MoreThanWaste.com - News bites (08/02/2007)

Westminster chutes for the recycling stars

Westminster Council has trialled a chute for the use of residents of high rise flats to help them recycle.

The Borough Council has converted an originally refuse collection chute on the Hallfield estate in Paddington, so that it can accept recyclables.

The new chute has seen recycling rates triple locally on the estate since the new system was installed. This is a major step-forward for Westminster where around 85% of residents live in flats.

The Council is considering expanding the system across the Borough.

Commission plans legislative framework for cutting CO2 emissions from cars

The European Commission has proposed a comprehensive new strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars and vans sold in the European Union.

The main measures it is proposing in the revised strategy are as follows:

A legislative framework to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars and vans will be proposed by the Commission by the end of this year or at the latest by mid 2008. This will provide the car industry with sufficient lead time and regulatory certainty.
Average emissions from new cars sold in the EU-27 would be required to reach the 120g CO2/km target by 2012. Improvements in vehicle technology would have to reduce average emissions to no more than 130g/km, while complementary measures would contribute a further emissions cut of up to 10g/km, thus reducing overall emissions to 120g/km. These complementary measures include efficiency improvements for car components with the highest impact on fuel consumption, such as tyres and air conditioning systems, and a gradual reduction in the carbon content of road fuels, notably through greater use of biofuels. Efficiency requirements will be introduced for these car components.
For vans, the fleet average emission targets would be 175g by 2012 and 160g by 2015, compared with 201g in 2002.
Support for research efforts aimed at further reducing emissions from new cars to an average of 95g CO2/km by 2020.
Measures to promote the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles, notably through improved labelling and by encouraging Member States that levy car taxes to base them on cars' CO2 emissions.
An EU code of good practice on car marketing and advertising to promote more sustainable consumption patterns. The Commission is inviting car manufacturers to sign up to this by mid-2007.

[For further information see the Europa website]

UKAEA admit illegal Dounreay radioactive waste practices

"This outcome serves as a valuable lesson to UKAEA and others that poor waste management practices will not be tolerated. Our message to everyone that we regulate is that we will help you to do the right thing. However, if you don’t take your responsibilities seriously, we will take strong action"

Campbell Gemmell, SEPA’s Chief Executive

Nuclear clean-up company the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has been convicted for allowing radioactive fuel fragments from Dounreay to enter the environment and for illegally dumping radioactive waste at a landfill on the site.

At Wick Sheriff Court on 6 February, the company admitted four charges under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Sentence was deferred until Thursday 15 February 2007.

The charges relate to historic incidents taking place between 1963 and 1984.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), who reported these incidents to the Procurator Fiscal, carried out a lengthy investigation, examining UKAEA’s business records and interviewed both current and former employees in a bid to identify the origin of recovered fuel particles.

[For further information see the SEPA website]

World’s first combined wind and gas offshore energy project given go-ahead

A unique dual energy scheme that will provide enough clean energy for around 70,000 homes has been given the go-ahead by energy minister Lord Truscott.

The Ormonde project, from Eclipse Energy, will be sited off the Cumbrian coast, 10km from Walney Island, near Barrow in Furness.

This innovative hybrid development has the potential to generate up to 200mw of electricity, with almost half coming from the wind farm.

When there isn’t enough wind, power will still come via conventional gas sources.


	News bites (08/02/2007) Westminster chutes for the recycling stars Westminster Council has trialled a chute for the use of residents of high rise flats to help them recycle. The Borough Council has converted an originally refuse collection chute on the Hallfield estate in Paddington, so that it can accept recyclables. The new chute has seen recycling rates triple locally on the estate since the new system was installed. This is a major step-forward for Westminster where around 85% of residents live in flats. The Council is considering expanding the system across the Borough. Commission plans legislative framework for cutting CO2 emissions from cars The European Commission has proposed a comprehensive new strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new cars and vans sold in the European Union. The main measures it is proposing in the revised strategy are as follows: A legislative framework to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars and vans will be proposed by the Commission by the end of this year or at the latest by mid 2008. This will provide the car industry with sufficient lead time and regulatory certainty. Average emissions from new cars sold in the EU-27 would be required to reach the 120g CO2/km target by 2012. Improvements in vehicle technology would have to reduce average emissions to no more than 130g/km, while complementary measures would contribute a further emissions cut of up to 10g/km, thus reducing overall emissions to 120g/km. These complementary measures include efficiency improvements for car components with the highest impact on fuel consumption, such as tyres and air conditioning systems, and a gradual reduction in the carbon content of road fuels, notably through greater use of biofuels. Efficiency requirements will be introduced for these car components. For vans, the fleet average emission targets would be 175g by 2012 and 160g by 2015, compared with 201g in 2002. Support for research efforts aimed at further reducing emissions from new cars to an average of 95g CO2/km by 2020. Measures to promote the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles, notably through improved labelling and by encouraging Member States that levy car taxes to base them on cars' CO2 emissions. An EU code of good practice on car marketing and advertising to promote more sustainable consumption patterns. The Commission is inviting car manufacturers to sign up to this by mid-2007. [For further information see the Europa website] UKAEA admit illegal Dounreay radioactive waste practices "This outcome serves as a valuable lesson to UKAEA and others that poor waste management practices will not be tolerated. Our message to everyone that we regulate is that we will help you to do the right thing. However, if you don’t take your responsibilities seriously, we will take strong action" Campbell Gemmell, SEPA’s Chief Executive Nuclear clean-up company the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has been convicted for allowing radioactive fuel fragments from Dounreay to enter the environment and for illegally dumping radioactive waste at a landfill on the site. At Wick Sheriff Court on 6 February, the company admitted four charges under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Sentence was deferred until Thursday 15 February 2007. The charges relate to historic incidents taking place between 1963 and 1984. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), who reported these incidents to the Procurator Fiscal, carried out a lengthy investigation, examining UKAEA’s business records and interviewed both current and former employees in a bid to identify the origin of recovered fuel particles. [For further information see the SEPA website] World’s first combined wind and gas offshore energy project given go-ahead A unique dual energy scheme that will provide enough clean energy for around 70,000 homes has been given the go-ahead by energy minister Lord Truscott. The Ormonde project, from Eclipse Energy, will be sited off the Cumbrian coast, 10km from Walney Island, near Barrow in Furness. This innovative hybrid development has the potential to generate up to 200mw of electricity, with almost half coming from the wind farm. When there isn’t enough wind, power will still come via conventional gas sources.