| London CRN: Recycling e-news round up [15.02.08] |
Good afternoon,
Come to the CRN UK and London CRN annual conference! We are pleased to announce that Hilary Benn MP will be attending, so along with all the other exciting announcements, presentations, workshops, interactive stands, awards, gala night and tours, there is even more happening that you cannot afford to miss. The London CRN Team
In this e-news: LONDON CRN NEWS
We are delighted to announce that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn will be speaking at this year’s annual CRN UK conference, which is being held in partnership with London CRN. A full programme of presentations, workshops will celebrate innovation and success in the sector and will focus on building stronger third sector support for those who deliver recycling, reuse and waste awareness services. There will also be a gala evening of entertainment and awards and there is an opportunity to take part in organised project visits in and around London on Thursday 5th June. Places are filling up fast, so book now for a conference that is guaranteed to be a first rate example of what we should be proud of in our sector. Call the CRN UK events team on 0117 942 0142 to book your place now.
We will also need a few more volunteers this year, which will be another excellent way to promote the network and your organisation (over and above the others!) out in the sun. If you are interested in either – or both – opportunities to take part in this year’s Camden Green Fair, which promises to be bigger and better than ever, contact hannah@lcrn.org.uk. Looking forward to hearing from you. * Camley Street Natural Park up for an Observer Ethical Award London Wildlife Trust’s most urban reserve has been has been shortlisted in the conservation category of this year’s Observer Ethical Awards. The judging panel were looking for innovative and passionate projects that have done the most to protect the planet and LCRN members Camley Street Natural Park fitted the bill. The park’s two acres of wild space is located in the heart of King's Cross. Created 25 years ago from an old coal drop, Camley Street is a pioneering project, which has transformed old industrial land into a place for people and wildlife, and has set the standard for urban nature conservation world wide. While Camley Street is rightly recognised as an exceptional space for wildlife, the park's community work is what sets it apart from other projects. Congratulations and we wish them all the best! Julie Brown, Director of Growing Communities, has been short-listed for the Triodos Bank Women in Ethical Business Award in the category of Ethical Small Business. Growing Communities is a social enterprise run by local people in Hackney, East London working to create a more sustainable food system. Brown commented: "Winning the WEBA award would be an amazing recognition of the fact that it is possible for local communities – even in urban areas – to provide practical, small-scale solutions to huge environmental problems such as climate change by changing where their food comes from." Friday 12th: 10am-8pm Amoosi have also now launched their summer collection, available on their website * Enterprising Solutions Award open for applications A major consultation has been launched across north London to establish residents' views on how their waste should be managed over the next 12 years. The North London Waste Authority - which manages waste disposal on behalf of the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Waltham Forest - is seeking final opinions on its revised waste strategy. Entitled the North London Joint Waste Strategy, the document was originally drawn up in 2004. However, delays in getting agreement from all parties have meant that the NLWDA is now required to run a final consultation, before it is approved. Once recommendations are taken on board and it is formerly adopted, the strategy will be used to facilitate the procurement of new waste management services to increase the recycling and recovery of waste, and also influence what will happen when its current 10 year waste treatment contract with London Waste Limited ends in 2014. Andrew Lappage, head of waste strategy for the NLWA, said: "The financial and environmental impacts of continuing to operate as we have in the past are not sustainable and we need to find an alternative to landfill - a long-term cost effective solution for managing our waste. "This consultation forms part of a Strategic Environmental Assessment which identifies and assesses the likely environmental impacts of the draft North London Joint Waste Strategy and makes recommendations for changes to reduce them." The body of a murdered man was found on Tuesday in a load of commingled recycling materials during a routine quality check at Viridor Waste Management's materials recycling facility in Crayford, south-east London. Police said the lorry originated from the Crossgates depot in Redditch, Worcestershire, and the dead man came from the Birmingham area. Viridor said that it was informing customers of the situation and that it had been providing alternative arrangements for material so that service delivery continued "with minimal disruption." This has included sending material to other material recycling facilities in the region operated by Viridor, such as its facility in Ipswich. This morning, the company has been given permission to re-start operations on site in Crayford. A man has now been arrested for the murder.
