Click Here to go to the Recycling Archives

PVC lndustry Sustainability lnitiative Gathers Momentum

Vinyl 2010 recently launched its fifth and most detailed Progress Report to date. The report focuses on 16 major waste management schemes and other challenging projects throughout Europe. This reflects the deep commitment of the PVC industry and the progress made by Vinyl 2010.

Vinyl 2010, putting into action the Voluntary Commitment of the European PVC industry, is a 10-year plan to achieve sustainability throughout the PVC lifecycle.
It delivers against clear targets, especially on the use of lead-based stabilisers and on post-consumer recycling. Progress is reviewed by independent auditors and a Monitoring Committee including representatives of the European Commission and of the European Parliament.

Some highlights in the report are:
• Achievement one year ahead of schedule of the target to reduce consumption of lead stabilisers by 15%;
• Near completion of a new 50,000 tonnes-a-year feedstock recycling plant in Stigsnaes, Denmark;
• Completion of a feasibility study concluding that PVC waste from buildings can be employed to produce light concrete for use in certain building applications.

While progress was steady, Vinyl 2010 also saw a paradoxical challenge on PVC waste management. 'Recycling technology is now in place thanks to research, careful planning and heavy investment,' said Jean-Pierre De Greve, Secretary General of Vinyl 2010. 'However, the challenge is waste availability because of collection cost, increasing re-use of old products such as window-frames, and demand for waste from Asia', he added.

To encourage a steady supply of PVC waste for recycling, Vinyl 2010 launched two new pan-European collection projects in 2004:

• Roofcollect, a collection and recycling initiative for end-of-life roofing membranes;
• Recovinyl, a scheme to provide financial incentives to support the collection of end-of-life PVC products such as pipes, window profiles and shutters.

Web: http://www.vinyl2010.org

Recycling – Clearly the Way Forward

To assess the practical, technical, and economic viability of recovering post-consumer waste window materials, WRAP has funded trials carried out in conjunction with Building Research Establishment (BRE).

This case study looks at one of these trials involving project partners Bowater Windows, window waste specialist EB Enterprise Ltd and Viridor Glass Recycling using a central waste collection point at a window replacement project in South Wales.

How the collection point scheme works
Fitters working for Staybrite Windows, a Bowater Windows fabricator and installer, deliver their window waste (frames and glass) to a central collection point two miles from the Bowater installation depot in Neath. This site is a designated material processor. The windows are then manually deconstructed by EB Enterprise who segregate as many materials as possible.

Glass waste is taken away by Viridor Glass Recycling and metals are collected and reprocessed by Sims Recycling who supplied their own skip and haulage. Similarly, timber is collected and reprocessed by a local wood reprocessor.

Key facts
Fitters deliver their window waste to a designated central site after the job is completed, rather than taking it back to their installation depot. The materials are unloaded by the fitters, assisted by site staff who segregate the waste. Easy access to local collection sites reduces fitters’ journey times and transportation costs to encourage greater participation in recycling schemes.

Cost savings
Reduced waste disposal costs benefits Bowater Windows. ‘By recycling our waste, rather than sending it to landfill, we are making savings,’ comments Derek Paris, Bowater’s Technical Operations Manager. ‘We recycle all our window waste where possible, which provides quite a substantial saving on our disposal costs. Through the recycling system we have developed with Viridor and EB Enterprise, we also get a financial return on the window waste we send for recycling.’

Labour and time savings
Local collection points save both labour and time, according to David Evans, Managing Director of waste specialists EB Enterprise Ltd. ‘From our experience, specifically in glass and post-consumer waste, local centres save transportation costs and time, as well as providing incentives to installers to recycle window waste. We are working on a cost-effective process to facilitate the recycling of these materials in a profitable manner.’

Maximising waste value
Frames must be carefully deconstructed to effectively segregate the component materials and extract the maximum value from the window waste.
It is important to keep all window waste clean and segregated and to use correct techniques and tools to deconstruct windows.

Glass reprocessed to specification by Viridor is used in the manufacturing of fibreglass insulation by British Gypsum Isover (BGI). This demonstrates innovative use of post-consumer flat glass waste as well as the capability to clean it to the required specification. Viridor’s Technical Director, Dave Richardson says: ‘Focus and commitment from all parties is vital, as is clean waste glass if it is to have any value for recycling.’

Comment
Michelle Leong of BRE says: ‘This successful trial highlights investment needs to create a window recycling infrastructure and we are working towards funding for this. Collection points similar to the EB operation need to be placed strategically all over the UK focusing on local window waste producing companies.’

Contact Details
WRAP, The Old Academy, 21 Horse Fair, Banbury, Oxon OX16 OAH Helpline 0808 100 2040 http://www.wrap.org.uk

Dave Richardson, Viridor Glass Recycling, Lancots Lane, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 3EX Tel: 01744 454444 http://www.viridor-waste.co.uk

David Evans, EB Enterprise Ltd, Neath Abbey Wharf, Skewen, Neath, West Glamorgan, SA10 6BL, Tel: 01792 323324

Derek Paris, Bowater Windows, PO Box 5567, Water Orton Lane, Minworth, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 9BP. Tel: 0121 749 3000 http://www.bowaterwindows.com

Michelle Sjogren Leong, Centre For Resource Management, Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford, WD25 9XX, Tel: 01923 664516

A Clear Case for Recycling

The Government’s Decent Homes initiative which aims to bring all housing in England up to a ‘decent standard’ by 2010 is driving many refurbishment projects in the social housing sector. Window replacement is helping to ensure dwellings are upgraded to the statutory minimum standards, such as greater thermal efficiency.

Research commissioned by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) reveals up to 500,000 tonnes of flat glass waste arises from buildings in the UK every year – increasingly from the social housing sector.

Window waste from domestic replacements accounts for some 190,000 tonnes of material each year, including 90,000 tonnes of glass (60,000 skips every year). Very little of this waste is currently recycled, but the potential is considerable and growing.

To assess the practical, technical, and economic viability of recovering post-consumer waste window materials, WRAP has recently funded trials with the Building Research Establishment (BRE). This case study looks at on-site window waste processing in Reading with key project partners including Spectus Window Systems and Viridor Glass Recycling.

How the recycling scheme works
This PFI (Private Finance Initiative) three-year refurbishment project of 1,400 homes for Reading Borough Council is managed by Wates Construction with the replacement of mainly PVC-U windows by Dorwin Ltd, a Spectus fabricator and installer.

