LAWR

June 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 17 WASTE HANDLING Firstly, cost. It is common sense that an off-the-shelf ramp will be far less expensive than the complex engineering and electrical work required to install a loading bay. Furthermore, the nature of mobile yard ramps mean that they are available to hire as well as to buy, making them ideal for periods of high demand or for use on specific short- term contracts. Versatility is another advantage. Designing and manu- facturing fixed loading bay equipment to make it compat- ible with varying heights of container or wagon can raise an issue. But by working directly from the drawing board, and creating a specialist piece of metal-framed apparatus which is mobile and fully adjustable, compatibility actually becomes a given, loading times accelerate and productivity increases. What about durability? Those in the recycling industry know only too well that it can be a tough, dirty and potentially hazardous environment to load within. One might presume that mobile apparatus, available at comparably minor expense, wouldn't be able to meet the demands of a heavy workload in such arduous conditions, but in actuality, this is not the case. Robust equipment, designed well will perform in challenging environments. So, just because a system is simple it doesn't mean it's compromised – quite the opposite. As for suitability of loading the bales themselves, filling containers correctly has become a key procedure, with relevant rules and regs stating that any waste deemed potentially hazardous or odorous even, needs to be correctly loaded to minimise risk or damage in transit. By combining a yard ramp with a forklift and operative, internal stacking can be significantly improved, so much so, that once containers reach the dock, boat loading can take place without further intervention, eliminating the time and expense of reloading. Of course, if you're to invest in any sort of loading equipment, even if it's mobile, versatile and cost effective, logistically, it's still got to be right for your exact operation, as well as meet the needs of shipping legislation. Furthermore it's got to have the capacity to work indoors or out, and even continue performing at an alternative site, should you need relocate your business. Bespoke options are improving constantly, enabling equipment to better serve specific companies and the nature of their operations. Tailoring yard ramps gives them the capacity to perform to their full potential. With features included at the concept stage, such as fold- down entry ramps, high-safety side rails, multiple towing formats and height-adjustable hydraulics, the necessary bones of the equipment can be put in place before auxiliary elements are brought into the design, including towing adaptors for forklifts, anti-slip grit flooring and handrails. With all the factors considered, for most in the recycling industry there's no reason why a yard ramp with its flexibility, task suitability and power to streamline both costs and process, couldn't provide the solution to save resource - both of an environmental and financial nature. John Meale is managing director of Thorworld Industries. • The Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a regulation amending regulation 1013/2006 on shipments of waste, which lays down requirements for shipments of waste within the EU and between the EU and third countries in order to protect human health and the environment (PE-CO S 69/14, 8792/14 ADD1). • The new regulation contains strengthened measures to ensure more uniform implementation of the waste shipment regulation throughout the EU. By January 1, 2017, member states will have to establish inspection plans, which must include the objectives and priorities of the inspections, the geographical area covered by the inspection plans and the tasks assigned to each authority involved in the inspections. The inspection plans must be based on a risk assessment. They are to be regularly reviewed and updated at least every three years. Member states will make information relating to inspections publicly available, including electronically, on an annual basis. The European Commission will review the regulation by 2020. New developments in shipping containers of recycled waste for export Tel 01642 244663 Fax 01642 244664 sales@cleveland-sitesafe.ltd.uk www.cleveland-sitesafe.ltd.uk Cleveland Sitesafe Ltd. Riverside Works, Dockside Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 8AT AVAILABLE FOR USE AS: WAlk in cheMicAl SToReS, pAlleTiSeD DRuM & iBc SToReS, SToRAge cABineTS AnD gAS BoTTle cAgeS. VAndAL RESISTAnT dESIgnEd TO ORdER RE-LOcATABLE HIgHLy SEcURE hazardous substance storage hazardous substance storage hazardous substance storage

• Cover