Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet agreed yesterday (10 November 2014) to ask Veolia for an alternative option for dealing with Hertfordshire’s residual waste.

The decision follows the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles’, ruling not to grant planning permission for Veolia’s recycling and energy recovery facility at New Barnfield.

Terry Douris, Cabinet Member for Waste Management, said: “Veolia will be asked to prepare an alternative option for the long-term treatment of Hertfordshire’s residual waste. They will have six months to complete this work. We’ll then carefully consider their proposal before deciding whether to continue with Veolia or request termination of the contract.

Terry Douris, Cabinet Member for Waste Management – “They will have six months to complete this work. We’ll then carefully consider their proposal before deciding whether to continue with Veolia or request termination of the contract”

“Under the existing contract, Veolia’s preparation of an alternative option comes at no extra cost to Hertfordshire County Council. As we have free access to Veolia’s expertise, it would be short sighted not to ask them for an alternative to New Barnfield.

“We have plans in place to deal with waste up to 2021 so we have sufficient time to come up with a long-term solution that is both environmentally and financially sound.”

In addition, as Veolia is challenging the Secretary of State’s planning decision, Cabinet agreed to monitor this case closely and review options should Veolia’s challenge be successful.

If Veolia’s challenge is successful while they are working on an alternative plan, the county council can then decide whether to ask Veolia to continue with work on alternative proposals or return to the original plan to build a facility at New Barnfield.

Terry added: “While legal action is underway, we need to consider the implications of both a successful or unsuccessful challenge and have options available for either scenario. Veolia’s legal challenge is entirely at their own cost and independent from the county council who are not challenging the decision.”

Read Similar

Work “Jointly & Collaboratively”, Says DCLG’s Planning Policy For Waste

Welsh Government Asks For Views On Its Radioactive Waste Disposal Policy

Defra Forecasts Greater Over Capacity Than Expected

“Facebook Generation” Can’t Be Bothered With Recycling

Veolia And Southwark Secure Innovation Award For CHP Scheme

VIDEO: There’s A “Huge Appetite” To Deliver Circular Economy

Sheffield Recycling Strikers Want “A Bit Of Honesty”, Says GMB

Veolia Signs £6m Recycling Contract With Siemens

The post Veolia To Research Alternative Hertfordshire Waste Solution appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Environmental solutions provider Veolia is investing £1m to improve cyclist safety using Vision Techniques “TurnAlarm” systems across its refuse management fleet, which is one of the largest in the UK.

The million pound contract will mean every Veolia refuse vehicle will be fitted with enhanced audible and visual awareness when turning, reducing the risk of accidents involving cyclists.

In addition Veolia have now made cyclist awareness key to their vehicle procurement, with Vision Techniques’ TurnAlarm system now a standard purchase on every new vehicle above 3.5 tonnes.

The TurnAlarm functions as both an audio and visual warning to approaching cyclists, high intensity LEDs flash from its side mounted position and a high volume speaker provides audible warning that the “vehicle is turning”.

John Matthews, Veolia – “We believe there will be an enforcement of a minimum cyclist standard for fleet operators in London and around the UK and these measures reflect the need to promote safety in a demanding operating environment”

The contract also includes a module to measure speed, preventing the alarm from activating over 10mph and cautionary blind spot signs for the rear and near side of the vehicle.

The scheme also includes a cyclist awareness training programme for its drivers which will be completed by September 2015, building upon its existing scheme in London to obtain a ‘cyclist’s eye view’ of a HGV.

John Matthews, fleet director of Veolia said: “By launching this initiative now we are putting the onus on accident prevention. We believe there will be an enforcement of a minimum cyclist standard for fleet operators in London and around the UK and these measures reflect the need to promote safety in a demanding operating environment.”

Michael Hanson, managing director of Vision Techniques added: “Cyclist safety is key to vehicles driving in any town or city around the country, and we believe by improving both driver and cyclist awareness we can help reduce the risk of these type of accidents on our roads.”

“We’re very proud to secure this contract with Veolia thanks in part to our 25 years of expert knowledge and experience and comprehensive range of vehicle safety equipment, and we look forward to more years of working together to improve vehicle safety.”

Read Similar

The post Vision Techniques Secures £1m Veolia Cyclist Safety Investment appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Organic waste processing and technology company, TEG Group, has announced that it has entered into administration, and that Veolia ES (UK) Limited has purchased the Simpro Ltd, the open air windrow composting business that was formerly part of the TEG portfolio of businesses.

The purchase price for Simpro has not been disclosed, but Veolia has confirmed that the business will continue to operate as usual and that Simpro’s 10-strong workforce, which operates across six sites, would all be retained as Veolia Group employees.

TEG Environmental and TEG Energy are continuing to operate, although under the control of the administrators. It claims that it has become short of cash because of the fact it has £2.8m tied up in a contract it carried out for Costain as part of the Greater Manchester Waste Contract, which has been held back until remedial work is completed.

The post TEG Enters Administration As Veolia Purchases Simpro appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Secretary of State Eric Pickles will now reconsider planning permission for Veolia’s £1bn energy from waste facility on green belt land at New Barnfield after the High Court overturned the government’s rejection of the plant 

Veolia won the appeal by claiming government rules on planning and waste had been ignored, after planning inspectors turned down the facility, saying it was an “inappropriate” development.

The 380,000 tonnes-per-year energy-from-waste plant near Hatfield was refused planning permission by Pickles over concerns about the plant’s impact on the Green Belt. (See CIWM Journal Online story)

Pickles said the plant, which was originally approved by Hertfordshire county council in 2012, would prevent other treatment capacity from being developed in the area as it would “absorb” a large proportion of the waste generated.

