By admin on Jun 14, 2008 | In Featured, Environment, News, Business | No Comments »
The UK is lagging behind other European countries which are creating thousands of new jobs by supporting “green” businesses, the TUC has complained.
The union organisation said the Government should work more closely with employers and unions to help promote training programmes for workers, make workplaces greener and invest in renewable technology.
Germany has created a renewable energy sector employing almost 500,000 workers with a turnover of 19 billion euro, while the UK employs just 7,000 employees, generating 280 million euro, said the TUC.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Our European competitors are showing that there is a lot of money and jobs in the green economy but the UK Government is barely off the starting blocks compared to countries like Germany and Denmark. Read the rest »
By admin on Jun 13, 2008 | In News, Business | No Comments »
A 21 year old man has been crushed to death in an industrial accident at a SITA recycling centre in Tipton. The young worker, who has not been named, is believed to have been crushed in a large piece of machinery within the recycling plant whilst trying to remove a piece of cardboard that was blocking the machine.
Paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service were unable to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The accident happened at around 11am yesterday and a post-mortem was being held today.
Ray Prichard of the Health and Safety Executive said the death was being investiagted.
He said: “The Health and Safety Executive has been notified. Inspectors were on site straight after the incident to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and to work alongside police and coroner.”
By admin on Jun 1, 2008 | In Featured, Environment, News, Energy | No Comments »
US scientists have reportedly made a breakthough towards making a machine that is capable of sucking carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The team of US scientists, led by Klaus Lackner, say they plan to have a working prototype of the machine made within the next two years.
The carbon sucking devise will be capable of capturing a tonne of CO2 from the air per day, and will be small enough to fit inside a shipping container. The initial cost of the device would be around £100,000, but this would be more than offset by the amount of carbon each unit would trap, the scientists assert.
The new invention could make the team of US scientists eligible for the Virgin Earth Challenge, where Richard Branson pledged $25 million to the inventor of a way to remove a billion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.
The team is also working on ways to dispose of the pure CO2 gas produced by each scrubber.
Lackner told the Guardian newspaper: “I wouldn’t write across the front page that the problem is solved, but this will help. We are in a hurry to deal with climate change and will be very hard pressed to stop the train before we get to 450ppm [CO2 in the atmosphere]. This can help stop the train.” Read the rest »
By admin on May 28, 2008 | In Featured, Environment, News, Business | No Comments »
The Times have announced the results of there search to find the top 50 green companies in the UK. The search for the best environmentally friendly companies was launched on 25 November last year and was conducted alongside Bureau Veritas, which is one of the world’s main environmental management consultancies, and Munro Global, the leading market-research group.
The purpose of the Best Green Companies Awards is to acknowledge, pulicise and encourage businesses and other organisations, which are striving to improve their environmental performance.
Number one on the list is J C Atkinson and Son who manufacture coffins. The coffins are made from paulownia, a lightweight, fast-growing wood farmed on plantations in the Far East. The wood is ready to harvest in just seven years, compared to oak, elm and mahogany which can take up to 40 years. Paulownia have massive leaves which soak up large amounts of C02 and other greenhouse gases. Due to this the company has been accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council for sourcing wood from sustainable forests. Read the rest »
By admin on May 28, 2008 | In Household Waste, Recycling, Home & Garden | 2 Comments
With councils throughout the country offering different recycling services, many people have been left confused as to what types of food and drink packaging can and cannot be recycled. Many cartons for milk, drinks, soups and other liquids contain plastic and aluminium linings which make them more difficult to recycle. Most councils therefore do not collect these items with other kinds of paper and cardboard items.
Derby City Council has taken steps to boost cardboard recycling in the area by providing facilities throughout the region where people can take such items to be recycled. Carton banks have been located at Asda in Sinfin, Tesco in Mickleover and the Sainsbury’s at Kingsway Retail Park and The Wyvern. A bank has also been located at the Raynesway Recycling Centre.
Councillor Mike Carr said: “We have been recycling cardboard in Derby for some time, but I think the fact that lined cardboard cartons were not recyclable was frustrating and sometimes confused people.
“Now they can take these drinks cartons to the carton banks at five recycling sites and I would like to encourage people, when they visit these sites, to remember to take along their cardboard cartons from now on.”
By admin on May 27, 2008 | In Recycling, Featured, Environment, News | No Comments »
Boris Johnson, the recently appointed Mayor of London, has announced he will chair the London Waste and Recycling Board. The Mayor will work with London’s borough councils to boost recycling in the capital and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill sites.
The Mayor has reached an agreement with London Councils – the body representing the capital’s 33 local authorities – on the composition of the new London Waste and Recycling Board and the appointment of its Chair and seven members. The Board was announced by the Government last year with a proposed budget of £60 million to deliver funding to boost recycling and ensure London’s waste is managed sustainably, with minimal damage to the environment. The former Mayor refused an offer to Chair this Board. Read the rest »
By admin on May 27, 2008 | In News | No Comments »
A woman has been charged with the murder of a 17 year old boy after his body was found amongst waste at a recycling centre in Kent. Amanda Alden, 29, was arrested in the Redditch area on Friday 23rd May and was charged with murder when she appeared at Redditch Magistrates’ Court. A spokesman for West Mercia Police said that Ms Alden was remanded in custody and will appear before the court again on 29th May.
Scott Hancox, a 34 year old from Fownhope Close, Redditch, has also been charged with murder. The body in question was discovered at a Viridor Waste Management site on 13th May and was that of Nathan Lyons from Birmingham.
By admin on May 27, 2008 | In Recycling, Home & Garden | No Comments »
Do you have old spectacles lying about which you no longer use? Why not put them to good use by donating them to people who desperately need them. Not only does this prevent them ending up in landfill sites, it also enables people in developing countries to learn, work and achieve a quality of life that would otherwise be completely unobtainable due to poor vision.
Vision Aid Overseas is a charity dedicated to helping such people whose lives are blighted by poor eyesight, particularly where spectacles can help. The charity was established in 1985 and has since provided over 600,000 eye tests and distributed over 300,000 pairs of spectacles.
Old spectacles are collected on behalf of Vision Aid Overseas at Vision Express stores and other opticians throughout the UK. For further information visit the Vision Aid Overseas website.
By admin on May 24, 2008 | In Recycling, News | No Comments »
Thousands of plastic water bottles, used by participants in the spectacular Playtex MoonWalk on Saturday May 17, were recovered by national waste and recycling operator, Biffa.
This famous event, staged in London’s Hyde Park, saw 15,000 men and women in fantastically decorated bras walk 26.2 miles through the moonlit streets of London to raise money and awareness for vital breast cancer causes. The Playtex MoonWalk is organised by grant making, health charity, Walk the Walk. The charity is aiming to raise more than £6 million for breast cancer charities across the UK. That’s almost £1 million more than last year’s event. 2008 was the third year that Biffa has been involved with the Playtex MoonWalk. The company placed 150 containers along the route of the walk to enable the recovery of waste. Read the rest »
By admin on May 18, 2008 | In Home & Garden, Products | No Comments »
Ever wondered what to do with that old bicycle left to rust in your garage? Take a look at Resource Revival, a US company which collects discarded bicycle parts throughout the United States and transforms them into a number of items, including clocks, picture frames, tea lights and bottle openers. Read the rest »