Windows are removed within two miles of a central deconstruction compound to where Dorwin’s fitters deliver window waste. A dedicated team monitors waste management activities and deconstructs windows for material segregation. Glass is placed in a skip provided by Viridor Glass Recycling.

Implementation issues
On-site deconstruction requires the correct tools and methods. This project includes a prototype PVC-U weld exploiting channelled energy machine – the ‘corner cracker’ developed with funding from Spectus Window Systems. This breaks the corner welds on PVC-U window frames by exerting pressure (via a foot pump) onto the weld, the weakest point of the profile. Breaking the frame to bar lengths maximises space in the skips and allows easy access to remove the metal reinforcements inside the hollow profiles for metal recycling.

Martin Althorpe, Technical Director of Spectus, explains: ‘The corner cracker is a portable tool that is safe to use and doesn’t require power. It effectively breaks down the frames without creating noise problems.’

This project is a recycling model for Spectus. ‘Local authorities are more aware of the potential cost-savings in reducing landfill and we are promoting this as an added benefit,’ adds Martin.

Cost savings
Martin Dickie, Business Development Manager of Dorwin Ltd says the scheme is relatively simple to set up, but commitment from all is essential to its success. ‘Recycling window waste makes sense, financially and politically in terms of the cost savings and good kudos, for the contractor, the client and the resident. Deconstructing frames requires fewer skips, which contributes to cost savings as well as giving a financial return on the value of the waste.’

Recycling saves an estimated 30% of waste disposal costs, helping to pay for a waste management operative to oversee the scheme.

Waste figures
• 144 tonnes of PVC-U – equal to 100 miles if profiles are laid end to end;
• 144 tonnes of glass – equal in sq m to the size of the new Wembley Stadium pitch and
• 4.8 tonnes of rubber gasket – equal to the weight of a medium-sized elephant.
Source: Dorwin Ltd

Maximising waste value
• use correct tools and techniques to carefully deconstruct frames;
• segregate component materials, ie: glass, PVC-U, metal, rubber;
• keep glass waste clean to maximise its recycling value;
• communicate recycling objectives to the workforce and
• monitor waste collections.

Viridor Glass Recycling’s Technical Director, Dave Richardson comments: ‘Reducing contaminants in glass waste is crucial to maximise its recycling value. This project highlights the benefits of committed teamwork.’

Comment
Michelle Leong of the BRE says: ‘Large social housing sector refurbishment projects will continue to generate significant volumes of window waste. The numbers of stakeholders in these projects create challenges of their own, but commitment to these types of waste recycling schemes can divert significant volumes of window waste from landfill.’

Contact Details
WRAP, The Old Academy, 21 Horse Fair, Banbury, Oxon OX16 OAH Helpline 0808 100 2040 http://www.wrap.org.uk

Dave Richardson, Viridor Glass Recycling, Lancots Lane, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 3EX Tel: 01744 454444 http://www.viridor-waste.co.uk

Martin Althorpe, Spectus Window Systems, Queens Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2BN, Tel: 01625 420400

Michelle Sjogren Leong, Centre For Resource Management, Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford, WD25 9XX, Tel: 01923 664516

OFT Joins Forces with OGC and Defra on Review of Procurement in Waste Management

The OFT, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and Defra are looking at the effects of public procurement on competition and capacity in the municipal waste management sector.

The study will focus on improving strategic procurement in the municipal waste management sector, which includes the collection, recovery and disposal of household waste, civic amenities waste and street cleaning services. The OFT will consider how public sector procurers can make the most of competition when procuring waste management services.

The OFT, OGC and Defra aim to conclude the study by March 2006.

The waste management study follows OFT preliminary research into public sector procurement published in 2004 and is the second study undertaken in the wake of the OGC's 2003 report 'Increasing competition and improving long-term capacity planning in the government market place' (known as the Kelly report).

The first of the studies by the OGC looked at the construction industry. In collaboration with the OGC, the OFT will publish guidelines for public sector procurers on how to make the most of competition when procuring construction services. The guidelines will also feature a section on how to avoid being the victim of bid-rigging or price-fixing cartels. The guidelines, which the OGC's Smarter Construction Division will promote, should be ready for publication in autumn 2005.

In addition the OFT will be supporting the OGC and the DTI's Small Business Service in their work on assessing the impact on small businesses of the use of supplier accreditation lists by public sector procurers.

Major Emplas Commercial Contract Represents the UK’s Largest PVC-u Recycling Project

Emplas Window Systems Ltd, the UK trade and commercial fabricator, has been awarded a major supply and installation contract by Carmarthenshire County Council as part of a five year, multi million pound investment plan for the refurbishment of its council properties. Emplas, which also has access to a full UK-based PVC-u recycling facility, won the contract in part due to its ability to fulfil the Council’s stringent recycling objectives. The project involves the recycling of between 350 and 400 first generation PVC-u windows per week, making it the UK’s biggest PVC-u recycling scheme to date.

Carmarthenshire County Council is committed both to the provision of quality housing and to the environment. Its main objectives for its five-year plan are to ensure that all homes are brought up to Welsh Quality Housing Standards, focusing on the improvement of energy efficiency, reduction in maintenance costs and increased security. With this in mind, the Council specified Profile 22’s PVC-u system and sought out a number of Profile 22 fabricators and installers to submit proposals for tender. All prospective suppliers also had to be members of Constructionline, the UK’s largest register of local and national pre-qualified construction-related services.

Emplas Window Systems impressed the Council with the breadth and quality of its product range – the company will also be supplying replacement roofline and rainwater products for the project where required – in addition to its professional approach and the company’s willingness and ability to meet the tight deadlines of the project. Emplas beat five competitors to win the contract and will supply and install new PVC-u double glazed windows and doors for the first year phase of the project.

Carmarthenshire County Council is particularly committed to reducing waste and improving recycling performance throughout the county and has already achieved outstanding results with its domestic recycling initiatives. The Council was therefore also attracted to Emplas Windows ability to recycle plastic window frames. All the old frames and glass taken from the properties will therefore be recycled as part of the project, with the figures added to the Authority’s recycling quota.