Terry Douris, cabinet member – “The county council will continue to follow developments regarding this case while awaiting a revised project plan from Veolia. We are fully aware that there have been concerns in the local area about these plans and we remain sensitive to these”

DCLG published its decision on the proposals, saying: “Though the site of the proposed building is already developed, the Secretary of State also considers that the building’s very large bulk and visual prominence compared with existing structures would be detrimental to the visual perception of the remaining gap between Hatfield and Welham Green.

“For this reason he considers that the proposed building would be harmful in terms of another of the purposes of the Green Belt – to prevent neighbouring settlements merging into one another.”

Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet asked Veolia for an alternative option for dealing with Hertfordshire’s residual waste late last year. (See CIWM Journal Online story)

Mr Justice Holgate at the High Court overturned the decision, saying Pickles “got it wrong” in balancing harm to the green belt with the need for the waste facility.

Conservative MP Anne Main has slammed the decision-making process. She said: “It’s outrageous that local planning decision-making is being overturned by the courts in favour of the developers.

Hertfordshire County Council has spent nearly £6m supporting the project.

Terry Douris, cabinet member for highways and waste management, said: “We acknowledge the judgement regarding Veolia’s High Court challenge.

“The county council will continue to follow developments regarding this case while awaiting a revised project plan from Veolia. We are fully aware that there have been concerns in the local area about these plans and we remain sensitive to these.”

Read Similar

Veolia To Research Alternative Hertfordshire Waste Solution

Veolia Challenges Pickles Over Energy From Waste Planning Refusal

Environment Agency Grants Veolia Permit To Operate Facility

The post High Court Overturns Pickles’ Decision To Reject Hertfordshire EfW appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia has been selected as Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s preferred bidder for the award of the recycling, waste and street cleansing services contract. 

The decision was approved unopposed at a full council meeting (Thursday 26th March) and is subject to the formal contract award and the mandatory ten day “standstill” period required under European procurement law.

The new contract will be for fifteen and half years, (with a break clause after eight years), starting on 5 October 2015, delivering significant savings to the council and several service enhancements.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia – “We are extremely pleased to be announced as preferred bidder and are looking forward to working in partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to deliver increased recycling rates and high quality services for all residents”

The new contract include

• Waste and Recycling Collection Services
• Operation of Household Waste Recycling Centres
• Street and Beach Cleaning
• Gully Cleaning and Emptying
• Winter Maintenance
• Cleaning of Public Toilets
• Graffiti Removal Services
• Weed Spraying and removal
• Build and operation of a Waste Transfer Station
• Provision for commercial waste services

Cllr Martin Terry, Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, said: “Throughout this process, our aim has been to secure the company that can best serve the interests of Southend-on-Sea in the long term.

“This thorough, proper and comprehensive procurement process has ensured just that and we are delighted to announce Veolia as the preferred bidder who has a first class track record, and subject to the relevant processes being completed I look forward to working with them.

“Veolia has committed to further improving upon our recycling rates, maintaining weekly collections, delivering a first-class service to our residents and businesses, maintaining an attractive street scene across the Borough and providing the best possible value for council tax-payers’ money by delivering significant savings. Residents can also be assured that services will remain uninterrupted.

“To deliver savings, whilst getting an expanded and improved service cannot be underestimated in a time of on-going central Government cuts.

“It is also important to add that staff working for our current contractor, Cory Environmental, will transfer to the new contractor, therefore protecting local employment.”

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia’s Senior Executive Vice President UK and Ireland said “We are extremely pleased to be announced as preferred bidder and are looking forward to working in partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to deliver increased recycling rates and high quality services for all residents.”

Read Similar

Work Starts On “Badly Needed” Recycling Facility In Liverpool

A More “Holistic Approach” Needed To Tackle Environmental Challenges

Plan To “Improve Financial Management” Of Dorset Waste Partnership

LRS Consultancy Acquired By Anthesis Group

Potential Strike Action Over Kier May Gurney Waste Worker Pay

High Court Overturns Pickles’ Decision To Reject Hertfordshire EfW

The post Veolia Preferred Bidder For Southend-On-Sea Recycling Contract appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Chris James, WAMITAB CEO

A new apprentice scheme for the waste industry, which will see a number of the leading companies such as Viridor, FCC, Cory, Veolia and Grundon working together has received support from WAMITAB and its CEO, Chris James.

Due to launch in September 2015, James said of the scheme: “Whilst full details are still to be shared, we welcome the news that Viridor, FCC, Cory, Veolia and Grundon will be working together to develop a trailblazer apprenticeship for the waste sector. It is critical that the industry gets behind the initiative to ensure that it is relevant, delivers what employers want and complies with the rigorous standards of the relevant government agencies.”

As part of the Trailblazer Apprenticeship scheme an employer-led assessment framework and process is being developed, and no single party that has been involved in delivery can  be allowed to make the sole decision on competence, so it must be undertaken by an independent assessment organisation.

WAMITAB intends to launch the Independent Assessment Organisation, working with employers through its board of trustees, the technical advisory group (TAG) and stakeholder partners in order to provide independent assessment services for employers participating in the Trailblazer apprenticeships. It will work with representatives from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and the Environmental Services Association; TAG members including training providers and employers such as Biffa and SITA, as well as trade associations such as UROC.

Chris James added: “WAMITAB is well-placed to reshape not just the apprenticeship but the wider skills frameworks for the sector. This new service as an independent assessment organisation will provide a valuable bridge between the Trailblazer Apprenticeship, employers and the requirements of the Environment Agency.”

The post WAMITAB Supports Trailblazer Waste Industry Apprentice Scheme appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia has been fined £16,000 after a worker fell from the unprotected edge of a ‘grizzly conveyor’ at the firm’s Four Ashes site in Wolverhampton whilst clearing items caught on the conveyor’s forks, sustaining “life changing injuries”.

