LAWR

WASTE HANDLING A less complicated circular economy Focusing on the waste hierarchy can allow for a circular approach but methods need to be simplified. By Tom Campbell-White. here's a lot of information on the circular economy, with graphs showing flows of materials all over the place, and it's all got very complicated. I want to simplify things. Doing so will improve understanding and engagement – which is always vital when introducing a new way of thinking, implementing new business models and considering which equipment to use in the process. To close the loop effectively we need to look at the waste hierarchy and move materials in a more efficient and responsible way. Let's start at the top. Article 12 of 22 Local Authority Waste & Recycling June 2015 T the Waste Framework Directive sets an obligation for businesses to apply the waste hierarchy on all the waste products produced. Then, at the reuse and recycling stage, firms can also collaborate with resource management companies and the third sector to (where possible) segregate in order to retain the highest quality. Recovery is the final stage but there's a danger that by sending materials to be burnt for energy we are losing resources that could be recycled. It's all too easy to move one rung above landfill to incineration and say 'job done'. Ensuring material is as high as it can be relies on involvement from everyone at every stage of the process. Using the correct equipment is equally important. Measuring the amounts and types of waste generated is the first step to establish the number and size of bins or skips required. Internal bins also need to be strategically placed to ensure the maximum amount of materials can be captured, while both bins and skips should be colour-coded for the individual materials that are collected. As a major collector and recycler of newspaper and cardboard, balers are frequently used throughout our customers' bigger sites. This helps compact the amount of material, reducing the number of vehicle journeys, as well as ensuring consistently clean, quality recyclate. For one customer's food waste collection we'll use caged units loaded on to walking floor trailers using power-pack units, without the need to use a forklift. The waste is walked forward in stages and sensors control filling levels to maximise payloads throughout the automated process. This has turned around what was a labour intensive, slow and costly process that has improved average payloads from 10 tonnes to 23 tonnes. There should be a quality focus at every stage of the journey – manufacturing, retail, consumer and reprocessing – so everyone understands the importance of resources. Without this, we won't be unable to optimise the potential of resources currently in circulation. Tom Campbell-White is commercial manager at DS Smith

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