30th July, 2010
Recycle Week: Call for Questions!
The NHHWF has teamed up with WRAP to help you prepare for this year's National Recycle Week (21-27 June) which for the first time focuses on small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)!
We asked you for your questions, and together with WRAP have done our best to answer them. The full Q&A is now available for members to download by simply clicking on the link below.
Download the Recycle Week Q&A now!
Please note: The password for members only areas of the website has been provided in your membership pack. If you are in the process of renewing your membership but have not yet received your membership pack for 2010-11, please email us for temporary access.
HazCare News May Edition
Members can now read May's edition of HazCare News here.
Defra publishes position statement on Schedule 2
Defra, DCSF, DoH, BIS and NOMS have published a joint statement entitled "Publicly funded bodies and the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992". You can download the statement here.
Switch on to the switchover
MRW subscribers may have noticed that an article written by the NHHWF has been published in this week's (5th March) magazine. The article focuses on the recent boom in CRT recycling during the digital switchover (Viridor Laing Greater Manchester for example saw CRT collections increase from 4,500 to 6,000 tonnes per year, an increase of 34%, from 2nd November 2009 – the start of the digital switchover in the Granada region). Subscribers should turn to page 20 to read more!
The NHHWF has moved!
And our new address is:
NHHWF
c/o Resource Futures,
1st Floor, Royal House
28 Sovereign Street
Leeds
LS1 4BJ
Please note that our telephone number has changed, and is now 0113 200 3950.
Minosus Visit
The autumn site visits are now underway, following a most successful trip to Veolia Environmental Services’ underground waste storage facility, Minosus, in Cheshire which took NHHWF members 170 metres underground to explore the vast rock salt mine.
Thanks to the self supporting structure of the mine, business underground was able to diversify in 1997 to include a hazardous waste storage facility, in anticipation of the 2004 ban on co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The first batch of hazardous waste arrived on site in 2005.
The waste storage facility operates within a massive 2 million cubic metre void (this being less than 10% of the mine’s total capacity for storage); the dry, stable, gas-free location is ideal for permanent storage of hazardous waste and is deemed a better practicable environmental option than surface disposal at hazardous waste landfill. About 90% of the waste stored here is residues from other waste management facilities and thermal treatment processes that generate Air Pollution Control (APC) residues.
Despite spending one of the sunniest afternoons of the year underground, this fascinating visit was thoroughly enjoyed by all the forum members who attended (even if they did all end the day tasting vaguely of salt).
Members of the Haz Forum surrounded by hazardous waste and rock salt
HazCare News: Past Editions
HazCare News is an e-mail newsletter sent to all members of the NHHWF every month. Past editions can be accessed by members by following the links below:
April 2010
Happenings
Membership Renewals
Upcoming Event - WEEECAF Forum & Site Visit
WEEE News
Household WEEE collection rate up to 36.6% but still behind goal
45% increase in small WEEE recycling for Leicestershire
Recycle Week 2010: Resources Now Available
Batteries
Battery collections must increase four-fold
Volunteer-led Battery Recycling
Other HHW
Hazardous Waste Strategy Published
Schedule 2 Position Statement Published
Useful Website
Storage of Waste Oils: Important Amendment
Happenings
NHHWF Spring Seminar
Switch on to the switchover
NHHWF Consultation Response
Training Courses
Batteries
Retailer battery recycling collection may vary between retailers
Largest ‘closed loop’ battery recycling system from Valpak
Battery figures miscalculated by Government
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Small WEEE bring sites for Cherwell
WEEE schemes look set for a smoother 2010
Environmental permitting changes will make it easier to store WEEE
Free WEEE collections for Scarborough
Recycle Week 2010 to focus on waste electricals
Other HHW
Schedule 2 premises must not dump rubbish on taxpayers, say London Councils
Pesticides Consultation
Solvent-based Paint: Legislation Update
Happenings
Final week to sign up for NHHWF Spring Seminar!
Batteries
Accumulator receives EA approval
Battery collections are producer’s responsibility, says LGA
Leading bin supplier gets “Straight” down to business
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
New WEEE Guidance
Lamp recycling awareness film
First ever successful WEEE prosecution
"Frustration" over lack of national WEEE campaign
We want to triple collection points, say Recolight
Schedule 2 Waste
Schedule 2 revision likely to be achieved “quicker”
Happenings
NHHWF Spring Seminar: ‘Healthcare Waste: Sterile Matter or Infectious Issue?’
Batteries
New Year brings new battery legislation
DHL compliance scheme approval removed
Defra ditch pink battery colour
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Sims Recycling launches new WEEE recycling website
Revised WEEE Regs agreement not expected until end of the year
WEEE director to be sentenced
Hazardous Waste
“Pioneering” paint recycling scheme gets underway
Utility firms set to benefit from electronic meter recycling
2009 Editions:
With regard to the story 'Post-Batteries' in the June edition of HazCare News, Haz Forum member Michael Green, Managing Director of G&P Batteries has added:
"The EA have certainly done as you say, and have said they are relaxed about batteries being returned through the post, but unfortunately the rules concerning Hazardous Waste and its posting is only half the story. The Department for Transport are not happy about waste batteries being sent through the post – as some batteries are classed as dangerous goods, and as such come under the carriage of Dangerous goods regulations. The problem centres around Lithium batteries and sending them by air – around 40% of UK mail gets sent by air, and it is definitely not on to send lithium batteries in aeroplanes.
The situation is far from clear, and DEFRA, the EA and DfT are all working to resolve what can and can’t happen – but until this happens I would not want it to be generally thought that it is OK for anyone to send batteries by post – this is far from the case!"
May 2009