On 2 May 2014 the worker, who does not wish to be named, suffered the fall and Veoila ES Staffordshire Ltd of London pleaded guilty at Stafford Magistrates court to breaching Regulation 6(3) of The Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Regulation 3(1) of The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It was fined a total of £16,600 and ordered to pay £1,773.15 in costs with a victim surcharge of £120.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Katherine Blunt said: “This incident was entirely preventable, clearing the conveyor in this way was a routine part of the job but no risk assessment had been carried out. If it had it would have been obvious edge protection was essential.

“The injured worker is still suffering from his injuries now and has only been able to return to work on limited duties. Falls from height are the most common cause of serious injury and fatalities in the workplace, it’s imperative that risk assessments are carried out and suitable control measures are put in place to eliminate or reduce the risks.”

The post Veolia Fined £16,000 After Worker’s Fall At Four Ashes Site appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

A refuse derived fuel (RDF) Export Industry Group has been formed by members of the waste and resources industry in order to explore and address issues surrounding RDF export from the UK. 

Members include a number of major waste management contractors and operators both from the UK and across Europe, and provides a platform for the industry to communicate its work to third parties including the government and other key stakeholders in the form of reports, presentations or other communications material.

Among them are big names such as Biffa, Shanks, FCC Environment and Veolia. (See below for full list)

The group, supported by its Secretariat, Eunomia Research & Consulting Limited, is currently developing a report that will include evidenced-based information, which considers legal, environmental and economic issues relating to RDF export.

The report is due to be published later in the summer of this year, and will be presented to Defra to consider within its current consultation on RDF.

The Group has already submitted a response to Defra’s consultation on waste crime, which was seeking views on enhancing enforcement powers and other measures to tackle waste crime and persistent poor performance in England and Wales.

RDF Export Industry Group Members include:

• AEB Amsterdam BV
• Andusia Recovered Fuels Ltd
• Attero BV
• Biffa Group Ltd
• F & R Cawley Ltd
• EEW Energy from Waste
• EFO AB
• FCC Environment Ltd
• Gemi UK Ltd
• GMVA GmbH (Remondis)
• New Earth Solutions Group Ltd
• Seneca Environmental Solutions Ltd
• Shanks Waste Management Ltd
• SWB Gruppe
• Twence BV
• Veolia Environmental Services (UK) plc

Read Similar

UKWIN Calls On New Resource Minister To Stop Incineration

Osborne Announces Departmental Cuts For Defra, DECC And DCLG

Shanks First UK Firm To Issue “Green Bond” In Europe

Time For Government To Step Up On Waste Crime, Says Viridor

FCC Responds To Mauer’s View On Plastics Recycling

The post Industry Group Formed To Tackle RDF Export Issues appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia, through its subsidiary in Ireland Veolia Energy Services, has been awarded the EUR 450m contract over 15 years to operate Ireland’s largest biomass plant. 

Located in Killala, the Mayo Renewable Power plant will be the largest independent biomass power plant in Ireland and will provide 42.5MW of Combined Heat and Power – enough electricity to power the equivalent of 68,000 homes.

In addition to operating and maintaining the power production plant and the adjacent fuel processing plant, Veolia will also supply the total biomass fuel requirement for the facility.

The plant will use similar technology to that applied at Veolia’s biomass facilities at Merritt and Fort St. James in British Colombia, Canada, which are among the largest plants in North America.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia UK and Ireland – “This project marks a significant step on Ireland’s path towards developing sustainable energy solutions. We are looking forward to collaborating with our project partners to deliver best in class energy management for the successful delivery of this milestone project”

Moreover, the operations and maintenance contract will directly create 30 new jobs at the facility in Killala. The plant will be in commercial operation in mid-2017.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Senior Executive Vice President, Veolia UK and Ireland, said: “This project marks a significant step on Ireland’s path towards developing sustainable energy solutions. We are looking forward to collaborating with our project partners to deliver best in class energy management for the successful delivery of this milestone project.”

Veolia has been operating in Ireland since 1990 and currently works with industry, commercial customers and public authorities to find solutions for the sustainable management of their resources. It employs 500 staff across its three business activities in water, waste management and energy.

Read Similar

Engagement Campaign Launched As Part Of Scotland’s Circular Economy Drive

20 Tonnes Of Plastic Waste Alight At Viridor’s Kent Facility [UPDATED]

£5m Pledged For Food Waste Collections In Scotland

Health And Safety Excellence Goal For Scotland’s Resources Sector

Multifuel Energy Signs Power Deal Worth £75m With SmartestEnergy

Bid To Transform Re-Use Retail In Scotland With New Superstore

Osborne Announces Departmental Cuts For Defra, DECC And DCLG

The post Veolia Appointed Operator Of Ireland’s Largest Biomass Power Plant appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Great Yarmouth Port

Peterson, the international energy logistics provider in partnership with Veolia, has announced a £ 1m investment in the development of a new, purpose built decommissioning facility in Great Yarmouth.

The new site in Great Yarmouth Port, operated with joint venture partner Veolia, and developed in cooperation with the Port, and with support funding from NewAnglia LEP, will provide operators in the Southern North Sea (“SNS”) with access to a full service decommissioning facility and Veolia-Peterson’s market leading expertise and experience.

The investment, announced at EEEGR’s (East of England’s Energy Group) Westminster reception, will create a bespoke facility located in the western terminal of the recently developed Outer Harbour at Great Yarmouth port, enabling topside, jackets and subsea equipment to be off loaded for dismantling and recycling.

Locating Veolia-Peterson’s expertise in Great Yarmouth will provide operators with a facility within easy reach of the SNS thus minimising the risk and costs associated with transporting infrastructure.

James Johnson, Peterson – “As recently highlighted by industry body Decom North Sea, costs for decommissioning North Sea offshore assets over the next decade are forecast to be around £14.6billion”

Due to be operational in July 2015, Veolia-Peterson expects to create up to seven new jobs initially, with this expected to increase in line with project requirements and market demand.  Peterson has been operating in Great Yarmouth since 1997 and employs 30 people at its existing facility providing quayside and logistics services.

