SOUTH WESSEX WASTE MINIMISATION GROUP: 14Th September 2016, Merley House, Wimborne
SOUTH WESSEX WASTE MINIMISATION GROUP: 14th September 2016, Merley House, Wimborne
MINUTES OF MEETING
1. Present
(see attached)
2. Closed Loop Recycling: Simply Cups (Peter Goodwin – Closed Loop Environmental Solutions)
Peter explained there is an issue with recycling paper cups due to multi materials that require separation.
Simply Cups came into existence to address the UK’s fastest growing waste stream: the estimated 2.5 billion paper drinking cups disposed of each year.
In August 2014 the Simply Cup scheme was launched.
The solution to the paper cups issue:
Simply Cups works directly with customers to help them efficiently segregate the materials and then by-passes the traditional ‘mixed recycling route’ by collecting, bulking and then sending the materials direct to the reprocessors. What the customer gets is a completely transparent service, together with a documented audit trail and the re-assurance that their cups are truly being recycled. Simply Cups provides opportunity for all organisations involved in the cup lifecycle to participate.
Manufacturers
Any company involved in the manufacture of cups or components of cups
Supply Chain
Any company involved in the journey of the cup from the manufacturer to the end user customer, or assisting in the recovery of used cups at the customer site
Customers
Any company that has used paper cups in their waste stream
Scheme members include Costa, Nestle etc.
Membership fees and benefits:
Large Customer (250+ employees) £1,000 Year 1 & £500 Year 2 +
Education £500 Year 1 & £250 Year 2 +
Sporting Venue £500 Year 1 & £250 Year 2 +
Small Customer £200 Year 1 & £100 Year 2 +
• access to cup collection service at £1.50 per bag
• baled or bulk collections are also available offering a further cost reduction
• provision of employee communication material (bin stickers and posters)
• membership certificate
• regular reports on individual collection statistics and carbon metrics
• web site listing
• annual report on scheme performance
• invite to Simply Cups Members events
2016 Objectives for the scheme:
• On-going collaboration with Members
• Increase volume of material recovered & regularly report on progress
- Exit 2017 at 30m cups pa run rate
• Increase Customer Membership
- Exit 2017 with 200 Customer Members
Large Customers 60
Education 30
Venues 10
Small Customers 100
• Continually seek to improve quality
• Create a demand for functional products manufactured from used cups
• Association with complimentary initiatives
Plastic cups are now also collected.
The scheme also want to deliver circularity and are working with partners to develop
products from the outputs - Office supplies, Café & barware, Promotional items,
Clothing & accessories and Outdoor equipment. Partners include ashortwalk, Hahn Plastics Ltd.
For further details:
Telephone 08081 688 787
Website www.simplycups.co.uk
Twitter @simplycups
3. Sustainability at Bournemouth University (Gareth Williams – Programme Manager)
Gareth explained why sustainability was important to Bournemouth University and outlined some of the schemes and plans they have in place.
The University has a 10 year strategic plan in place – BU 2018 Visions and Values. The project areas are: teaching and research, reduce environmental impact and costs, Higher Education Funding Council: Carbon reduction strategy and targets, reputation, staff and student expectations.
Gareth then asked for audience participation! He put forward the following question:
People and Planet ranks 150 universities in the UK on environmental performance. Where did BU rank in 2015?
7th, 11th, 48th or 82nd??
The answer is 7th.
Gareth then discussed the areas the university had been working on:
The key environmental areas for the University are:
• Sustainable Food
• Waste & Recycling
• Energy & Water
• Sustainable Travel
• Sustainable Estate Development
• Biodiversity
Many policies are in existence: travel plan, biodiversity, green ICT, Fairtrade, ethical investment, sustainable procurement, sustainable food.
Environmental responsibility is in all job descriptions.
