News updates from CIWM’s commercial partners.
CRJ Services | CRJ presents a straightforward and effective solution for managing shredder dust.
With an innovative, pro-active approach, CRJ Services has looked at a novel dust suppression method when shredding household furniture like sofas.
Many sofas contain toxic, carcinogenic Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) which are invisible and harm human health and the wider environment.
The Environment Agency has brought in legislation around the storage and disposal of such furniture for this reason and this lab-tested dust suppression meets the latest compliance.
The Air Spectrum Jetstream Smartech is an intelligently controlled, compressed air misting system, that gives the ability to supply and control multiple nozzles in multiple zones using the latest in PCB technology.
How does the Jetstream work?
The Airspectrum JetStream Smartech is an intelligently controlled, compressed air misting system that can supply and control multiple nozzles across various zones using the latest PCB technology.
- The Jetstream range features powerful, single nozzles driven by high-capacity airflow.
- Jetstream systems are installed directly at the source of the problem – utilising powerful jets of fine mist, they effectively control dust as it is produced by the shredder.
- Each Jetstream system is custom-built for each HAAS unit and is compatible with the HAAS static and mobile shredders.
Keenan Recycling | Navigating the new food waste legislation in England
On 31 March 2025, new recycling regulations will come into effect, requiring businesses across England to ensure that all food waste is separated out from other wastes and presented separately for collection by an approved contractor.
New mandatory food waste separation coming March 2025!
As per new government legislation, all non-household municipal premises in England, excluding micro-firms (businesses with fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees), will be required to comply with the following regulations by 31 March 2025:
- Separate food waste collections: You must arrange for separate collection of your food waste, diverting it from general waste streams.
- Compliant waste presentation: Food waste must be presented in a manner that adheres to the new legislation.
Understanding the legislation
The government is introducing new regulations requiring all businesses, the public sector and third-sector organisations in England to separate recyclable materials like most householders do now.
These regulations are designed to improve the quality and quantity of waste collections across England, most notably by mandating that food waste is separated out and collected separately when any non-domestic property generates waste food.
This includes all businesses, prisons, hospitals, care homes, office blocks, independent schools and colleges, garages and transport hubs. The new regulations will into force on 31 March 2025.
Legislation already in place in Scotland and Wales
Commercial food waste legislation has been in place in Scotland since 2014, and the legislation was introduced in Wales in April 2024. Businesses generating more than 5kg of food waste every week will likely have to comply with the new regulations.
By staying informed and acting now, your business can set a positive example and be at the forefront of environmentally friendly food waste management.
What does this mean for your business?
By 31 March 2025, businesses will need to have implemented separate food waste storage and collection processes. This means understanding what wastes are produced and at what frequency and how these wastes should be stored and collected to be compliant with the new legislation.
Taking action
- Understand what wastes you produce and in what quantity.
- Review your current waste management practices and processes.
- Contact approved food waste collection companies to help with configuring the best system for your business.
- Familiarise yourself with the specific details of the new regulations.
Business advantages
- An opportunity to review services and save costs by optimising waste collection services.
- Doing the right thing for the environment by recovering waste food is a key part of improving your sustainability credentials.
- Having a compliant system will protect your brand and avoid fines.
Benefits of separate food waste collection
- When food waste is mixed in with general waste it is often landfilled or incinerated wasting the food twice effectively. When it is collected separately it goes through a process which generates renewable power and produces an organic fertiliser.
- Contribute to a more circular economy by transforming food waste into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser.
- Potentially lower waste disposal costs as food waste is heavy and can mean you pay more for your general waste collection bins. Food waste collections can be as low as just £5 per bin.
Food waste stream composition
Both household and non-household food waste collections will include:
- All food intended for human or pet consumption, regardless of nutritional value.
- Biodegradable materials from food processing or preparation, including bones, eggshells, fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, and coffee grounds.
Be prepared: Ensure your business complies
Adhering to the new legislation being introduced is crucial, as it benefits the environment and positively impacts your business. Compliance with these regulations ensures that your business is part of the solution to creating a sustainable future.
