LAWR

NEWS August 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 9 Three bin bags and flowers Clinical waste management Initial Medical has raised funds for charity 'Malaria No More' after tackling a 44m cycle ride. Members of Initial Medical's Haydock branch completed the ride in six hours. Team members included: Ken Moores, Chris and Matt McLaren (father and son), and Matt's 10-year old son Dylan. Speaking about his son, Matt McLaren said: "He didn't complain and went the same speed as we did, and I think he felt better than I did afterwards!" He also said that he was "very pleased to make it through the ride", as he is a sufferer of chronic back pain which made it harder to endure. Malaria No More is Initial Medical's chosen charity for 2014. It is a non-profit organisation with the aim of ending death caused by malaria in Africa. The team's goal was to raise £1,000 for the charity, which they have not yet reached. To sponsor the team's ride and donate to Malaria No More, go to www.justgiving.com/ken-moores ECO Plastics' Jonathan Short recent- ly told MPs that householders are confused as to what to recycle. He said that there were some areas in the country where recycling rates are more than 60% and that is put down to clear communication. He added: "Whenever I talk to a consumer about what I do, the first thing they say to me is 'what is it about a plastic bottle that I cannot put into a recycling bin?' It's confusing. Confusion turns to scepticism, scepticism turns to cynicism and then they read the Daily Mail and then that's it." Well, LAWR certainly came across residents who are confused in Merton. One household decided to put an 'instant barbecue' and flowers in their recycling bin (see pic above). Another even decided to put a mop head in their recycling bin. LAWR wonders if they were drunk at the time. The amount of black rubbish bags collected in Swansea has been cut by 700 tonnes year-on-year in the first month since residents were restricted to putting out three bags a fortnight. Swansea Council introduced the scheme in April in a bid to recycle an extra 7,000 tonnes a year if it is to meet a Wales- wide target of 58% by 2016. It currently recycles 52% of what is thrown out and from 2016 will be fined £200 for every tonne under the target. Few households put too many bags out, according to the Council. Swansea Council head of waste Chris Howell said: "It has been great to see how well local residents have embraced the campaign." Recycling Bits and Pieces management Surrey, has launched a new campaign to tackle fly-tipping and litter. It aims to educate enforcement services on offer and "how easy they are to use". It also aims to show "how YOUR ROUND-UP OF THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES ACROSS THE INDUSTRY A new steering committee is to be created by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to coordinate the Government New steering committee development and stimulation of a bioeconomy – and waste will form an important part of this. The Minister for Business and Energy, currently Michael Fallon, will champion the role of the bioeconomy and ensure there are clear, coherent and aligned activities on resource use and management. THIS OL' HOUSE - Britain's first house made almost entirely of rubbish, in Brighton, has opened its doors. University of Brighton senior lecturer and architect Duncan Baker-Brown decided to build the house in order to show how low-carbon homes can be built cheaply and quickly using waste.

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