The glass is taken out of the frames and is stored at the Council’s Civic Amenity Site at Wernddu until there is a sufficient load to be taken to local recycling company Paper Dragon. The PVC-u frames – including hardware and gaskets - are separated from the glass and stored at a site compound occupied by Emplas and based at Ammanford. These frames are stacked carefully into an articulated trailer unit and collected twice a week by lorry and taken to an extrusion processing plant in Rhymney, South Wales. The gaskets and ironmongery are then separated from the PVC-u, with the former by-products also recycled. The PVC-u is ground down and re-processed for use again.

The refurbishment project – which began in Llanelli late last year – has already got off to a flying start, with Emplas proving its worth to Carmarthenshire County Council within the first month. Emplas had just two weeks from invitation to tender to submit its initial proposal. A pre-contract meeting was arranged for the end of October 2004; by the close of November, Emplas had already completed site set-up and surveys for the first round of properties, with 332 windows delivered to site and installed within four weeks. Emplas is also proving to be an active partner for the Council in other areas, appointing a bi-lingual Liaison Officer for close consultations with tenants and employing local labour for its installation teams and within its recycling compound.

The first phase of the project for will see a total of 982 properties in Carmarthenshire having new windows installed and old windows recycled, with more than 5000 new windows due to be installed in total. The first phase is due to be completed by May 2005. David Poole, Contracts Co-ordinator for Building Services at Carmarthenshire County Council, is impressed with Emplas’ performance so far:
‘Emplas’ extensive experience in the public sector was a great advantage to us. The company was able to provide us with an immediate start and it moved exceptionally quickly, employing a sound project team and programme of works within weeks. All the information we required from the company was provided immediately. We are really pleased with the progress Emplas has made and with the standard of the windows to date, and we are satisfied that our deadlines will be met and we will finish on schedule.’

The recycling of end-of-life windows for this project is proving so successful that the Council is now seeking to operate a similar scheme with other double glazing firms located within the county.

Waste Action Forum Targets Best Practice and Education

Recycling education, economics and sustainability will be the focus of the next Waste Action Forum, being held on 16th and 17th March in Barnsley. Waste management professionals from local authorities will hear presentations from government and industry on the latest developments in waste and recycling.

Over 50 local authorities will be attending the event, which is run by Rexam Glass and supported by Glass Recycling UK (GRUK). The Forums help local authorities to devise best practice for effective waste management and recycling through an interactive event that draws upon the knowledge of key speakers from industry, government and local authorities.

Presenters at the March Forum will include Rosie Edwards from the Cambridgeshire Environment Education Service (CEES), who will discuss the important role played by education in creating sustainable lifestyles and Chris Maltbaek from Jacobs Babtie, who will talk about the ‘pros and cons’ of PFI funding in the waste industry.

This will be the sixth Waste Action Forum in the series which is attracting a growing number of local authority delegates. Other presenters at the event will include after dinner speaker Ian Collins, managing director of Plastic Omnium Urban Systems Ltd; Gill Weeks, the regulatory affairs director for Cleanaway Ltd; Glenn Fleet, sustainability group manager at Warwickshire County Council and David Williams, commercial manager for Corus Steel Packaging Recycling.

'We are keen that our Forums are not too high-brow to ensure that they provide real value to local authority delegates,' said Nigel Pritchard, director of Rexam Glass. 'I believe we continue to achieve this – which is shown by the fact that many of our delegates have been to all six events.'

Too Many Schemes Diluting Waste Effort Waste Action Forum Told

'Too many different schemes could be diluting the overall waste and recycling effort in the UK.' This was the European perspective on waste and recycling in the UK given at the fifth Waste Action Forum held in Barnsley.

The Forum - which is a Rexam Glass initiative supported by Glass Recycling UK Ltd - brought together over sixty local government and private sector waste professionals from across the UK to help to devise best practice for effective waste management and recycling. Presentations were made by speakers from industry, government and local authorities.

During his presentation Julian Carroll, managing director of Brussels-based EUROPEN (European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment), said that the complexities of the numerous different UK schemes for taxation, funding and support services could be holding back progress on waste and recycling.

'A balance needs to be achieved between maintaining a broad perspective on waste streams and also eradicating schemes that are proving ineffective in dealing with these.'

Julian also highlighted the importance of influencing politicians, a point made during a presentation by Clare Coghill from the Parliamentary Sustainable Waste Group (PSWG). 'It is political will that makes things happen and knowledge and experience fed to politicians from grass roots level will help shape government strategies for waste.

'It is the politician's responsibility to listen - others need to communicate to them,' Clare concluded.

The Waste Action Forums are attracting a growing number of local authority delegates. Other presenters at the event included guest speaker Phil Conran, general manager of recycling development for Biffa Waste Services. Gregor Margetson, who represents all Samsung Electronics' European subsidiaries on environmental affairs, updated delegates on the WEEE directive and on the progress of the national clearing house for waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Graham Rice, project leader for sustainable polymers at BP Chemicals, presented his company's plans to increase the use of recycled plastics in the manufacture of new products. He discussed with local authority delegates how the recovery of waste plastic materials could best be achieved.

Nicola Taylor of Peterborough City Council provided a case study example of its approach to implementing a successful garden waste collection scheme and Nigel Pritchard of Rexam Glass gave an overview of the PRN (Packaging Recovery Note) system. Rick Hindley of Alcan ran a workshop on sharing best practice of collecting dry recyclables.

'Our Waste Action Forums are proving to be extremely popular and valuable events,' said Nigel Pritchard, director of Rexam Glass. 'Guest speakers for the events are brought together as a result of feedback from delegates from previous Forums so we can be sure that presentations will be beneficial to local authorities with their work.'

The Forum is led by a steering group with representatives from local authorities and industry. The steering group will use the findings of the Forum to produce a 'road map' to address specific problems and key issues.

New Research to Extract Flame Retardants from Waste Plastic

A UK-led consortium is developing a process to extract brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from waste plastics to leave an 'acceptable' level in the plastic for recycling.

Removing BFRs from waste plastics is a key step towards meeting the recycling targets imposed by the waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) directive.

'No process to extract BFRs from WEEE polymers has yet been proven to be commercially viable anywhere in the world,' said Axion Recycling, the consultants leading the consortium.

The Wrap-funded project will involve collaboration with commercial partners including Dead Sea Bromine Group, Sony Visual Products Europe, BT, and Brother Industries UK. Trade associations participating are European Brominated Flame Retardant Industry Panel, British Plastics Federation and Plastics Europe.