James Johnson, Decommissioning Manager, Peterson said” “As recently highlighted by industry body Decom North Sea, costs for decommissioning North Sea offshore assets over the next decade are forecast to be around £14.6billion.  We have a real opportunity, working in collaboration with our partners, to establish Great Yarmouth as the centre for decommissioning for the SNS, delivering comprehensive, safe and cost effective decommissioning solutions.”

Ian Williams, Industrial Services Director at Veolia said “This new decommissioning facility allows us to provide the oil and gas industry an even larger portfolio of facilities across the whole North Sea.  Through our established track record and unrivalled experience in compliance and reuse we can help customers exceed their environmental targets.”

Peterson was awarded £70,000 from New Anglia LEP’s flagship Growing Business Fund, to help establish the new facility. The centre, based at the Outer Harbour, is located on one of six sites on the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Enterprise Zone.

Chris Starkie, New Anglia LEP – “Our funding, together with future private investment from Peterson, will launch Great Yarmouth and surrounding areas as a major new hub for decommissioning activity in the Southern and Central North Sea, a significant emerging sector estimated to be worth £125m in the next ten years”

Chris Starkie, managing director of New Anglia LEP said, “We are extremely pleased to have played a part in securing this new project for our vitally important energy coast. Our funding, together with future private investment from Peterson, will launch Great Yarmouth and surrounding areas as a major new hub for decommissioning activity in the Southern and Central North Sea, a significant emerging sector estimated to be worth £125m in the next ten years.”

Eliza O’Toole, Deputy Chair of Great Yarmouth Port commented, “We are delighted that Peterson chose to locate their new facility in the Outer Harbour and to both build on, and to take advantage of, the deeply established expertise both in the Port and its hinterland in servicing the SNS.  The Port congratulates Peterson on their initiative and investment and welcomes this latest addition to the Port’s ongoing central role in supporting the SNS for decades to come.”

Colleen Walker, Chair of Norfolk County Council’s Economic Development sub-committee said, “This is a significant deal for both Eastport and for Great Yarmouth, and I am delighted the County Council has been able to provide key guidance in order to help this deal come to fruition.  Decommissioning work will now take place at Eastport for many years to come – boosting employment opportunities locally, and reinforcing the East of England Energy Zone as the premier location for the energy sector.”

Cllr Graham Plant, the leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “The fact that Peterson and other businesses continue to invest and expand within the borough – already a global capital for the energy sector – shows confidence in the borough, its expertise, supply chain and port facilities.

“The borough council was a key partner in the development of the Outer Harbour and in facilitating Veolia-Peterson’s decision to base its decommissioning operation there. As we celebrate 50 years of offshore operations from Great Yarmouth, I am delighted our partnership work is helping to create jobs, especially in this new, growing area of decommissioning.”

The post Veolia Announces Decommissioning Facility For Great Yarmouth appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Independent research released today (23 June) from Imperial College London, commissioned by Veolia, has found that the UK could reap significant economic benefits if it fully embraced the circular economy. 

The research found that a combination of “closing the loop” on resource use and moving to a service rather than product based economy has the potential to add 0.18% – equivalent to £2.9bn per annum – to UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per year, circa £29bn over 10 years by:

• Deriving £23.7bn through reprocessing and recycling materials from households and commercial & industrial sources
• Harnessing £3.1bn opportunity of moving from a product to a service-based approach
• Saving businesses £2.3bn in taxes currently paid on waste sent to landfill
• Generating £1.1bn in energy from materials that can’t be reprocessed into further products
• Capturing £888m of value from unwanted chemicals
• Finally, the report takes into account the existing £2.2bn contribution of the waste management sector to the circular economy.

The report, entitled “The circular revolution”, also estimates that 175,000 jobs will be created by the circular economy, amounting to almost 10% of UK unemployment with particular opportunities for growth from plastics recycling.   It also reveals that while the size of the waste management sector has fallen in tonnes it has risen in value pointing to the importance of the increasing value of resources.

“It goes beyond resource and energy efficiency; it also includes closing the loop between resource extraction, production, and disposal, moving towards the provisions of services, where materials are valued differently; creating a more robust economy in the process”

Estelle Brachlianoff Senior Executive Vice-President UK & Ireland said: “The world is facing an enormous challenge. Expanding populations and a rise in living standards means demand for raw materials is growing, at the same time resources are rapidly depleting.  Businesses need to wake up to the unsustainable nature of our throw-away economy and put more value on resources.

This report examines the economic benefit of this, highlighting how a transition to a circular economy has the potential to add 1.8% to our GDP over a 10 year period. The findings of the report have exceeded our expectations – even if we only achieved a 50% shift this would add £15bn to the country’s economic output.”

The report’s leading author Dr Nick Voulvoulis from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London said: “The report refers to the UK’s economy ability to become circular and to grow while resource use is declining.

“It goes beyond resource and energy efficiency; it also includes closing the loop between resource extraction, production, and disposal, moving towards the provisions of services, where materials are valued differently; creating a more robust economy in the process.”

Read Similar

UK Should Follow French And Ban Supermarket Food Waste To Landfill

Viridor Energy Recovery Facilities Commit to Recycling Residues

Ealing Approves Plans Introduce Commingled Recycling Collection

Veolia Announces Decommissioning Facility For Great Yarmouth

Construction To Start On Viridor’s Beddington ERF

Sainsbury’s Launches “…To The Rescue” To Help Cut Food Waste

The post Circular Economy Could Boost UK GDP By £29bn, Research Finds appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

A new scheme, called Bag2Bag, is being introduced by Southwark Council and will see all plastic bags brought to its Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) being recycled back into new bags to distribute to Southwark residents.

