BRIEF NEWS: FoE On "Envoronmetal Disaster and Viridor's New Vision Statement: plus more

14 November 2011

Brief News from the waste management and resource industry: Taylor's Food Waste Solution; Viridor Works With PECT; FoE On "Envoronmetal Disaster; and Viridor's New Vision Statement　

Taylor Delivers Bespoke Food Solution in Two Weeks

Edinburgh City Council has recently launched a communal food waste collection service for residents of Portobello, a suburb on the outskirts of the city. For the initiative the council required customised containers with an aperture that would allow waste to be easily deposited without risk of cross contamination. Taylor was able to work with the council to design and produce a prototype for the trial within two weeks.

Kevin Docherty, area business manager for Taylor, comments: "I worked with the council to develop a food collection lid that features a specialised aperture that allows for food to be deposited while protecting the user from the contents of the bin. We understood that the lead time was very short, and the success of the trial depended on appropriate containers; we were able to deliver the first working prototype within two weeks."

Riet Garsed, project officer for edinburgh city council, said: "The swift response generated a fantastic product that more than lives up to Taylor's reputation. Since the first run of containers was delivered we haven't had a problem; and the food collection initiative is proving to be quite a success."

www.taylorbins.co.uk

Recycling, renewable energy and waste management company Viridor and　green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT) are calling all businesses, big and small, to reduce the amount of waste they generate to improve their environmental performance and save money for Zero Waste Week (19-27 November)　

Coinciding with European Waste Reduction Week, the Zero Waste Week (ZWW) Campaign organised by Viridor and PECT aims to raise awareness amongst the business community to increase landfill diversion through reuse and recycling of materials as well as exploring ways to prevent waste in the first place.　

Victor Perez-Mares, communications manager for Viridor, said; "It is estimated that businesses produce six tonnes of waste for every tonne produced by households, costing them millions of pounds every year and in many instances ending up endlessly in landfill.　

"With Zero Waste Week we're aiming to get more organisations and individuals thinking about the waste they produce and what actions they can take to reduce it, reuse it or recycle it - being green is good for business."　

www.viridor.co.uk

Addiction to "Dirty Fuels" Will Bring "Environmental Disaster" - FoE

Commenting on a report published by the International Energy Agency last week (9 November 2011), warning that the lack of global action to switch to clean energy is leaving the world facing "irreversible and potentially catastrophic climate change", Friends of the Earth's international climate campaigner Asad Rehman said:

"This is a stark warning to governments that our addiction to dirty fuels is sending the world spinning towards environmental and financial disaster.

"The rising price of gas and coal is causing our fuel bills to rocket - while a fifth of the world's population still don't have electricity at all.

"The UK needs to be at the forefront of the global push for clean energy - this will create new jobs and save billions of pounds in the long run.

"We're calling on David Cameron to free us from the big energy companies keeping us hooked on imported dirty fuel, and support clean British energy providers instead."

www.foe.co.uk

The changes reflect the continued transformation of Viridor from traditional, disposal-focused waste management company into a progressive and innovative recycling-led resource recovery business.

Dan Cooke, Viridor's external affairs manager said: "This is all about positive change.　 'Transforming waste' is more positive than just referring to recycling (important though that is!) it includes everything we do in energy, and our aims for environmental, social and economic sustainability."　

Confirming the new vision and branding, Colin Drummond, Viridor's Chief Executive, said: "Viridor is at the forefront of transforming waste and our new branding reflects this. We have led the way in seeing the real value of waste as a vital resource.　 Fifty percent of our profits now come from resource recovery and this is set to increase.　

"The world is using resources at an unsustainable rate.　 We all have to recycle more and generate more renewable energy to meet our future needs.　 Viridor has embraced this and our new vision and branding will help to communicate this clearly to our customers and partners."

www.viridor.co.uk

Darrel Moore