Axion director Keith Freegard said: 'There’s an urgent need for this project. The WEEE directive encourages closed-loop recycling of polymers by electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers in order to meet the tough recycling targets set by the directive.'

Axion’s Roger Morton said the first stage of consultation involves contacting product designers and compounders to set the criteria for the process. 'We would welcome calls from anyone involved in specifying the plastics content in products,' he said.

The final report for the project, including outline process designs and financial models, is due in early 2006.

Leicestershire County Council Launches Campaign to Increase Glass Recycling

Leicestershire County Council has launched a county-wide publicity campaign to increase the amount of glass being recycled. It is using Bankit's 'bring-a-bottle' campaign to create greater public awareness in recycling and encourage more people to get involved.

Bankit is a not-for-profit organisation, its public awareness campaigns are action focused and have been developed specifically to increase public participation in recycling. Leicestershire County Council is using press adverts, information leaflets, posters and bus advertising from the campaign in a high-profile drive to boost glass recycling levels.

Leicestershire County Council's Cabinet Lead Member for Waste Management said: 'The Bankit campaign has been extremely easy for us to implement. We were keen to get this project underway as quickly as possible. The Bankit team personalised the materials to our requirements and printed and delivered the complete campaign to us in just over two weeks.

'We were particularly keen on the 'bring a bottle' campaign because it draws attention to the importance of recycling clear glass jars as well as bottles - an important message that we need to communicate to the public.'

Over 30 buses which run throughout the county will be used to promote the recycling message. This will be supported by posters in prime locations and leaflets.

Bankit is a Rexam Glass initiative. Director, Nigel Pritchard said: 'The campaign materials from Bankit provide local authorities with a cost effective and time efficient way to encourage the public to recycle more of their household waste. The materials are highly adaptable and have been designed so that they can be individually tailored to meet specific local authority needs.'

There are a range of campaigns available from the Bankit website (http://www.bank-it.org), all of which can be personalised for individual councils and are available at a subsidised cost.

Wembley Recycling Project Proves Good News for CAB Members

The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is drawing its members’ attention to recent aluminium recycling rates, in particular those seen during the demolition of Wembley Stadium. This follows a report from the European Aluminium Association that has revealed that the collection rates from residential and non-residential buildings stands at 92%, a figure considerably higher than was previously thought to be the case.

The CAB is advising members that they must promote this positive news to specifiers when tendering for work, especially where the principle of long-term sustainability through recycling is key to the project.

The figure of 92% has been published by Delft University of Technology as part of the ‘Aluminium for Future Generations’ programme, which was established to look at the demolition of a significant number of buildings across six European countries and to measure and assess what happened to the aluminium removed from those buildings. Some of the most impressive recycling rates were obtained from the Wembley stadium site which exceeded the average by recycling 96% of the aluminium reclaimed from the building.

The main factors contributing to the high level of reclaimed and recycled material is due to the economic scrap value of aluminium along with a well-established recycling scheme. Since aluminium is recycled without any loss of quality and because of its high intrinsic value, there are strong incentives to recycle it after use.

Justin Ratcliffe, Director of the CAB, commented: ‘The principle of sustainable development, and the long-term protection of the environment, is of increasing importance to many specifiers both within the public and private sectors. Through this independent research, our members can now demonstrate that choosing aluminium will positively contribute to this principle.’

Tel: 01453 828851

Pilkington's Mirror Cullet Reflects a Profit

Pilkington's waste mirror glass has been turned into a regular money-spinner following an unexpected request from the Czech Republic.

The query about mirror cullet, from the Czech manufacturing site of a US-based company called Technistone, arrived about a year ago. Since then, despite low levels of waste and an average silvering line yield of 97 per cent, mirror cullet from Cowley Hill has earned Pilkington more than £72,000 and saved the company a further £30,000-plus in landfill taxes.

The cullet is used for heavy-duty floor tiles. Mixed with granite and polymers, it forms a type of reconstituted stone material with a sparkling appearance and is widely used in airports, hotels and other public areas.

'Mirror cullet cannot easily be reused in the furnace so this is an ideal solution,' said buyer Paul Wilson from Central Purchasing, who co-ordinated and administrates the project.

'The approach from Technistone gave us the opportunity to avoid cost, generate cash for Pilkington and contribute to the environment by recycling instead of landfilling the product.'

Web: http://www.pilkington.com

Waste Action Forum furthers Agenda for more Effective Waste Management and Recycling

Relationships between industry and commerce and the public sector must strengthen substantially before local authorities can achieve the high recycling targets set by the government. This was a key message from the third Industry and Public Sector Waste Action Forum (IPSWAF) held recently in Barnsley.

The Forum - which is jointly sponsored by glass container manufacturer Rexam Glass and leading glass recycling company Glass Recycling UK - brought together over fifty local government and private sector waste professionals from across the UK to devise best practice for effective waste management and recycling. Presentations were made during the event by key industry speakers.

In an overview of funding opportunities for councils, WRAP's Linda Crichton highlighted a £17 million pool of funding available to local authorities for regional public awareness campaigns. Responsible for setting up ROTATE (Recycling and Organics Technical Advisory Team), Linda stressed the need for greater co-operation between local authorities and the recycling industry in order to effectively meet the standards set by government.

Nigel Pritchard, director at Rexam, co-chaired the Forum along with Theresa Grant, project director for environment and operations at Manchester City Council. Nigel commented: 'The feedback we received from delegates was extremely positive. In particular, more information on the funding available from WRAP specifically for public awareness activity was warmly welcomed. We were able to help by highlighting that local authorities can obtain extremely cost-effective, pre-prepared promotional material for fully integrated campaigns from Bankit, through its website http://www.bank-it.org.'

Nigel Pritchard and Theresa Grant opened the Forum with an overview of the objectives and achievements of IPSWAF. Gregor Margetson, environmental manager for Samsung spoke about the National Clearing House (NCH) initiative to address WEEE and the benefits it would provide to industry. Ian Dent, chairman of the Packaging Federation discussed how the packaging industry is
ensuring packaging efficiency for both cost saving and the environment. Other speakers at the Forum included, Peter Crofts from the Marketing Network and Michael Wood from retailer Somerfield.