Introduced as part of a collection service run by Veolia, Southwark Council’s waste management provider the scheme will see shopping bags collected at a new recycling point at Southwark’s RRC. Once enough have been collected, they will be reprocessed by CeDo, a plastics manufacturer, where they will be washed and shredded into pellets, which are then blown into bubbles of plastic film to form new bags.

The post Veolia And Southwark Go Bag2Bag With New Recycling Scheme appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has rejected planning permission for Veolia’s proposed energy-from-waste plant in Hertfordshire, following a High Court’s decision to strike down a previous decision by the Department.

The project originally received £115.3m in PFI projects from Defra and was granted planning permission by Hertfordshire County Council in 2012.

The 380,000 tonnes-per-year energy-from-waste plant near Hatfield was then refused planning permission by the then Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, over concerns about the plant’s impact on the Green Belt. (See CIWM Journal Online story)

Pickles said the plant, which was originally approved by Hertfordshire county council in 2012, would prevent other treatment capacity from being developed in the area as it would “absorb” a large proportion of the waste generated.

In agreeing with the inspector, the DCLG said that despite the range of benefits, the plant would be inappropriate and very special circumstances had not been demonstrated

DCLG published its decision on the proposals, saying: “Though the site of the proposed building is already developed, the Secretary of State also considers that the building’s very large bulk and visual prominence compared with existing structures would be detrimental to the visual perception of the remaining gap between Hatfield and Welham Green.

“For this reason he considers that the proposed building would be harmful in terms of another of the purposes of the Green Belt – to prevent neighbouring settlements merging into one another.”

Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet asked Veolia for an alternative option for dealing with Hertfordshire’s residual waste late last year. (See CIWM Journal Online story.)

Mr Justice Holgate at the High Court overturned the decision, saying Pickles “got it wrong” in balancing harm to the green belt with the need for the waste facility.

Veolia – “This innovative facility would have extracted further recyclable material from Hertfordshire’s black bag waste before generating electricity for the national grid by treating what remains. It would have supported both local investment and job creation”

In agreeing with the inspector, the DCLG said that despite the range of benefits, the plant would be inappropriate and very special circumstances had not been demonstrated.

Veolia’s regional director for the East, Keith McGurk, said: “Our application to develop a recycling and energy recovery facility in Hatfield received positive support from Hertfordshire County Council in 2012 when they resolved to grant permission, so after a further three years of deliberation by the Secretary of State this news is very disappointing.

“Veolia’s view is that this is exactly the type of waste infrastructure the UK needs.

“This innovative facility would have extracted further recyclable material from Hertfordshire’s black bag waste before generating electricity for the national grid by treating what remains. It would have supported both local investment and job creation.

“We will carefully review the details of the decision letter before considering any further action and will continue to work with the local authority as they assess and evaluate our draft alternative solution for Hertfordshire, which was submitted on 7 July.”

Read Similar

Herts Food Waste Recycling Plant Officially Opened

High Court Overturns Pickles’ Decision To Reject Hertfordshire EfW

Man Dies After Becoming Trapped Under Burning Waste Truck

Veolia Challenges Pickles Over Energy From Waste Planning Refusal

Prisoners To Help Cut eWaste And Aid Disadvantaged Communities

The post DCLG Rejects Veolia’s Hertfordshire EfW Appeal appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Waste management firm Veolia has warned that the UK appears to be entering another “Dark Age” of returning to fossil fuel reliance, after Gvoernment last week moved to rein in the spiraling costs of renewable power subsidies.

According to Government the subsidies threatened to push up household bills. As a result it launched a consultation on the removal of pre-accreditation from the Feed-in Tariff (FIT).

Addressing the consultation, the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) explained that it was seeking to take:

“Action to limit the risk to bill payers of a deployment surge under the Feed-in Tariff through the removal of pre-accreditation. We are seeking a broad range of input from industry and from consumers. DECC will carry out a full review of the Feed-in Tariff scheme in 2015 and will consult on a full package of cost control measures in due course.”

The DECC consultation document itself outlines the likely impact of such a decision:

“By removing the possibility for projects to pre-accredit, there is less certainty on offer to developers. When they begin to develop a project, they will not be certain as to what tariff they will receive, as there may be tariff degressions between then and the point of accreditation.”

DECC – “By removing the possibility for projects to pre-accredit, there is less certainty on offer to developers. When they begin to develop a project, they will not be certain as to what tariff they will receive, as there may be tariff degressions between then and the point of accreditation”

The plans include closing support for small-scale solar projects, changing the way renewable projects qualify for payments and modifying subsidies for biomass plants.

The proposals come just a month after the government said it would scrap new subsidies for onshore wind farms from April next year.

Richard Kirkman, technical director, Veolia UK and Ireland said: “This is a significant U-Turn from the UK Government highlighting its effective withdrawal from the renewable energy sector ahead of what is set to be the most important climate change discussions of our time at COP21.

“The Government has stripped away without warning incentives for projects on which many companies have made major investment decisions in renewable technologies.

“As a result the Government is not creating a secure climate for business investment in the expanding green economy.

“Only last week the National Grid highlighted the UK was set for brownouts this winter, so we cannot understand why incentives for technologies that will keep the lights on in the UK are being removed.

“We appear to be entering another Dark Age where we will return to total fossil fuel reliance, power cuts, low confidence in UK investment, opening the door for fracking activities to maintain energy security.”

FIT

The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) Chief Executive, Charlotte Morton, commented: “FIT pre accreditation is vital for the ongoing success of the anaerobic digestion sector. Even smaller AD projects are relatively complex, and take over a year to develop – pre accreditation helps to make the development risk acceptable to funders.

“Tariffs for AD are already being reduced, and deployment is falling as a result – so this change is unnecessary from a cost control perspective. The industry’s long development times mean these changes would move the goalposts after the game has kicked off for projects in progress, which will have a severe impact on investor confidence.