BIOGEN (UK) Ltd received confirmation today that its planning application to build a farm-based Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant off the A6 at Westwood nr Rushden, Northamptonshire has been successful. The AD plant, when fully operational, will take 41,000 tonnes of food waste per year, which would otherwise have gone to landfill. This will then be 'naturally' broken down using bacteria within sealed vessels to produce methane which will in turn generate enough renewable energy to power over 2,000 homes per year. The resulting by-product will be 34,400 tonnes a year of a bio-fertiliser that can be used on the arable crop on the adjacent farm fields reducing the need for inorganic fossil fuel fertilisers.
* BERR bears batteries in mind BERR this week published a second consultation document relating to implementation of the EU Batteries Directive, this time covering just its Internal Market provisions. The consultation includes draft Regulations to transpose the Internal Market provisions of the Directive into UK law that set out the requirements for placing new batteries and accumulators (rechargeable batteries), and appliances containing batteries, on the EU market, including the UK. These will be effective from 26 September 2008. The draft Regulations cover restrictions on the use of specific hazardous substances in the manufacture of new batteries and accumulators as well as labelling and marking requirements. Spent batteries will also need to be readily removable from appliances, unless safety or certain other considerations apply.
* Reassurance offered over WEEE evidence Local authorities who are concerned that they could lose out financially if evidence for waste electrical equipment is unsold have been offered some reassurance by the Department for Business (BERR). But, there remains a level of uncertainty in local authorities over whether they or their contractors could lose out by hundreds of thousands of pounds if the WEEE evidence system fails to deliver. Concerns have arisen in the wake of the revelation last week that data covering WEEE recycling was showing a mismatch between the amount of WEEE accounted for as being sent for recycling and the amount actually recycled. The two figures should be in balance but if there is more accounted for as actually recycled, there would then be a surplus of evidence for sale which could see prices fall or some evidence notes remain unsold. The obligation on producer compliances schemes who have to buy the evidence is based on a share-out of the tonnages accounted as for being sent for recycling, principally from civic amenity sites. While BERR is hoping that the two sets of data will be more in alignment when a review concludes on Friday, in the interim it has issued a statement to producer compliance schemes - who buy evidence that WEEE from household sources has been recycled.
* National Trust publish cook book for compost A brand new book is set to notch up a National Trust first by becoming the first 100 per cent biodegradable book published by the organisation. Sold in National Trust shops and online, 'How to ‘Cook’ Compost' is completely compostable and the ultimate book to help you with green living. Printed on 100 per cent recycled paper, with a cover made from 100 per cent recycled fibres and using only vegetable-based inks, 'How to ‘Cook’ Compost' is wholly biodegradable; meaning that once you become an expert in composting, you can always make another use of this book and add it to your garden’s growth. The book contains top tips on how to make the best compost for your garden’s needs, including a handy, easy-to-follow guide to making and using compost, how to make the right type of compost from the waste materials you have, and how to make the best use of compost in your garden.
Other headlines… … Environment Agency appoints acting Chief Executive
* Mayor saves paper to plant trees The Londoner was distributed to three million homes across Greater London, costing Londoners around £2.9 million a year. By using some of the money saved from The Londoner – around £1 million per year – London’s most deprived areas will see an extra 10,000 new trees by 2012. Commenting on the announcement, Boris Johnson said: “I believe that as many areas as possible should enjoy the many advantages that street trees bring.”
Thames Gateway Parklands Design Champion Terry Farrell is advising the Government on how best to ensure green and outdoor spaces are part of all communities in the Gateway. "This immense and exciting regeneration project is already well underway and gathering momentum through the conscientious work of many local organisations - both public and private.”
