With news on: Belfast recycling app; Isle of Wight HWRC permits; BPF plastics strategy, and; Grundon software investment.
Belfast rolls-out recycling app
Residents across Belfast can now check what household items can be recycled and which days waste will be collected using a smartphone app launched last week (7 April).
Councillor Matt Garrett, chairman of Belfast city council’s People and Communities Committee, launches the Bin-ovation app
The app, which has been developed by software firm Bin-Ovation, can be used for information on any special arrangements, such as changes to bin collection schedules and recycling centre opening hours. Bin-ovation has also developed apps on behalf of Ards & north Down, Mid Ulster and Derry City councils in Northern Ireland.
Councillor Matt Garrett, Chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, which is responsible for waste management services in the city, explained how the new ‘Bin-ovation’ system works: “This innovative app is a handy way of helping people to find out what they can recycle, and when their bins are due to be collected.
“It gives advice on how to treat hundreds of household waste items and gives instant access to waste and recycling information. It shows which bin an item should go into, or whether it should go to a recycling centre. It also provides information on how to reduce, re-use and recycle waste items, has a handy bin collection day reminder service and provides a range of information on all aspects of waste and associated issues.”
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Isle of Wight to introduce HWRC permit scheme
Isle of Wight council is introducing a permit scheme to prevent the deposit of business waste at its household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) from June 2017.
The permit will allow users who use a van, commercial vehicle or sign written vehicle to dispose of their personal household waste in the HWRC domestic skips to do so 12 times per permit card.
The permit card is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. If you use your 12 visits in under a year, you can apply for a new one. It will not apply to normal users who will not need a permit and can continue to use HWRCs as normal.
In a statement, the council said: “We recognise that many of you use your work vehicle to dispose of your personal household waste and recycling, so to make sure we do not turn you away when you bring household recycling and waste in a commercial vehicle you will need to get a free vehicle permit for your household trips to either Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh household waste and recycling centres.”
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BPF publishes plastics recycling strategy
The British Plastics Federation Recycling Group (BPFRG) – a body made up of plastics manufacturers and recyclers – has launched a strategy paper aimed at improving plastics recycling within the UK.
Among the recommendations within the strategy, BPF has recommended creation of an investment fund to help develop new technology, utilising funding from extended producer responsibility, landfill tax or a minimum price for packaging recovery notes.
The strategy also calls for standards for all grades of plastic feedstock for the UK or export market to create high quality material for recyclers, intended to create demand for the recycled products produced using public procurement and procurement from large corporate companies
Commenting on the strategy, chairman of the BPFRG Roger Baynham, said: “The strategy’s aim is to increase recycling activity in the UK and has been produced in consultation with senior figures in industry.
“By focusing on keeping a valuable waste stream in the UK, refining the feedstock available to recyclers and encouraging the move towards a commercial environment that produces plastic products that are easier to recycle in the first place, the UK plastics recycling sector will get the tools it needs to help exceed its recycling targets and move towards a more sustainable future.”
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Grundon invests in software at Colnbrook
Waste management firm Grundon installing PurGo software at its depot in Colnbrook aimed at streamlining the administration and management of its processes.
Grundon has invested in software to improve operations at its Colnbrook site
According to developers VWS Software Solutions PurGo streamlines processes from sales through to operations, including admin, billing and reporting.
John Stephens, Group Logistics Manager, Grundon said: “PurGo is enabling us to convert most of our operations to a paperless system as well as provide our customers with full monitoring and complete traceability. It also complements our ongoing investment in vehicle onboard safety features such as our telematics and camera systems, side scan and under run bars.
“For example, drivers at our Colnbrook depot are now able to complete comprehensive vehicle checks at the start of their round and undertake risk assessments when on customer sites, recording the information on the handheld devices.”
PurGo uses in-cab PDAs for scheduling, optimisation, routing, exception reporting, live vehicle location and activity reporting. Customers pay a monthly subscription for the use of the software, which includes the support service.
The post News in Brief (10/04/2017) appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