“With support, AD can deliver cost effective greenhouse gas savings – potentially as high as 4% across the economy as a whole – and grow a UK supply chain which helps deliver economic productivity and exports. These proposals put that potential at risk, preventing the development of the very technologies that will lower consumer bills in the long term.

“How will the government be able to maintain rhetoric on meaningful climate change commitments at December’s Paris conference, while hitting our green economy at home?”

Read Similar

Summer Budget Hits Anaerobic Digestion Industry With £11m Cut

New Managing Director Announced For LondonWaste

UK Green Investment Bank Announces Plans To Raise Private Capital

MEPs Set Out Demands For Circular Economy Package

Cameron Urged To Act Fast On Environmental Pledges Ahead Of G7

The post Slashing Renewable Subsidies Will Move UK Toward “Dark Age” – Veolia appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia has selected FoodCycle as its chosen charity partner – an organisation that combines volunteers, donated food and spare kitchen spaces to create tasty, nutritious meals for people at risk of food poverty and social isolation.

FoodCycle, which provides meals for vulnerable people from surplus food, was chosen by Veolia due to their complementary objectives that are aligned with the group’s strategy of saving resources.

From Bath to Birmingham, Clacton-on-Sea to Cambridge, FoodCycle projects run on the simple belief that food waste and food poverty should not co-exist.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia – “Every year 7 million tonnes of food waste goes to landfill. There are a lot of other ways this could be turned into a resource and the work FoodCycle does is the perfect example of this”

Under this new partnering scheme, Veolia is working with FoodCycle to help them achieve their three objectives: to reduce food waste, tackle social isolation and build communities.

Veolia’s own corporate responsibility strategy focuses on creating a more sustainable and resilient, environmentally and socially conscious business.

To help tackle long-term social challenges, the company is continuing to work with communities through volunteering and partnering with social enterprises. This brings value to the communities where Veolia operate and contributes to society’s sustainability.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia’s Senior Executive Vice-President UK & Ireland said: “Every year 7 million tonnes of food waste goes to landfill. There are a lot of other ways this could be turned into a resource and the work FoodCycle does is the perfect example of this. I see this partnership with FoodCycle going from strength to strength as together we can help improve the lives of our communities.”

Commenting on the new partnership with Veolia, Mary McGrath, CEO of FoodCycle, said: “We are delighted that Veolia have chosen to work with us. Our activities are centred on what we can do to support and grow local communities, and this naturally aligns with the work Veolia do on their contracts. 

“Our partnership will enable us to ensure that we can continue to reduce food waste, improve resource efficiency and, most importantly, bring much-needed friendship and support to those who are in need of help.”

Read Similar

Slashing Renewable Subsidies Will Move UK Toward “Dark Age” – Veolia

Defra Could Be Hit With 40% Cut To Budget

GIB Invests £15m In Sheffield Biomass Plant

Commission Refers Spain To Court Over Illegal Landfills

DCLG Rejects Veolia’s Hertfordshire EfW Appeal

Veolia And Southwark Go Bag2Bag With New Recycling Scheme

The post Veolia Selects FoodCycle As Charity Partner appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Bromley residents face the prospect of uncollected waste and recycling as around 100 collection staff employed by waste disposal giant Veolia gear up for three days of strike action in a pay dispute. 

About 100 workers, members of Unite, the country’s largest union, voted 85 percent in favour of striking on 24 August and 3 and 4 September, after years of below inflation pay awards. The strikes will run from midnight to midnight.

Veolia was awarded the contract by Bromley council – and Unite said that this dispute was another example of the flawed nature of the controversial authority’s mass privatisation programme that relies on cutting services and slashing wages.

“This dispute is another example of the council’s misguided privatisation programme which relies on Veolia cutting collection rounds for householders and real term pay cuts for our refuse collection members”

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Employers have offered 1.5 percent for the pay year starting last April – and we put in for a four per cent pay rise. Workers are angry, as they have to cover heavier and heavier workloads following a number of rounds being cut.

“For years they have had below inflation pay rises – but now that inflation has dropped, the employers are happy to use it as a bench mark – so it’s a catch-and-match up claim.

“Our members have made it very clear that they are prepared to strike – we held three consultative votes, all of which voted to be balloted for strike action.

“Veolia should have got the message – but it clearly hasn’t. That is why we have now issued notice for strike action. This is a very unhappy and demoralised workforce, being asked to take on more work but not being recognised for it.

“Veolia has a final chance for talks – we urge them to take that opportunity. The alternative is for the strike to go-ahead with the prospect of uncollected  dustbins causing a stink in the late summer sunshine.

“The collection service will be a day behind initially and the further two days of action will hamper efforts to catch up and cause the service to householders to lag further behind.

“This dispute is another example of the council’s misguided privatisation programme which relies on Veolia cutting collection rounds for householders and real term pay cuts for our refuse collection members”

The dispute comes against the backdrop of a Fair Deal For Local Government campaign by Unite’s London and Eastern region, which has almost 300,000 members. The campaign is aimed against privatisation and austerity in local government.

The campaign is a set of proposals that Unite is putting to councils in the region. It is a procurement strategy to ensure that quality services are maintained and that there is no “race to the bottom” for pay and conditions post any transfer.

A spokesperson for Veolia in Bromley said: “We have been notified of possible strike action in Bromley and are seeking to work closely with Unite to resolve this situation.”

Read Similar

Tamar Energy Secures £32m “Landmark” Anaerobic Digestion Loan

Used Cooking Oil From 934 Wetherspoon Pubs To Be Turned Into Biodiesel

BIS Chooses JTA WEEE Compliance Fee Proposal

Big Names Sign Up To Electricals’ Sector Resources “Revolution”

“Collaboration” Needed To Develop A Circular Economy

Food Waste Falls 21 Percent Among Waitrose Shoppers

The post Veolia Refuse Collectors Set To Strike In Bromley appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Hampshire County Council has been criticised after it was revealed that 67 percent of the county’s waste paper and cardboard is reportedly being shipped to China for recycling. 