* Charity finance group plans green standards An environmental and social reporting standard for charities is being drawn up by the Charity Finance Directors' Group. "We would encourage charities to look at green issues, and we think this is something finance directors can take a lead on," said Ernese Skinner, policy and campaigns manager at the CFDG. "We became interested in this after the Charity Commission held a seminar on whether charities should include green issues among their charitable objectives. "Only four out of the top 50 charities reported on the environment in their annual reports, and we want to encourage more to do so." Skinner said it would be optional and would encourage best practice. "It's at the project planning stage at the moment," she said. "We're aiming to have it ready in six to nine months. We want people to have time to incorporate it in annual reports." The standard was mentioned briefly at last week's CFDG annual conference.
* New Community Empowerment Bill to harness petition power Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today outlined plans to give every citizen in England three new rights to have a greater say to trigger action on local issues they care about. Early details of a new Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration Bill expected later this year were set out. They would harness 'petition power' and enable local people to trigger action and influence decisions on local services and issues they care about in three new key ways: a new right to ask for a stronger say on spending decisions that affect them or their communities; a new right to ensure councils consider the sale or transfer of under-used properties, lands or parks to local community groups, co-ops and social enterprises; and a new right to force a debate on specific local issues onto the council agenda.
* CRN UK and London CRN annual conference, People & resources: Third sector, first choice; Wednesday 4th-Thursday 5th June; Jury’s Hotel, Great Russell Street A full programme of presentations, workshops will celebrate innovation and success in the sector and will focus on building stronger third sector support for those who deliver recycling, reuse and waste awareness services. There will also be a gala evening of entertainment and awards and there is an opportunity to take part in organised project visits in and around London on Thursday 5th June. Places are filling up fast, so book now for a conference that is guaranteed to be a first rate example of what we should be proud of in our sector. Call the CRN UK events team on 0117 942 0142 to book your place now.
* Project Management Training – Tuesday 20th May, Islington Ecology Centre This training, provided by BTCV, aims to provide those new to project management with tools and techniques, encourage a systematic approach to project planning and delivery and recognise the importance of effective teamwork. Aims to help you plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate your projects systematically, in order to measure your success, and to maximise learning.
* Anaerobic Digestion and Alternative Waste Technologies – Thursday 22nd May; Barbican Centre The government has set tough targets to cut landfill and it is essential we find new ways to deal with waste. But what are those targets? And how will they be achieved? Local authorities have to slash the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill to 75% of 1995 levels by 2010. By 2020, this has to be down to 35%. Great efforts have been made to increase recycling but there are practical limits to this and it is not going to be enough. Other processes, such as technology-based treatment facilities, are becoming an important part of councils’ integrated waste management strategies.
* Diversification and site solutions – Tuesday 29th May, SATRA Technology Centre, Kettering The UK composting industry is growing at 25% per year as more local authorities and commercial waste producers seek sustainable outlets for their organic material. Alongside this development, the industry is seeing an increase in entrepreneurs who do not see themselves as waste disposers but as resource managers and product manufacturers. This shift is not only transforming the industry into one of professionals but also a profitable one. So how did this shift occur and how can you fast-track your way to ensuring your business is both sustainable and profitable? To help answer these questions, the Composting Association has gathered some of the leading industry entrepreneurs and stakeholders at a special event being held on 29 May at SATRA Technology Centre, Kettering, Northamptonshire. For more information on attending this event, please contact Leah at the Composting Association on 0870 160 3270 or at leah@compost.org.uk.
* Mapping For Sustainable Communities – Tuesday 17th June, University College London The seminar will consider recent work and ways forward. It will bring together academics, practitioners and community groups to discuss the use of mapping as a means of engagement and tool for collaborative action, and to consider the benefits and limitations. There will be a chance to learn from projects that use internet-based and paper mapping along with other tools to work with communities on collecting and collating local information.