Among the key issues emerging from the discussions was the huge task facing local authorities to raise recycling levels from 12 per cent to 30 per cent in the coming six years. As Peter Crofts pointed out, in commercial terms, the challenge to change the public's behavioural attitudes is huge.

Nigel Pritchard added: 'The Forum is very much about mutual support - about local government and industry working together. It is clear that it is a lack of joined up thinking that is preventing government and industry from making the progress needed to ensure more effective recycling. The Forum aims to change this by presenting a united front and developing an action-based cohesive strategy which will produce real change.'

In addition to exchanging best practice, the Forum also operates as a support and lobbying network to help overcome the political, legislative, economic and social barriers that are hindering more effective recycling. The Forum is led by a steering group with representatives from local authorities, a waste authority, reprocessors, a glass collector and a leading brand manufacturer. The steering group will use the findings of the Forum to further address the problems and key issues particular to local authority recycling.

Tel: 0808 100 2040
Web: http://www.wrap.org.uk

A New Window on Waste

Practical guidance on recycling domestic window waste will be the result of a new research project by WRAP involving the replacement window industry.

The project, commissioned by the Waste & Resources Action Programme), will bring the widespread recycling of this window waste a step closer, says Michelle O'Riley, WRAP's Materials Project Officer for glass.

'Previous WRAP research has quantified the amount of post-consumer domestic window waste and the barriers to recycling this material,' she says. 'For example, it accounts for around 90,000 tonnes of flat glass per year, or around 60,000 full skips, most of which is sent to landfill.

'The new work, which will be led by the Building Research Establishment, will provide more information on the technical, practical and economic viability of setting up recycling schemes for both flat glass and framing materials.'
Four practical trials to collect and separate post-consumer window waste will be run. They will take place in parallel over 12 weeks and are due to start in April 2004.

The trials will include analysis of on-site separation and collection, a central 'bring' site to which waste can be delivered and haulage schemes collecting waste from sites for separation.

A number of commercial operators and industry organisations representing all areas of the supply chain will be involved in the project, including Anglian Windows, Bowater Windows, Bramall Construction, British Plastics Federation, and Viridor-Richardson.

'The work will deliver recommendations in a 'tool kit' approach that provides practical guidance and advice," explains Michelle O'Riley. "By the end of the year, we should know far more about the best ways to recycle flat glass in the domestic window industry.'

WRAP Publishes Groundbreaking Research into Flat Glass Waste

The first extensive industry study to quantify the amount of flat glass waste produced in the UK has been unveiled by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).

'For the first time, we have an accurate figure for the amount of flat glass arisings produced in the UK - up to 500,000 tonnes per year - and where this waste currently ends up,' says Michelle O'Riley, WRAP's Materials Project Officer for glass.

The authoritative report, written by the Steel Construction Institute (SCI), complements previous research on the subject, prepared by BRE and published by WRAP last June. It shows that although manufacturers and fabricators carry out some recycling, the majority of post consumer glass waste goes to landfill, and there is the potential to recycle much more flat glass.

'The UK domestic replacement window industry is one of the main sources of post consumer flat glass waste,' she points out. 'The industry is worth over £1.8 billion and consumes around 6.6 million windows each year.

'The windows removed by the industry account for some 190,000 tonnes of waste material each year, including 90,000 tonnes of glass, most of which is sent to landfill. This is expected to increase in the next 10 years to between 160,000 and 250,000 tonnes of glass. The potential for recycling more flat glass waste is therefore considerable.'

One of the main aims of WRAP's attendance at Glassex was to highlight the benefits of diverting this valuable resource away from landfill. As landfill costs continue to rise, a replacement window company that is able to recycle the flat glass waste it produces could significantly reduce its waste management costs.
End market applications for recycled glass include foam glass, aggregates and bricks, but the SCI report identifies barriers that are currently preventing industry from recycling flat glass waste.

'Currently there is no mature infrastructure for collection and the economics are uncertain - but as landfill costs rise this will change,' explains Michelle. 'The SCI report suggests practical ways which could help overcome the barriers and achieve greater separation, recovery and collection of glazing components - and higher recycling rates.'

Companies can call WRAP for more information on 0808 100 2040 or visit http://www.wrap.org.uk

Bankit Campaign Helps Boost Children's Awareness of Recycling

Bankit has launched a recycling awareness campaign to help increase children's understanding and awareness of the importance of recycling household rubbish. The campaign materials are available to local authorities at a subsidised price and can be personalised for individual schools in their area.

The schools campaign consists of two sets of posters - one aimed at key stages one to three and one for key stages four and above. They can be used in schools as part of exhibits and displays as well as on information and notice boards.

Bankit is a Rexam Glass initiative. Director Nigel Pritchard said: 'The publicity materials available from Bankit are aimed at improving public awareness of the importance of recycling rubbish. By doing this we will increase the amount of waste that we recycle in the UK.

'Children have a very important role to play in encouraging households to recycle more rubbish. They will take the recycling message home and are very good at influencing their parents. They are also the country's future parents and it is important that they understand the issues involved in improving and maintaining our environment.'

The schools campaign is accessible through the Bankit website (http://www.bank-it.org). Posters can be individually tailored with messages which show the locations of waste recycling centres in their area. The highly creative campaigns are designed to be cost effective to implement and quick and easy for waste management professionals to set up and use.

As well as campaign materials, Bankit provides a central source for up-to-date news and information on recycling economics and technology and on environmental aspects of glass recycling. In addition to the website, it consists of a number of integrated initiatives each focused on stimulating interaction between waste professionals, encouraging best practice and improving communications.

Bankit public awareness campaigns can be ready for use in just a few days rather than the weeks it would normally take to design and produce a campaign from scratch. They cost significantly less than local authorities would pay to develop the campaigns themselves - and they save waste management professionals the considerable time involved in campaign development.

Bankit is a Rexam Glass initiative supported by Glass Recycling UK Ltd. It is a not for profit resource aimed at improving and maximising sustainable recycling, primarily (but not wholly) focused on glass.

GRUK Invests £1.2 Million in Colour Separation

Glass Recycling UK Limited (GRUK), the independent glass recycling company, has invested over £1.2 million in new glass colour separation technology to increase the amount of glass that can be used for recycling.

