a hosting point of view. Supporters of current cup holders Germany might be disappointed with their team’s performance, but no one can deny that Russia have put on a magnificent welcome for the visitors.
With an aim of reducing the impact of FIFA World Cup Russia and raising the awareness of climate change, FIFA has launched a campaign that encourages the ticket applicants to offset the carbon emissions resulting from their travel to the tournament for free!
When a FIFA World Cup Russia ticket holder signs up to participate in the campaign, FIFA will offset 2.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e), which is the average emission per ticket holder travelling from abroad.
Waste Management Concept
Fifa have ensured efficient and sustainable World Cup-related waste management, with waste-reduction measures including banning non-recyclable tableware, cutlery, packaging and plastic bags from stadiums, and offering hand dryers instead of paper towels in event toilets and using digital rather than paper-based communications “wherever possible”.
FIFA have also committed to drive behaviour change among fans and stadium staff by offering a waste training programme to all employees and providing spectators with information on what type of waste can be recycled, bans on single-use items or the use of recycled materials is noticeably absent from the strategy.
In Brazil, the tournament saw 39% more waste recycled than FIFA’s target of 320 tonnes after separate bins for recycling and general waste were used for the first time– but the event nonetheless created 776 tonnes of recyclable and 1,595 tonnes non-recyclable of waste, with no less expected to be produced in Russia this summer.
Already at this year’s tournament, Japanese fans have shown a shining example to their counterparts from other countries by tidying up in the stadium after their games – and their good deeds have encouraged similar behaviour from Senegalese and Polish fans as well. It will be particularly interesting to see if the biggest single-sport event in the world lives up to its tall claims regarding environmental sustainability.
At a time when we have more awareness than ever about the effects the human race is having on the environment, it is crucial we all do our bit – if not for our own benefit, but for future generations.
In an ideal world businesses wouldn’t produce any hazardous waste. But in a bid to provide the next best option, at North West Waste Consultants we have offered environmentally friendly commercial waste removal since 2009. We cater to a range of industries including construction, food and manufacturing.
We offer a huge range of services, ranging from finished goods destruction to chemical waste management to scrap metal recycling. We strive to dispose of materials which are typically difficult to recycle and are instead sent to the landfill, such as contaminated plastics, disposing it via a waste to energy route.
With ever-increasing landfill prices, we strive to reduce landfill and general waste costs – ensuring higher rebates are paid for recyclables and food waste.
Each of our bespoke programs is designed to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill. Honouring our commitment to preserving the environment, our goal is to achieve zero waste within 12 months.
Our business waste collection is trusted by many internationally renowned clients, including Scott Safety and Kensey Foods.
Before we get started, each site visited will receive a full, comprehensive waste audit. We will then provide you with a free report on how to best reduce business and trade waste to help you fulfil your waste disposal obligations.
Each business will receive a carefully tailored waste management plan to help you best move forward.
We have many smaller services available including skip here, which has proven so successful it has expanded nationally.
North West Waste Consultancy is the industrial waste disposal company who cares about the bigger picture. Whether you’re hoping to reduce the 1.3 billion tonnes of global food waste every year or the 90% of construction waste that goes to landfills, we can help make your business more environmentally friendly.
If you’d like to find out more about our recycling services or manufacturing waste management, please call our team on 01744 758 349 or contact us through our simple enquiry form.
Some of the UK’s largest supermarkets have signed up to the UK Plastics Pact, a new voluntary initiative to slash plastic waste.
Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and Tesco have all signed up to the new industry-wide initiative that aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable, recycled or biodegradable by 2025.
What does the pact involve?
The UK Plastics Pact is voluntary and does not contain any enforcement mechanisms. Despite this, its signatories make a number of pledges to reducing plastic waste between now and 2025, including:
• Ensuring all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or biodegradable
• Eliminating unnecessary single-use plastic through better design
• Including recycled plastic in at least 30% of all packaging
• Guaranteeing that 70% of plastic is effectively recycled or composted.
These targets have been welcomed by environmental campaigners, including organisations such as Friends of the Earth, but some have also warned that regulation and enforcement mechanisms must be developed alongside the pact to ensure that it proves effective.
The UK Plastics Pact website states:
“Our throwaway culture needs to change. We need to move away from a linear plastics economy, where we take, make and dispose of plastic, towards a circular system where we capture the value of plastics material – keeping plastic in the economy and out of the oceans.”
The website cautions that around 5,000 pieces of marine plastic pollution have been found per mile of beach in the UK.
The future of plastic packaging
The pact’s launch comes as ministers in the UK are considering requiring supermarkets and retailers to contribute more towards waste collection and recycling services for the waste they produce. Currently, UK supermarkets pay less for plastic waste collection and recycling than any other country in Europe, with taxpayers left to cover 90% of the cost, according to The Guardian.
The government is expected to announce changes to the system, known as the Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) scheme, this summer as part of a wider EU effort to move towards a circular economy.
Two years ago, EA chief Sir James Bevan warned that waste crime was becoming “the new narcotics” and cost the country £1bn a year.
“If it’s correct as alleged in the press about the involvement of organised criminals then that is very serious indeed and local authorities and businesses need to be vigilant and make sure they understand their duty of care requirements,” recycling policy adviser for The Environmental Services Association – Jakob Rindegren – told Unearthed.