Alex Spurge, a member of Ukip Havant, criticised the council by saying there are “adequate recycling facilities existing in the UK”, according to a Portsmouth newspaper.

He said: “Recycling is something we all should be encouraged to do in Havant. However, it might come as a surprise that some 30,000 tonnes of recyclable paper and a significant percentage of Hampshire’s other recycling is being shipped to China by Hampshire County Council, with this fact of course not mentioned on its recycling website.

“At a time when we are all told to reduce our carbon footprint, shipping the waste to China only increases it dramatically, despite adequate recycling facilities existing in the UK.”

Seán Woodward – “In order to ensure that Hampshire paper continues to be recycled, Veolia has sought alternative markets both in the UK and abroad… As a result, Hampshire paper is currently being processed in the UK as well as being exported to paper mills in China for recycling”

Liberal Democrat spokesman for economy, transport and the environment, David Simpson, and county councillor for Bramshill, Eversley, Hartley Wintney, Heckfield, Mattingley and Yateley North and West, said: “Any sensible business plan should have built in the possible fluctuations of this type of market and either allowed for paper to be stored or burnt in the incinerators to create electricity – for example, energy from waste.

“To suggest sending it all the way to China is sustainable just makes Conservatives in Hampshire look silly.”

The county’s waste is dealt with by Veolia under the Project Integra partnership, which sees more than 700,000 tonnes of waste collected across Hampshire every year.

From April to June, 13,000 tonnes (67 percent of the total recycling marketed for sale by Veolia) of paper and cardboard was sent from the port of Southampton to paper mills in Guandong Province in China to be processed and recycled, according to The Daily Echo.

Seán Woodward, the county council’s executive member for the economy, transport and environment, responded in an email sent to all county councillors, explaining that the recent closure of a number of UK paper mills – UPM Shotton, in Wales, and Aylesford Newsprint, in Kent – has resulted in a “significant reduction in available UK paper processing capacity, which has led to significant market fluctuation and instability.”

He said: “This has consequently resulted in a need for all local authorities to identify and secure alternative markets to continue to recycle this material.

“In order to ensure that Hampshire paper continues to be recycled, Veolia has sought alternative markets both in the UK and abroad.

“As a result, Hampshire paper is currently being processed in the UK as well as being exported to paper mills in China for recycling.

“A full audit trail is maintained at all times, meaning that Veolia UK and the Waste Disposal Authorities can be confident that the material is being processed by suitable outlets who comply to all relevant legislative, licensing and planning requirements.”

Read Similar

Highland Council To Recycle More Plastic

DS Smith Fined £400,000 For Worker’s Death

Toolkit Launched To Help Scots Cut Waste At Work

England’s Increase In Waste Arisings Could Put More Pressure On Councils

GIB To Identify Innovative Recycling Schemes At RWM With CIWM 2015

WRAP & Valpak To Research Paper & Card Packaging Flow

The post Hampshire Criticised For Sending Paper Recycling To China appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia has been awarded a 15-year contract to operate the Holbrook Community Renewable Energy Centre by Equitix ESI CHP.

The 6.5MWe biomass-fired combined heat and power station will be built in Holbrook, Sheffield, and is designed to provide sustainable green energy for over 10,000 homes. The project has been developed by UYE (UK) and is being constructed on behalf of Equitix ESI CHP (Sheff) Ltd.

It will use around 55,000 tonnes of waste wood as carbon neutral fuel, which will be provided from local suppliers and has the capability to export renewable heat energy to a district heating scheme.

Pat Gilroy, Veolia – “This new contract is a further step in our commitment to deliver sustainable energy that both reduces carbon emissions, and recycles a resource that would be wasted. We are looking forward to working with our project partners to help deliver the UK renewable target”

Under the contract Veolia will have full responsibility for the 24/7 operation and maintenance, performance, emission monitoring, ash disposal and will manage the biomass fuel. Veolia will also provide technical support during the commissioning of the new plant that is due to start generating low carbon heat and power in Spring 2017.

Pat Gilroy, Veolia COO Industrial Customers UK, Country Director Ireland, said: “This new contract is a further step in our commitment to deliver sustainable energy that both reduces carbon emissions, and recycles a resource that would be wasted. We are looking forward to working with our project partners to help deliver the UK renewable target.”

The plant is being developed on a brown-field site by Equitix, an infrastructural investment company, which has a dedicated £200m fund for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects including £100m from the Green Investment Bank (GIB). They have invested in a number of biomass type projects and this is their largest single investment to date.

The technology used for generating electricity is “Organic Rankine Cycle”, which has the same thermodynamic cycle as steam turbine systems, but uses “organic fluid” vapour as the driving force for the turbine within a closed loop heating circuit. The biomass fuel will be burnt in two water-cooled WID compliant moving grate furnaces and emissions will be strictly controlled using the latest flue technologies.

Read Similar

Veolia Refuse Collectors Set To Strike In Bromley

Liverpool City Council To Bring Waste Collection In-House

GIB To Identify Innovative Recycling Schemes At RWM With CIWM 2015

Grundon And Viridor Sign Long-Term Treatment Contract

Morrisons & FoodCycle Partner To Tackle Food Waste

Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 Becomes Fully Operational

The post Veolia Appointed Operator Of Sheffield’s New Biomass Power Plant appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia Environnement has bought a majority stake in Dutch plastics recycling company AKG Kunststof, as part of a strategy to grow in waste recycling. 

It was bought from energy firm Wadinko for reportedly bought for less than AKG’s 34m euros revenue in 2014, according Reuters.