Barnsley-based GRUK collects glass on behalf of local authorities which it reprocesses into cullet for recycling. In July 2001 it says it was the first company in the UK to install at its factory 'all glass' separation equipment which detects and segregates all colours of glass in one pass. Three new colour separators have now been purchased, two of which are already operational and the third of which will be commissioned this month.

'This significant investment in new technology keeps us at the forefront of glass reprocessing,' said Michael Durr, company director of GRUK. 'We have had all colour separated glass longer than any other company in the UK and this equipment helps us to further improve the quality of the cullet we produce as well as increase our production throughput.'

Glass colour separation equipment is used to segregate commingled glass collected from the kerbside and bottle banks into different colour streams. Minute levels of cross contamination of different coloured glass used in the production of new containers can significantly affect the final colour. Glass containers tainted with other colours will be rejected by product manufacturers.

'This new equipment will help us to significantly increase the amount of glass that is used for recycling because of the high degree of accuracy we can achieve when separating mixed glass into different colours,' continued Michael.

'In terms of saving time and keeping production costs to a minimum it is still far better to collect glass that has been colour separated at source. However, through installing this new equipment we are able to provide local authorities with additional services to help improve recycling.'

GRUK is the sole supplier of glass cullet to Rexam Glass. Jointly the two companies have launched Bankit, an initiative specifically for local authorities and waste management professionals to help stimulate and increase the amount of glass that is collected and recycled.

Putting Finance Within Reach for Recycling SMEs

Over 350 delegates attended free seminars organised recently by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) to inform the recycling sector about opportunities to gain access to much needed investment.

The aim of the seminars, which were held across the UK, was to introduce recycling companies to the three initiatives put in place by WRAP to lever investment into the sector and help SMEs to start up or expand their business:
• the Business Development Service;
• the Recycling Fund;
• eQuip – the Residual Value Guarantee Scheme.

As a result of the seminars, over 30 companies have already contacted WRAP to request assistance in developing their business plans and investment proposals and more are expected later in the New Year.

‘In spite of the increasing opportunities offered by this fast-growing sector, raising external finance can still present a major challenge for many companies in the recycling sector – sometimes because of a lack of familiarity between the sector and the world of finance, and sometimes because recycling businesses lack resources to devote to finance-raising,’ explains Bevis Watts, WRAP’s Business Development Service Manager.

Held in Belfast, North Wales, Leeds, Glasgow and Bristol, the seminars introduced delegates to WRAP’s Business Development Service (BDS), which works with businesses to improve their access to finance. As well as providing practical advice and working with companies to ensure that applications for finance are well thought out and appropriately presented, it also acts as a go-between to bring businesses and potential investors together.

At the beginning of October last year, WRAP also launched the Recycling Fund. The first of its kind in Europe, the £5.5m fund provides access to equity for early stage small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the recycling sector. It is soon to be complemented by WRAP’s Residual Value Guarantee Scheme for SMEs, eQuip, due for introduction early in 2004. The aim of this scheme is to increase access to operating leases by offering guaranteed residual values on recycling plant and equipment on a competitive basis.

‘This is a very encouraging response and indicates that we are meeting a clear need in the recycling sector,’ says Steve Creed, WRAP’s Director of Business & Procurement. ‘To date, WRAP’s BDS has helped and advised around 800 firms and conducted more than 100 business appraisals. With the launch of the Recycling Fund and the eQuip scheme, WRAP now offers SMEs in the recycling sector a comprehensive set of tools to help them to gain access to finance and develop a healthy and robust recycling industry.'

Web: http://www.wrap.org.uk

Sortex Opens Profit Window in Plastics Processing

You would be upset if you opened a can, jar or pack of any of your favourite foods – from coffee to peanuts, rice to kidney beans – and found discoloured, broken or misshapen contents.

The fact that you don’t is, in a great many cases, due to Sortex. London based Sortex is a global leader in food sorting technology. Its machines discard imperfect or discoloured material from foodstuffs as tiny as sesame seeds or as large as potatoes.

In an exercise in lateral thinking, Peter Penfold of Penfold Plastics has applied the technology to sorting recycled PVC window frames. ‘The idea came to me after manufacturing techniques changed,’ he said. ‘There was no problem when PVC window frames were extruded and the rubber seal was added later. Scrap material could be reclaimed simply by regrinding it. If the seal had been fitted, it could be ripped out easily.

‘Now that frames are co-extruded, the seal is harder to remove. It’s a slow and costly process to saw it out. Our solution is to grind down the frames with the rubber and then colour sort the rubber from the plastic using a Sortex 2 chute Z-series machine. It’s state of the art and one of the best investments we’ve ever made. Quite simply, huge savings go straight to the bottom line.’

Owners of pheasant shoots used to describe the economics of the sport as, ‘Up goes a guinea, bang goes sixpence, down comes half a crown.’ Penfold takes a different line. ‘The Z-series is like a magician’s box. You put in £100, press a button and out comes £250 for every ton you sort.’

About Sortex Ltd
Sortex developed the first optical sorters for the agricultural industry and it is now the world’s leading manufacturer of colour sorting machines. Its clients, in over 100 countries, are involved in every type of agricultural commodity; fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, coffee and beans and pulses as well as snack foods, confectionery and breakfast cereals.

Since its formation in 1947 Sortex has invested heavily in a continuing R&D programme. This has applied optical design, physics, software design and electronic and mechanical engineering to devise elegant solutions in the sorting of food products by colour, shape and size. Its research is undertaken in close collaboration with its industry and academic partners.

At its London HQ, Sortex manufactures a steadily expanding product range supported by a global sales and technical support network. Most recently, it has launched the Niagara and Z-series ranges, which employ the most advanced technologies available to the industry. The quest forever improving performance continues and Sortex is confident that its pre-eminent position will be maintained.
Part of the Swiss engineering group Bühler, specialists in the design and construction of plant and equipment for human nutrition, Sortex has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in 1968, 1972, 1987 and again in, 2001.

About the Z - Series
The recently launched ranged of revolutionary optical sorting machines, are available in one, two, three and four chute versions, with PVC sorting capacities varying from 1 to 8 tons per hour depending on the requirements of the processor. The technologies employed recognise and eliminate unwanted material with an efficiency that minimises waste while delivering the highest yields.