By taking proactive steps now you can future-proof your business, protect your brand and reputation and be ready for the new legislative changes ahead of the deadline of March 2025.
Avoiding penalties
- Prevent fines and reputational harm through compliance.
- Safeguarding your business from legal and financial risks.
ISB Global | ISB Global CEO calls for action from new government to cut waste and boost reuse and recycling in the UK
UK must update how it deals with its waste problem as part of the wider net zero push, says head of UK cleantech.
The head of ISB Global, the UK provider of planning software for waste management operators worldwide, is calling on the new Labour government to take meaningful action to tackle the UK’s waste problem with policies that encourage more reuse and recycling as part of the drive to establish a low-waste circular economy.
ISB Global founder and CEO Chris Williams said, “It’s perhaps understandable that the UK’s waste problem wasn’t more of a talking point during the General Election campaign. The incoming Labour government faces a range of problems – the cost of living crisis, a challenging economy, the NHS in grave difficulty, chronically underfunded public services, polluted rivers and waterways, and, of course, the global climate crisis.”
Williams continued, “The new government also needs to get a grip on the country’s waste problem. According to Greenpeace UK’s “Big Plastic Count” plastic waste survey earlier this year, UK households throw away an estimated 1.7 billion pieces of plastic per week – that’s 60 pieces per household, and the equivalent of 90 billion pieces per year. What’s worse is that over half (58 percent) is incinerated, up from 46 percent in 2022, while 14 percent is exported overseas and 11 percent goes to landfill. Just 17 percent is currently recycled in the UK. These numbers don’t bode well for the health of the country and the planet.”
He went on, “Labour in its manifesto was clear in its commitment to cutting emissions by reducing the UK’s use of fossil fuels and increasing its use of renewables. But we cannot say the same when it comes to reducing the amount of waste the UK currently sends to landfill. We need to bear in mind that landfill sites are a source of greenhouse gas emissions such as methane, which is 80x more harmful than CO2 and traps more heat in the atmosphere than CO2.
“Landfills also represent a public health hazard. Active and disused landfills across the country have been found to leak toxic chemicals into the ground and the water table, which damage the local environment and cause health problems for people and animals living nearby.”
Labour’s manifesto included a commitment to “reducing waste by moving to a circular economy” but did not go into further detail. Williams now wants to hear how the new government intends to tackle the UK’s waste problem, including plastic pollution.
“Initiatives like deposit return schemes can change consumer behaviour and significantly improve recycling rates and reduce litter,” said Williams. “Deposit-based recycling schemes have been operating effectively in European countries for more than 20 years. In some cases, these schemes have achieved recycling rates of 90 percent or more.
“The delay earlier this year until 2027 of the planned deposit scheme in Scotland that was first proposed by the devolved Scottish government back in 2018 was a step backwards. There are multiple considerations to factor in with a deposit scheme: what materials to include in it, the cost of infrastructure and logistics to support it, and securing buy-in from producers and retailers. Putting a UK-wide scheme in place requires cooperation combined with genuine political will.”
Williams continued, “The UK is still playing catch-up with countries in Europe and elsewhere in its approach to waste management. To close the gap, national and local government authorities here should plan and fund localised return services that enable smaller, shorter recycling loops for collecting reusable packaging for reuse. Making recycling straightforward and convenient makes it easier to educate and encourage people to change their behaviours and dispose of their waste responsibly.
“But recycling alone isn’t enough to solve the waste problem,” he added. “The new government must also put the planet first with policies that reduce waste overall, and be prepared to enforce them.
“Schemes like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mean producers and retailers must consider waste and the environment when designing their products plus the materials they are made from. By prioritising the safe disposal of items and the reuse of materials into new products, this kind of policy framework can be the foundation for new innovations and new business opportunities as part of a low-waste circular economy.
Williams concluded, “By making meaningful progress to reduce the UK’s waste footprint, the new government can conserve the environment and encourage new ideas. At the same time, people benefit from a healthier and more sustainable way of life.”
UK Container Maintenance | Uplift in Demand for Second-Hand at UKCM
UK Container Maintenance, part of the Impact Environmental Group (IEG), has recorded a considerable 22% hike in demand for second-hand, fully-refurbished metal waste and recycling containers.