The University has achieved the EcoCampus Environmental Management System:
• An Environmental Management System and award scheme for HE
• Framework for improving environmental management
• Ensures environmental programmes are planned comprehensive, systematic, documented
• ISO 14001 & Platinum awarded in December 2015 – one of only 15 universities with dual certification
Waste and Recycling:
Separate segregation of:
• Mixed recycling
• General waste
• Batteries/WEEE
• Hazardous waste
• Food waste being introduced in offices
Energy and Water:
Automatic meter reading (AMR) system in place and
Building Management System (BMS)
Carbon Management Plan:
• HE Carbon Management Programme 2009
• Carbon Management Plan published January 2010
• Calculated baseline emissions for 2005/6 based on: Gas, electricity, water consumption, waste, fleet transport and BU buses
• Challenging target to reduce emissions by 40% from 2005/6 levels by 2020/21
Aim to reduce single car occupancy:
Bus:
• Subsidised BU Key card annual pass £250
• Free bus travel on U1 and U4 between campuses
• 10% staff discount (Yellow Bus - glo card)
Rail:
• Interest free loan up to £2800 for public transport season tickets
• Rail Ticket Collection Machine – Poole House
Cycling:
• BU by bike loan scheme - £40 for the year
• Salary sacrifice scheme - 42% off: Opens Sept 2016
• Free Dr. Bike service each month
Lift share:
• BU private group to help find a lift share partner
• Priority parking for lift sharers (DH & SH)
• Free ride home in an emergency
Sustainable Estate Development:
£2m+ BREEAM Excellent & EPC A
• GSHP – Heating & Cooling
• Micro CHP
• High Performance PV
• LED Lighting
• Green Roofs
• BMS and AMR System
Gareth then briefly discussed future developments which include a Green Space Strategy for the University.
For further information:
www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/sustainability
4. Waste classification activity (Tessa Bowering – Environment Agency)
Tessa went through how to use the List of Wastes. Step by step guidance can be found in WM3 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-classification-technical-guidance
By using this guidance the correct EWC code can be assigned to waste streams ensuring they are handled appropriately.
There was then an activity when delegates were given descriptions of 8 waste streams and were tasked with assigning the correct EWC code. The presentation is available on www.swwmg.co.uk.
5. The Need for Environmental Impairment Liability Insurance – Explained (Roger Morgan – Land Based Underwriters)
Roger explained that he mainly works with farmers but that environmental impairment liability insurance is important to waste sites. In 2009 major changes in environmental legislation came into force for environmental impairment. These changes mean every business is now at risk of prosecution if they cause damage to the environment.
Damage can be result of an obvious sudden incident such as a burst fuel tank or from a gradual cause such as a leaking underground pipe.
A standard public liability policy covers liability for third party claims however, most environmental liabilities are ‘statutory’ or ‘regulatory’ liabilities which are policed by the EA and will therefore fall out of scope of cover.
The majority of environmental liabilities that do fall under scope of the cover are subsequently thrown out by exclusions.
Environmental liability covers air, land, water, protected species, wildlife.
Roger provided various examples – these can be found in his presentation on www.swwmg.co.uk
Land Based Underwriters (LBU) has been formed to meet the business needs following the major changes to legislation for environmental impairment.
The LBU stand-alone environmental liability policy is specifically designed to cover the widest possible range of environmental liabilities such as:
ü Liability arising from gradual pollution as well as sudden and unforeseen pollution
ü Environmental liabilities during transit
ü Investigation, complementary and compulsory remediation costs
ü Liabilities of the insured for own property clean-up costs a swell as off-site clean-up costs
There are many hidden costs of environmental pollution.
For example: A company was fined £15,000 for polluting a river. However they also had to pay the bill for:
Tankering away the chemical £32,600
Plugging the leak £8,300
An initial fish survey £6,000
Installing new equipment to detect a leak £60,000
EA attendance charges: £2,271
Further fish survey reserve £20,000
Restocking the stretch of river £63,500
Prosecution costs: £3,493
Fine £15,000
TOTAL COST £211,164
For further details please go to www.lbunderwriters.co.uk
6. ‘Loads of toil for lots of oil’ – waste crime case overview (Ian Percy – Environment Agency)
Ian Percy from the EA provided details of a recent case concerning a high risk illegal waste site – Keepers Paddock, Middlemarsh.
