Greyparrot awarded as ‘Technology Pioneer’ by World Economic Forum
Greyparrot, the London based tech company disrupting the recycling industry by providing waste analytics to monitor, sort, and audit waste at scale, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum’s “Technology Pioneers”.
The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.
With their selection as Technology Pioneer, CEO Mikela Druckman of Greyparrot will be invited to participate at World Economic Forum activities, events and discussions throughout the year.
Our aim is to tackle the unsustainable waste crisis and empower waste managers, producers and regulators with better data analytics to support our transition to a circular economy and keep our environment clean for generations to come
Greyparrot will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues.
“We’re excited to welcome Greyparrot to our 2021 cohort of Technology Pioneers,” says Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum. “Greyparrot and its fellow pioneers are developing technologies that can help society solve some of its most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the World Economic Forum in its commitment to improving the state of the world.”
“We are thrilled to be one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers this year”, said Greyparrot’s Mikela Druckman. “It validates the value of our technology and the need to digitise an industry which is so essential but yet heavily relying on manual processes.
“Our aim is to tackle the unsustainable waste crisis and empower waste managers, producers and regulators with better data analytics to support our transition to a circular economy and keep our environment clean for generations to come.”
Clean energy innovation to launch in the waste & recycling sector
This Summer, Vision Techniques is unveiling the latest innovation – VT Solar powered by TRAILAR.
Harnessing the free, clean and powerful energy of the sun, the technology reduces a vehicle’s reliance on the alternator to burn fuel in order to create energy required to power on board electrical equipment.
Instead, using flexible, shatterproof and ultra-thin solar panels, harvested energy is used to power all on board ancillary equipment, reducing fuel usage and cutting carbon emissions.
The lightweight and easily installed clean energy system provides a powerful and measurable solar conversion solution for vehicle operators. Sensors are attached to monitor the alternator activity, battery and ancillary equipment, and live data is available to monitor and measure the real time solar energy used and consequential reduction of fuel burned.
The VT Solar technology is currently being trialled by some of the UK’s leading waste management contractors and results show annual fuel savings of over £1,000 per vehicle. This same example has resulted in an annual carbon reduction of over 2.5 tonnes.
Biffa is trialling the technology on two of its collections vehicles in Leeds to power the trucks’ batteries and reduce CO2 emissions. This week, they have announced that by adding solar panels to top up regular engine power, up to 3,100kg of carbon emissions could be saved per vehicle each year.
Jeff Rhodes, head of environment and external affairs at Biffa, said: “Trialling solar panels to reduce our carbon emissions marks another strategic step in our journey to Net Zero and to making our fleet as environmentally friendly as possible.”
The trial will last for six months. With 2,900 trucks across its business, Biffa says it could save nearly nine million kilograms of carbon emissions if the trial proves successful and solar panels are rolled out across the company’s entire fleet.
Shaun Hamilton, general manager at Vision Techniques, said: “We needed a forward-thinking company to test the panels on trucks and as Biffa has always wanted to lead the way in technology, they were a great fit.
“Biffa has been a valuable customer for many years, presenting the perfect opportunity to trial this new equipment which coincides with its target for carbon savings and Biffa’s journey to Net Zero.
“For me it’s a perfect partnership, therefore, to work together to build a commercial and environmental solution to a long-term problem.”
Happy 40th Birthday to Broxtowe BC Wheeled Bins
Broxtowe Borough Council has something to celebrate as their wheeled bins for waste collection have now been in successful use for 40 years.
The manufacturer of the ‘robust and durable bins’ is SSI Schaefer and the partnership continues to this day.
Broxtowe Borough Council was the first council to introduce wheeled bins for waste collection in the UK.
This year they are celebrating that those same bins are still on their streets and still being emptied today 40 years on, a truly remarkable feat.
During their 40 years life these bins have been put through extreme temperatures from 97.0 °F in the summer of 2019, down to −13.3 °C in the winter of 1987, whilst also being emptied over 2,000 times, these bins have taken bin life longevity to new levels.
Since supplying the very first wheeled bins into the UK, SSI Schaefer have continued to be a major supplier of wheeled bins to UK councils.
Broxtowe Borough Council Councillor, Helen Skinner, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee said: “The Council is proud to have been the first local authority in the country to use wheeled bins.
“This 40 year celebration comes at a time when we are on a mission to become carbon neutral by 2027 and regularly run a wide range of environmental initiatives such as ‘Green Futures’ to encourage our residents to adopt a greener way of living. We’d like to wish SSI Schaefer wheeled bins a very happy 40th birthday and look forward to using them in the Borough for many more years to come.”