Facilitating a circular economy, the leading container repair and refurbishment specialist buys back otherwise redundant containers that are destined for scrap, before restoring them to full working order in line with relevant standards and health and safety requirements.
Over recent months, UKCM has seen an increase in the number of customers purchasing second-hand containers, including four-wheeled metal containers, FELs (front-end loaders), RELs (rear-end loaders), skips and roll-on roll-off (RORO) containers.
Throughout the refurbishment process when repair work is undertaken and any required new parts are fitted, the containers are shot blasted to ensure a more durable and enhanced aesthetic finish in readiness to re-spray with anti-corrosive, lead-free paint.
In providing the cost-effective assets, the firm has worked closely with its customers to accommodate any specific design requirements such as company branding and corporate colours.
Claire Capper, Operations Director at UKCM, comments: “As we strive towards a circular economy, it is encouraging to see a substantial uplift in the number of customers requesting second-hand waste and recycling containers to use alongside new units. These fully refurbished options aid reduced budgets, without having to compromise on the quality or integrity of the container.”
Pete Dickson, Commercial Director at IEG EMEA, adds: “An increasing expectation to reuse and recycle is familiar to us all, particularly in the waste industry. By capturing materials so that today’s stock is repaired and/or refurbished to become tomorrow’s stock, UKCM, alongside its customers, is ensuring a significant reduction in the volume of resources requiring recycling or disposal.
“UKCM leads the way in providing services that not only increase the lifespan of a container but, help to maintain compliance, maximise utilisation and reduce costs, and it is positive that more businesses and local authorities are benefiting from its pioneering offering.”
UKCM is dedicated to refurbishing all types of waste and recycling containers and works across the country offering waste companies and local authorities mobile repairs, as well as factory-based services at its head office located in Winsford, Cheshire.
The process brings old, and often unwanted, containers back to life instead of them going to scrap. Over the last 26 years, UKCM has saved its customers a massive £271 million with the repair & refurbishment of a notable 1.8 million waste and recycling containers.
UKCM is part of the Impact Environmental Group (IEG), a global environmental products and services business, providing a comprehensive suite of new and replacement products for waste and recycling containers, repair and refurbishment services, collection and compaction equipment, and waste transportation equipment. IEG’s UK-based brands include Duraflex™, Taylor, Capital Compactors and Balers and UKCM.
SAI-PAC (UK) LTD | SAI-PAC (UK) LTD introduces food waste containers to enhance recycling efforts & ease capacity concerns
Over 10 million tonnes of food is wasted each year and much sent to landfill. In response to the severe and growing need for efficient and nationwide food waste solutions, Sai-Pac are proud to announce and introduce an exciting range of containers “Bubble & Sleek” that combine durability, functionality and sustainability.
Each product is meticulously crafted, in energy-efficient facilities to meet standards set by WRAP and the rigorous demands of daily use in various environments ensuring reliable performance and longevity.
Sanjay Prabhakar (Managing Director Sai-Pac) said: “We are really pleased to present and add to our portfolio the highest quality recycled and successfully used in EU food waste containers. Celebrating 30 years in business of supplying recycled, compostable, reusable sack innovations all over the UK.
“We are delighted to offer further solutions and enabling local authorities and waste management companies in the UK to maximise recycling rates and achieve best value for money amid council concerns of production capacity and delivery deadlines.
“We stand ready. Sai Pac is this year celebrating 30 years of supplying recycled, reusable and compostable sacks, as well as liners. We are delighted to add food waste containers to our roster of innovative products. We strive to navigate our mindset and business model in accordance to legislation and with strict consideration to the environment and foremost sustainability throughout our supply chains.
“We also pride ourselves in providing personal service and advice to individuals on a one-to-one basis as opposed to corporate departments. This enables us to provide bespoke, sustainable & cost-effective pathways to our customers. We always endeavour to provide the highest level of service, UK stock/storage and customer care whilst providing containment solutions.”