Assessing the Future for Cathode Ray Tube Recycling

The first report on a project aimed at increasing the recycling of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) has been published by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). Led by ICER (Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling), with support from Glass Technology Services, the WRAP-funded project aims to identify potential markets for waste CRT glass and to assess the economic and technical barriers to all applications, particularly higher value applications. It will also develop the necessary standards and processes for viable, commercial scale recycling of CRTs.

The report, entitled Materials Recovery from Waste Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), estimates that 104,532 tonnes of CRT waste were generated in the UK during 2002 from discarded televisions, PC and specialist monitors, and production waste from CRT assembly operations. Recycling these waste CRTs poses particular challenges. The barium oxide in the panel glass and the lead oxide content of the funnel glass limits the recycling options, ruling out a number of mainstream applications such as container glass and fibre glass manufacture. The costs of separating the two types of glass add to the problem, and to date, commercial scale recycling of CRTs in the UK has been restricted to PC monitors.

'While there is currently no requirement to recycle CRTs, it is becoming increasingly important for the UK to develop cost effective recycling solutions to comply with European legislation, particularly the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive,'explains Andy Dawe, WRAP’s Material Sector Manager for glass.

Due for implementation next year, the WEEE Directive sets weight-based recovery and recycling targets which will require increased recycling of CRTs as they contribute significantly to the weight of a TV or PC monitor. CRTs are also classified as a hazardous waste, and other legislation, such as the Landfill Directive, will increase the cost of disposal to landfill in the future.

'The WEEE Directive targets will have to be met by December 2006. This research shows that CRTs are likely to be in the waste stream for many years to come. It is, therefore, essential to find recycling solutions which are both environmentally sound and commercially sustainable in the longer term,'says Claire Snow, Director of ICER.

The report, available on the WRAP website (http://www.wrap.org.uk), covers the first stage objectives of the project, which were to examine the current size and nature of the CRT waste stream and forecast future trends over the next 10 years, to identify the materials and components in CRTs, and to survey existing recycling processes and end markets.

The next stage, due for completion in March 2004, will focus on five end use applications chosen on the basis of potential market size, technical feasibility and environmental considerations:

• bricks and tiles (for lead-free panel glass);
• the ceramics industry (for lead-free panel glass);
• foam glass for insulation products (for lead-free panel glass);
• manufacture of new CRTs (panel and funnel glass, mixed and separated); and
• flux in smelting of metallic scrap (for mixed glass and/or lead containing funnel glass).

For each of these applications, the project will identify and quantify the likely production cost, market size and value and the quantity of waste CRT glass consumed. For three of these applications, laboratory trials will take place to demonstrate fitness for purpose and identify relevant technical specifications and limitations. The project also aims to establish best practice for the collection, handling and storage of CRTs and examine the separation techniques for CRT panel and funnel glass.

New Technical Information & Market Analysis from WRAP Assists the Wood Waste Recycling Sector

A report providing guideline feedstock specifications for 20 current and emerging recycled wood applications - including animal bedding, soil conditioners and mulches, and surfacing products - has been published by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Raising standards in feedstock specification is a WRAP priority and the new report, entitled Identification of Feedstock Specifications for UK Wood Recycling Applications & Examples of Good Practice in their Achievement, has been widely welcomed by the wood recycling industry. It draws on research conducted on behalf of WRAP by Urban Harvest Ltd which involved assessing the few formal specifications that already exist and consulting with over 50 wood recyclers and users of recycled wood products to identify the feedstock quality requirements for a range of applications.

By including an explanation of how the feedstock is processed into products, and how product performance can be affected by feedstock quality, the report aims to give reprocessors a better understanding of why each quality requirement is important. Advice is also given on controlling quality when sourcing wood waste, as well as during the processing and storage stages. Emphasis is placed on the fact that measures to control the quality of raw material input are far more cost effective than trying to remove contamination by manual or mechanical means during processing.

In another major report published by WRAP, the low value and importance placed on wood waste by the timber-using industries, coupled with a lack of awareness concerning recycling options and outlets, are identified as key barriers to increasing recycling levels in the UK.

A Study of UK Wood Flows & Recycled Waste Wood Markets presents the findings of research carried out by TRADA Technology Ltd to quantify and characterise waste wood flows in the UK, and assess the current and potential applications and end markets for recycled wood. It is the third and final study published as part of a WRAP project to address the historical absence of statistics and information on wood waste flows and recycling in the UK. Two reports, Wood Market Study - Municipal Wood Waste Arisings and Wood Market Study - Standards Review, were published earlier this year and the availability of this final report provides the wood waste recycling sector and other interested parties with a comprehensive information resource.

The report includes an industry survey, with profiles of the major wood consuming sectors and their attitudes to waste wood generation and disposal. The survey found that while over 2 million tonnes of waste wood are generated annually by the UK’s timber-using industries - predominantly in the construction, joinery, shopfitting and furniture manufacturing sectors - little importance has been attached to measuring this waste stream. The resulting lack of accurate data has not only helped to obscure the vast amount of waste wood sent to landfill every year, but has also contributed to widespread ignorance concerning its value as a resource.

Among the recommendations made by the report, awareness raising and improved wood flow data were highlighted, as well as the need to deliver investment to reprocessors to assist them in increasing their uptake of waste wood in the future, particularly in added value end uses. The report’s findings will be considered further by WRAP and will help to inform the future development of the wood programme.

'The ability of wood recyclers to achieve high technical standards and adapt to the demands of ever evolving markets for recycled wood products will be a key success factor in the future,'explains Tom Fourcade, WRAP’s Material Sector Manager for Wood. 'These new WRAP publications provide a comprehensive source of technical information and market analysis to assist the industry in making the most of the commercial opportunities that exist. The WRAP wood programme will continue to build information resources for the industry and other interested parties, as a key component of its strategy to accelerate growth in wood waste recycling.'

Identification of Feedstock Specifications for UK Wood Recycling Applications & Examples of Good Practice in their Achievement (ISBN: 1-84405-055-6) and A Study of UK Wood Flows and Recycled Waste Markets (ISBN: 1-84405-041-6) are available on the WRAP website at http://www.wrap.org.uk

B&Q to Use Crushed Glass to Build Car Parks

RMC Surfacing has signed a deal with do-it-yourself retailer B&Q to supply its crushed glass product for the construction of new carparks at B&Q warehouses and superstores.

RMC Surfacing's northern area manager Jeff Glasspoole said: 'We are hoping for at least £1m of work during the next year as a result of this agreement. Each contract is set to use significant quantities of glass because each B&Q warehouse carpark can cover an area up to 12,000m2.'