CEO of Veolia, Antoine Frérot said AKG’s recycling technologies, which recycles polypropylene plastics from industrial and household waste, has huge potential for wider application.

Veolia, Antoine Frérot – “Our growth on new thriving markets and our ability to provide solutions for the recovery and production of raw recycled materials have demonstrated the Group’s ability to turn the waste of some into resources for others”

He said: “This operation is the next natural step for Veolia in its strategic transformation and development. Our growth on new thriving markets and our ability to provide solutions for the recovery and production of raw recycled materials have demonstrated the Group’s ability to turn the waste of some into resources for others”.

Strong and heat-resistant, polypropylene is one of the most commonly used plastics in everything from the lids of Tic Tac mint boxes to microwave-resistant food containers.

The recycled plastic, which has the same qualities as new plastic produced by the petrochemical industry, is used for flower pots and garden products, and in the automotive, infrastructure and white goods industries.

Frerot said AKG also has an innovative technology to recover different kinds of plastic from household waste, by floating ground-up plastic waste in water and separating it by density with a proprietary technology partly based on magnetism.

“The AKG plastics sorting technology is simple and cheap,” Frerot said, adding that Veolia plans to roll it out in other countries. It will build sorting facilities in cities where it can source a steady stream of plastics waste, and find buyers for the recycled material.

Veolia, which collects some 370,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year, will boost the capacity of AKG’s plant at the Dutch town of Vroomshoop to 75,000 tonnes per year from 34,000 tonnes. Frerot said a new plant with a 75,000 tonne capacity would represent an investment of 15 to 20m euros.

He said Veolia will continue to focus on organic or self-generated growth, but is ready to make more similar acquisitions that can boost its recycling technologies.

Wadinko will keep a small stake and a seat on AKG’s board.

Read Similar

Government Urged To Deliver National Litter Action Plan

Councils Call For “Fairer” Funding To Help Meet Recycling Targets

DECC Proposes End To Feed In Tariffs If Costs Can’t Be Cut

Waste Regulations Don’t Need More Cuts, Opinion Poll Finds

Commission Urged To “Be True To Ambition For Circular Economy”

The post Veolia Acquires Dutch Plastics Recycling Company appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.

Veolia and the City of Westminster have begun to address cigarette littering with a series of specifically designed programmes drawing on the most innovative schemes from across the world.

The trials include a two-meter musical cigarette poll from Holland, a cigarette voting ashtray, which allows smokers to vote on topical sporting results and giant cigarette displays that help draw attention to the issue.

Westminster City Council, Veolia, and environmental charity Hubbub have teamed up to pilot Neat Streets – tackling the growing problem of litter on the UK’s streets.

Cllr Richard Beddoe, Westminster City Council – “Cigarette butts, alongside discarded chewing gum, are two of local government’s sworn enemies – costing the public purse needless millions every year”

Research undertaken by Keep Britain Tidy, in advance of the campaign, found that chewing gum and cigarette butts overwhelmingly formed the largest source of litter in Villiers Street, with the latter being responsible for 78% of all observed litter.

The campaign began with a series of schemes aimed at targeting chewing gum littering, including a peppermint pointillist displays and Gumdrop bins which engaged the public in a fun and challenging way to encourage them to bin their chewing gum.

Keep Britain Tidy’s mid-term research found that these pilot schemes have had a notable effect, with chewing gum litter falling by 54% in June and 26% in July. The research also suggests that littering has fallen by 26% overall since the campaign begun.

The campaign is now turning to tackling cigarette littering. The research revealed that 89% of observed smokers littered their cigarette butt, rising to 99% of those participating in the night time economy.

On the basis of Keep Britain Tidy’s findings, Hubbub, Veolia and the City of Westminster have designed a number of interactive installations and performances, aimed at targeting litterers and encouraging them to change their behaviour.

Innovative Installations

The installations and performances being introduced to tackle cigarette litterers this month includes:

• Fumo musical pole – Fumo is an interactive smoker’s pole that rewards the public when they use it to dispose of their cigarette butts. The reward is an audio-visual display, consisting of an energetic tune and LED lights.
• A cigarette voting ashtray – the ashtray will engage smokers and encourage them to bin their cigarette butts, by providing a series of weekly sports questions, and allowing smokers to choose their answer by selecting a compartment of the ashtray.
• The Butts Out campaign – local pubs and bars are stocking quirkily designed portable ashtrays available for smokers to use on-the-go.
• Giant cigarettes – these will be installed in piles in Villiers Street to raise awareness of the issue, previously used in The City of London’s ‘No Small Problem’ campaign.

To investigate how effective the different behaviour change trials are, Keep Britain Tidy will be undertaking regular monitoring of littering habits in Villiers Street, and reporting on their findings in an overall report in October

Cllr Richard Beddoe, Westminster City Council cabinet member for city management, said: “Cigarette butts, alongside discarded chewing gum, are two of local government’s sworn enemies – costing the public purse needless millions every year.

“The results so far are hugely encouraging, and we hope the next phase of the Villiers Street pilot will help highlight the issue nationally and inspire people to tackle the root causes. The old excuses of ‘there are not enough bins’ simply do not wash.

Scott Edgell, Veolia’s General Manager for Central London said: “As a business we are always looking for new ways to help us protect the environment and keep London looking its best. The Neat Streets campaign seems to be making real progress and anything that reduces the amount of cigarette ends hitting the pavement is very worthwhile indeed.”

Read Similar

INCPEN Appoints New Chairman As Ian Blythe Steps Down

Former Londonderry Tyre Recycler Ordered To Pay £50,000

Veolia Acquires Dutch Plastics Recycling Company

Labour MP To Introduce Food Waste Reduction Bill

Government Urged To Deliver National Litter Action Plan

The post Innovative Trial Aims To Stub Out Cigarette Litter appeared first on CIWM Journal Online.