Wood Recyclers’ Association | Warning over huge costs for C&D sector unless companies act now
Construction and demolition companies must act now to prevent the risk of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste wood which could be recycled from being lost, the Wood Recyclers’ Association says.
That is the message from the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA), which is urging C&D companies to test certain “amber” waste wood items from demolition as a matter of urgency and share their results with the WRA, to help determine which items are hazardous or not.
It is a legal requirement under RPS 291 for waste producers to test at least one of these items per quarter and to share their results with the WRA. Only by sharing results and receiving a WRA Submission report, can they achieve compliance.
However, despite a huge communications campaign to raise awareness of the need to test, the WRA has not yet received nearly enough test results to build the evidence base it needs.
Without more test results, the WRA warns that many companies risk failing to comply with their legal duties and will be in a much worse position when RPS 291 is removed at the end of September.
Vicki Hughes, Technical Lead on the WRA Board, said: “Time is running out for companies in the construction and demolition sector to test their waste wood before RPS 291 is withdrawn at the end of September.
“If we don’t receive enough test results before then, every one of these ten items will have to be tested every time they are identified at great cost to the C&D industry.
“Tests will have to be done on each wood type because it is against the law to consign something as hazardous unless you test to prove it. It will also mean wood will need to be held on sites in separate skips until the results come back, which can take up to 14 days and this includes off household sites if in commercial skips.
“At present, companies only have to test one item per quarter at a cost of around £200. Without RPS 291, companies could be forced to carry out ten tests for every single site or project. So £200 now or potentially £2000 per site – it should be a no-brainer.
“Worse than that, we risk losing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste wood which could be recycled, to the wrong outlet, which would not only affect the panel board and biomass sectors but also impact directly on the construction sector’s sustainability and environmental targets. This means that many large construction companies could be acting in conflict with their own ESG statements – something the regulators are also now keen on checking.
“To avoid this happening, companies must act now while RPS 291 still applies. Simply submit one sample per quarter and please, please ensure that you give permission for your laboratories to share the results with the WRA.
“Our WRA members have been submitting samples but they can’t get to the numbers we need on their own – this has to come from the construction and demolition industry.
“For full details on how to comply with RPS 291 and take part in testing, please check out the WRA’s Waste Wood Classification Toolkit or simply get in touch.”
Greyparrot | GreenTech announces multinational AI strategy supported by Greyparrot Analyser
GreenTech, Europe’s largest PET plastic recycler, has selected Greyparrot to support a new multinational AI strategy.
The Romania-based recycling giant has deployed the Greyparrot Analyser AI waste analytics system across key facilities in Romania, Lithuania, and Slovakia, aiming to maximise yield and maintain compliance with waste regulations.
With each country presenting its own use-cases for AI waste analytics, GreenTech are pioneering a new approach to data-driven operations at a multinational level.
GreenTech, part of Romania-based Green Group, has installed Greyparrot Analysers to monitor the 150,000 tonnes of material they transform into 100% recycled rPET products each year.
The analyser enables facility operators to adjust infeed blends and throughput rates as composition shifts by providing detailed data on infeed material. More responsive, data-driven operations are set to further maximise yield and product quality in all three countries. The AI system’s ability to distinguish between food-grade and non-food grade objects also supports GreenTech’s compliance with strict EU purity standards for food-grade materials.
GreenTech CTO Alan Smith commented on the projected impact of the multi-facility
deployment: “The data that we get from Analyser is really detailed. That’s going to impact sorting, and how we change our infeed ‘recipes’.
“The technology will add long-term value as we feed back to our suppliers on quality, but the key benefit is that this will drive better yield. That’s a core performance metric rather than a nice-to-have.”*
In Lithuania and Romania, the Analysers also support deposit return schemes by tracking the amount of relevant packaging being returned to the circular economy. After testing Analyser against existing counting machines and manual samplers, GreenTech determined that AI provided a more accurate item counts at a lower cost.
The technology now plays a key role in compliance and efficiency for GreenTech’s operations in those countries. The partnership highlights Greyparrot’s commitment to advancing the automation and digitisation of global waste management, and GreenTech’s mission to supply the circular economy with high-quality recycled materials.