* London Leading: London Leaders celebrates London Sustainability Weeks – Thursday 19th June, 5-7pm; City Hall, London’s Living Room You are invited to join the London Sustainable Development Commission to celebrate the first six months of the London Leaders programme and hear from our London Leaders as they showcase their current work. Enjoy live music and the opportunity to network with stakeholders from across London. Featuring a keynote speech from Sophi Tranchell, Managing Director of Divine Chocolate, be inspired by the diversity of sustainability leadership across the capital. To RSVP contact ben.crofts@london.gov.uk by Friday 6th June. The London Sustainable Development Commission is currently looking for new London Leaders for the next round – join us to find out more about how you can get involved and what London Leaders can mean for you, your business and your community.
* Real Nappies for London administrative co-ordinator (maternity cover), LCRN - £24,000 This is an exciting post within the London CRN team to cover 9 -12 months maternity leave. The main duties are: processing voucher applications and liaising with boroughs on applications; responding to and recording public enquiries; maintaining website and providing support and backup to boroughs; ensuring maintenance of RNfL voucher scheme database; involving nappy businesses in scheme; and maintaining comprehensive databases. Deadline: Monday 26th May.
* Young Farmers Youth Officer, Vauxhall City Farm - £26,325 (pro rata) Thanks to funding from Children in Need, we are looking for a Youth Worker to join our team in this busy and varied environment. This is a fixed term contract for 3 years. The main focus of the job is to plan and run the Young Farmers project at Vauxhall City Farm. You will work closely with the Farmyard Co-ordinator and apprentice as well as supervising the G.O.A.T.S. (Giving Opportunities and Training Support) Youth Worker. The work will include planning of activities, and hands on supervision of the young people. You will need to work with other staff to maintain the numbers of young people at the farm at weekends, by providing fun and educational activities, good behaviour standards and a safe and secure environment. This position also has line management responsibility, health and safety responsibilities, as well as targets to fundraise and manage the project budget. Deadline: Wednesday 28th May, with interviews taking place on Saturday 31st May. For more information or to apply, email vcf@btconnect.com or call on 020 7582 5104.
* Delivery Worker (part time), Growing Communities - £7.26 per hour Do you want to work for a small, dynamic local organisation making a real difference to the environment, our community and the food we eat? Growing Communities is recruiting a Delivery Worker to drive our milk float which drops off fruit and veg to our community pick up points around Hackney, to ensure our electric milk float delivers fruit and veg bags safely to and from our community picks ups and to carry out various routine, DIY and maintenance tasks on the milk float and for Growing Communities’ in general. The hours of the post are 2.15pm – 6.30pm every Wednesday and 9am – 12.30pm every Thursday(7 ¾ hours in total). There is potential for the hours of the post to expand over time. For this post we are particularly looking for a confident driver (the vehicle in question is ‘Maisie’ our giant cow electric milk float!), who is happy to work independently and can turn their hand to a range of odd jobs and maintenance tasks. Deadline: Monday 2nd June. * General Manager, ReStore Community Projects- £34,000
* Loader (part time), Stevenage Furniture Recycling Scheme - £140 per week Stevenage Furniture Recycling Scheme (SFRS) works to support those on a low income or in difficult circumstances by collecting and redistributing good quality used furniture, household items and electrical goods. The Loader is responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient lifting, handling, loading, collection and delivery of donated furniture and household goods. You will be acting in accordance with policies, procedures and training including the safe and efficient lifting, handling, loading, delivery and collection of furniture and household items, site work such as preparing/repairing items for showroom, attending staff meetings as required and the Annual General Meeting if appropriate and driving a 3.5 tonne scheme vehicle as and when required. This job opportunity is offered on a part time basis of 20 hours per week at a rate of £7 per hour. Hours will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays - 10.00 to 3.30 to include a half hour break. Deadline: Friday 30th May.
