LAWR

February 2015 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 17 WASTE HANDLING the Secondary Urban Mine (hence the project name ProSUM). Mapping of these urban mines to identify the current and likely future volumes of materials in the waste stream, and then to identify better ways to collect and extract valuable minerals and metals is a crucial first step. Developing new and existing recycling infrastructure will also help make the recycling and recovering of valuable and critical raw materials more efficient, while at the same time reducing the environmental impact and illegal exporting of WEEE. The CWIT Project Illegal exporting of WEEE is affecting Europe to such an extent that the European Commission has funded The Countering WEEE Illegal Trade (CWIT) Project, a two-year research and development project. This aims to further Europe's understanding of the destinations and routes used to carry illegal shipments, as well as analysing the involvement of organised crime in the global distribution of WEEE. The project partners with seven organisations - lead by Interpol - in an effort to counter the illegal trade. The project is running alongside Project Eden, which will focus more on the criminal networks responsible for trafficking WEEE (clearly an Interpol activity). It will also look at establishing better law enforcement to detect illegal shipments and waste sites. Working together with the police, customs, port authorities and environmental and maritime law enforcement agencies, Project Eden aims to protect the integrity of the environment. The future In order for Member States to reach the high targets that are set by the EU for take-back and recycling, it is important to maintain transparency, which is why organisations like the WEEE Forum play a significant role. While there is still a long way to go for Europe in its recognition of WEEE as an asset, rather than waste, it is an exciting time for the industry as we see a number of innovative developments to ensure the future of the market. Philip Morton is chief executive of REPIC and president and chairman of the WEEE Forum. " Only about a third of European WEEE is captured and reported through official channels. " 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

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