The site had been occupied by a father and son for 5 years and a 15 year old girl. It was a small rural location, 10 miles from Dorchester on main A352 road to Sherborne. The son delivered cooking oils for a reputable company and the father was involved in waste cooking oils (biodiesel production).
The father had been given advice and guidance over a number of years about waste.
Dorset Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue, West Dorset District Council planners and HMRC all had concerns over the site. This all started back in 2014.
Following intelligence gathering the following became involved with the site:
- 8 Environment Agency Officers, making search teams, interview teams and sampling teams
- 4 police officers
- 4 HMRC officers, for Customs and Revenue offences
- Dorset Social Services
- Police Custody officers
- Dorset County Highways
- West Dorset District Council EHO and Planning Officers
Stuart Allen pleaded guilty as he had kept controlled waste, namely waste vegetable oils, in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.
Allen was operating an illegal waste transfer station and was holding approximately 60,000 litres of mixed oils and food product. Some of the materials were contaminated with plastics, wood and human waste.
The investigation found that Allen had made no attempt to safely store the oils that were stockpiled on pallets and bare unmade ground, with spillages being left to soak into the earth. Waste oil was also being stored on a roadside verge outside Keepers Paddock, posing a threat to road users on the main road between Dorchester and Sherborne.
The Outcome:
Sentenced at Taunton Crown Court 15 July 2016 following guilty pleas to two offences
10 Year Criminal Behaviour Order
200 hours Community Service Order
4 months imprisonment, suspended 2 years
Costs £20,000 (or seizure of land).
However…..
- Local Authority clear-up of site significant costs
- Breached High Court Injunction 4 times
- Moved back onto property following ‘advice’ from solicitor
- Close to breaching restraining orders on other matters
- Possible breach of Criminal Behaviour Order
- High Court awaits for original non-compliances
The saga continues.
7. Food Waste Management: Organic Waste Logistics (OWL) – Richard Earl
Richard provided an overview to the OWL method of dealing with food waste – providing a new and better approach to food waste management in the UK.
The solution is that the food waste is stored in a steel vacuum tank, there is then the automated despatch to an AD plant.
The system works as follows:
OWL installs its own sealed steel vacuum tank on-site, in the same space as existing waste bins.
You dispose of your food waste into a safe vacuum chute – ‘just push the button’
The food waste is shredded and stored under a vacuum – no odour, vermin, or mess
OWL monitors the vessel remotely and dispatches a vacuum truck to empty the tank, when full.
OWL delivers the food waste to one of the UK’s 250+ food waste anaerobic digestion plants to be converted to gas or electricity and organic fertiliser – ‘no waste’
OWL remotely monitors the tank performance and maintains a 24/7 call centre and a national network of 22 service locations for maintenance and repairs.
Key business terms:
The customer:
Agree to provide your food waste for five (or more) years
– Provide space for vacuum tank (generally in a steel container, in space occupied by bins)
– Provide 440V/32Amp connection
(standard commercial configuration). No water connection required
– Encourage employees to minimise ‘contamination’ of the food waste (cutlery, cardboard and plastic)
– Pay one monthly fee for the service at a discount to your current service, PLUS you save significant internal costs
OWL:
Installs vacuum tank at our own cost
Operates and maintains vacuum tank (provides insurance for tank, and its
employees/contractors) Provides training to your employees
OWL will provide service at same cost (no escalation) for the entire contract.
Removes the food waste and sends to anaerobic digestion to be converted into energy and fertilizer (100% recycling).
For further details go to:
www.organicwastelogistics.com
8. Date and Venue of next meeting:
Wednesday 7th December 2016 at The Crown Hotel, Blandford