* Co-ordinator (part time), Stevenage Furniture Recycling Scheme – up to £275 per week The Co-ordinator co-ordinates and supports the efficient day to day operation of the shop, the office and the schedules for the van. You will ensure that the project is run in line with the Policies and Procedures set out in the Policy and Operating Procedure Handbook, that there is a safe working environment and that the premises are kept up to the standards laid down within the Health and Safety Policy. You will be responsible for preparing, presenting and actioning monthly reports at the monthly Management Committee meetings, collating statistical information as required, publicity and promotion of the scheme and communicating with and updating the relevant agencies and partner organizations. This job description may be amended from time to time, in consultation with the post holder, to include any other duties as required by the Committee. The hours are Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3.30pm (to include a half hour break) 27.5 hours per week to be paid at £8-10 per hour depending on experience. Deadline: Friday 30th May. * Voluntary PR Administrator, Project Freesheet Project Freesheet are seeking an enthusiastic person to help with upcoming events and demos we are taking part in. We are looking for self-motivation, creativity and commitment. We need help with event organistion, media liason, and many other PR duties. Project Freesheet exists to promote positive environmental messages and solutions to current working practices.
* PECAN Seeks Volunteers If you are looking for an opportunity to help others by using your skills and experience then perhaps it's time to get in touch with Pecan. They are currently looking for volunteers to fulfil a number of roles to support their work. These include serving customers, admin, one off event support and mentoring and are based in Elephant & Castle, London.
* London Voluntary Sector Service single group case study research LVSC is looking to commission up to three VSC organisations to provide a formal case study. These organisations can work pan-London, across several boroughs or within one borough. Organisations should be either: 1. at risk of being de-commissioned or having funding cut by their local council, Primary Care Trust or by a statutory funding body, potentially because they are providing services for a single group; or, 2. have recently been decommissioned or had funding stopped by a statutory funder, whether directly due to the reason stated above or where the organisation suspect that is a reason. The case studies will feed into the cohesion guidance consultation process. LVSC will also use this information to continue to lobby and campaign policy-makers and commissioners regarding the shift from specialist to generic services. Successful applicants will receive £500 for their completed case study delivered within the terms of the commission. The deadline for expressions of interest is Tuesday 6th May. For more information, contact Sandra van der Feen on 020 7700 8175 or at sandra@lvsc.org.uk.
* EU launches WEEE consultation The European Union has launched a public consultation on a review of its Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, with a new mandatory collection target expected before the end of the year. The revision comes five years after the WEEE Directive was adopted into European law, but just months after the legislation, which aims to promote producer responsibility for the recycling and reuse of WEEE, was finally implemented in the UK. Interested parties are asked to offer their opinions on a review which aims "to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Directive in achieving its environmental goals, and to eliminate any unnecessary costs to business, consumers, NGOs and public authorities arising from implementation of the directive". Deadline: Thursday 5th June.
* Waste protocols project A new Quality Protocol for the production and use of quality outputs from anaerobic digestion of source-segregated biodegradable waste was launched this week for public consultation by the Environment Agency and WRAP. The Agency said the Quality Protocol for the production and use of quality outputs from Anaerobic Digestion, could make it easier to turn biodegradable waste into valuable products such as fertilisers and soil conditioners. It could also ease the regulatory burden by defining when the digestate ceases to be waste and therefore no longer needs to be subject to regulatory control. Deadline: Friday 27th June 2008.
AND FINALLY… * Keeping abreast of alternative energy Ladies, take your battle for the environment a little closer to your heart with a solar-powered bra that can generate enough electric energy to charge a mobile phone or an iPod. Lingerie maker Triumph International Japan Ltd unveiled its environmentally friendly, and green coloured, "Solar Power Bra" on Wednesday in Tokyo which features a solar panel worn around the stomach. The panel requires light to generate electricity and the concept bra will not be in stores anytime soon, said Triumph spokeswoman Yoshiko Masuda, as "people usually can not go outside without wearing clothes over it." But it does send the message of how lingerie could possibly save the planet, Masuda said, adding that the bra should not be washed or sunned on a rainy day to avoid damaging it. Being eco-friendly is now fashionable in Japan, and the "Solar Energy Bra" follows the company's other green-themed undergarments that include a bra that turns into a reusable shopping bag and one that featured metal chopsticks to promote the use of reusable chopsticks. "It is very comfortable and I can really feel involved in eco-friendly efforts as well," model Yuko Ishida said.
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