B&Q has agreed to use RMC's coated macadam Glassphalt in the construction of at least 10 new store carparks due to be built in England and Wales over the next couple of years.

Glasphalt contains up to 30% glass in place of primary aggregate and has been developed by materials specialist RMC Aggregates. The material is used only in the lower construction layers of a road, such as in the base and binder courses.
RMC is also expanding its flooring production with the introduction of a new production facility for pre-stressed concrete beams.

'Increasing market success for RMC's Readyfloor beam and block flooring system has led to the need for a new production facility,' said a company spokesman.

The new facility, located at Rochester in Kent, will be capable of producing 200,000 linear metres of T beam used for the Readyfloor system.

Recycling Equity Fund Opens for Business

A £5.5m equity fund, the first in Europe to focus specifically on the recycling sector, has opened for business 50% oversubscribed by the private sector.

The Recycling Fund, established by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and managed by Impax Asset Management, has been developed to address the gap between the availability of investment capital and the demands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK's recycling sector. Providing leadership to the financial community, the pilot fund will also offer investors the opportunity for early sight of a high-growth sector and establish the merits of a larger, commercially-sized fund in the future.

The fund has received very positive buy-in from the private sector, with £1.5m of investment secured from WastePack, Barclays and Partnerships UK, which is a public private partnership. The Recycling Fund Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of WRAP has committed the remaining £4m. WRAP originally set out to secure £1m investment from the private sector, to comply with the terms of its state aid approval, but received such strong interest that it decided to increase the size of the fund.

Jennie Price, WRAP's Chief Executive said: 'The positive response from private sector investors is a clear signal that there is money to be made in recycling. Our co-investors recognise that this is a rapidly growing sector of the green economy, and they want to be part of that success story.'

Already worth £12 billion a year, the sector's turnover - driven by major policy and regulatory drivers - is expected to grow to between £20bn and £30bn within 15 years. Studies conducted by WRAP indicated that recycling SMEs will require £1.5 billion in funding between 2003 and 2018, including significant levels of equity investment that the market is currently failing to supply.

Running for up to 10 years, with investments being made during an initial three-year period, the fund is expected to provide equity finance to between 10 and 15 early stage recycling or waste management SMEs. Qualifying companies will be those that can demonstrate an economically sustainable market for their products or materials but face difficulty in raising commercial equity finance. Co-investment will be sought wherever possible - to act as a catalyst for engaging other investors - but the SMEs will not be required to secure the match funding which has often been a major barrier in the past.

An official launch of the fund will be held in the Autumn and WRAP's Business Development Service will hold a series of events around the country to enable businesses to engage with the fund.

Ian Simm, managing director of Impax Asset Management, commented:
'We would like to congratulate WRAP, Wastepack, Barclays and Partnerships UK in completing the launch of The Recycling Fund. This is a very exciting moment to be active in the UK recycling sector, and the Impax team has already started work to identify and analyse investment opportunities for the fund.'

£1/2 Million Glass Recycling Facility gets Underway

Work has begun on a new £1/2 million plant in Scotland to process recycled glass into high value filtration media for the treatment of drinking water. On Friday 16th May, David Hamilton, MP for Midlothian, turned the first sod at the ceremony at Dryden Aqua's site near Dalkeith. Part of a project supported by WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme), the development could significantly change the UK water filtration market in the future and has received considerable political support in Scotland.

'We are delighted to see a progressive Midlothian-based company leading this innovative venture, and receiving financial and technical support from a UK-wide programme such as WRAP,' said Mr Hamilton.

Specialists in water and effluent treatment technology, Dryden Aqua has developed a new water filtration media using recycled green and brown glass. The new plant will be the first commercial-scale facility in the UK for the production of high quality Advanced Filtration Media (AFM) for the filtration of drinking water and other applications, including municipal and industrial wastewater treatment and swimming pool filtration. It is expected to reach full capacity in 2005, and will produce 20,000 tonnes of AFM a year.

The project has received funding totaling £237,500.00 from WRAP under its R&D funding programme, with additional funds from the EC Life-Environment Programme, Midlothian Council, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian and Scottish Water. Landfill Tax money from Viridor Credits and the ShanksFirst Fund has also been made available through the Business Environmental Partnership in conjunction with REMADE Scotland.

In addition to building the production facility, the other aims of the project are to achieve product certification from the Drinking Water Inspectorate and to establish market acceptance by the UK's water companies of the suitability of high quality AFM as a filtration media for drinking water and wastewater treatment. Involving further research and trials, this would allow AFM access to a potential market of around 230,000 tonnes a year, according to the latest estimates, as well as opening up significant export opportunities.

Research to date indicates that AFM could offer substantial benefits over traditional media at a competitive cost. Trials conducted under a previous pilot programme at Scottish Water's Fairmilehead site in Edinburgh showed that AFM performs as well as sand, and offers additional advantages including longer life and the ability to remove both colour and particles below 15 microns. This improved filtration action reduces the need for additional chemical treatment and offers the potential for significant cost savings.

'Creating efficient markets is the most important step towards improving recycling levels in the UK and this project will help to develop a high value end market for recovered glass,' explains Andy Dawe, WRAP's material sector manager for glass. 'In addition, the manufacture of AFM requires green and amber glass, and therefore complements existing recycling efforts by the glass container industry, which requires predominantly clear glass.'

Research on the markets, and the regulatory requirements with which AFM must comply, has progressed rapidly and some of the results will be published this week on the WRAP website (http://www.wrap.org.uk). Three interim reports, prepared by Dryden Aqua, cover the markets for AFM, the new plant and the manufacturing process, and a review of the specification requirements and certification process to obtain approval for AFM from the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

A fourth report will also be published comprising a detailed market assessment of the application of AFM in drinking water treatment. Prepared by Entec UK Ltd and funded through Biffaward and WRAP, with support from the Institute of Wastes Management and Northumbrian Water, the report reviews UK water filtration practices, and identifies market opportunities and barriers associated with the uptake of AFM. A Life cycle costing exercise compares AFM to traditional filtration media and an assessment is also made of the wider opportunities for AFM and recycled glass in water industry applications

GO TO RECYCLING ARCHIVE PAGE

RETURN TO HOME PAGE