07.11.03

DELIVERING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The Environment Agency has issued a short publication detailing their beliefs on how regulation should be undertaken in the 21st Century. The Agency report that they are striving to develop modern regulation that is outcome-focused, based upon risk, clearly communicated and consistently applied.
See www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/105385/finalregbk031008_578891.pdf

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PROPOSALS FOR ACCESS INFORMATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The European Commission has adopted 3 proposals to be taken forward to the European Parliament. The first of the 3 proposals is for a directive on public access to information on environmental issues, the second is to standardise the public participation in decision making, while the third is to enable the EU to ratify and become party to the Arhus convention. The Arhus convention is an international agreement laying down basic rules to promote citizen involvement in environmental matters.
See :www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/aarhus/index.htm

HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING BILL RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT

The Household Waste Recycling bill has now received Royal Assent and becomes an act of Parliament. English waste collection authorities will be required to collect 2 recyclates separately from the remaining waste by 2010. Guidance for Waste Collection Authorities on implementing the act should be available from DEFRA by early 2004.The full text of the act can be seen at www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030029.htm

ISO 14001 SERIES REVISION

The British Standard Institute has released drafts of the revisions proposed for the environmental management system ISO 14001 for consultation. Copies of the drafts are available from MSI, although there appears to be a small fee for obtaining the drafts for consultation.
See www.bsi-global.com/News/Releases/2003/November/n3fab6a077b271.xalter

AGRICULTURAL WASTE INFORMATION

There are 300,000 tonnes of non-natural agricultural waste produced each year according to a leaflet recently issued by DEFRA, with a further 600,000 tonnes of scrap metal, tyres and asbestos roofing on farm land with no plans for disposal. This waste is soon to come under the controls of waste management legislation and the leaflet details opportunities this will provide for the various stakeholders involved in agricultural waste management. www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/agforum/pdf/leaflet.pdf

WRAP HIGHLIGHTS FLUORESCENT TUBE RECYCLING

WRAP has released a study examining fluorescent lighting recycling. Around 100 million fluorescent tubes reach the end of their life each year, much of which is disposed of via landfill. The research demonstrates that recovered glass from the lighting could be returned to the manufacturer and recycled into new tubes or bulbs. The mercury content of fluorescent lighting has previously acted as a barrier to recycling, the research suggests 20,000 tonnes of glass could be diverted from landfill. www.wrap.org.uk/news_detail.asp?NewsID=345

BEWARE OF FAIR GUIDE SCAM

It has been brought to our notice that an organisation called the Exhibitors Fair Guide has been using our name and targeting waste companies in their latest scam.  If you do receive correspondence from this company please ignore it and place it in the recycling bin.  Further details: http://www.stopecg.org/other.htm

FREE WEEE SEMINARS

The DTI and DEFRA are organising a series of awareness raising seminars on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) Directives. Eight seminars will be run around the country between December and February. The first two seminars will be
held in London (1 December) and Birmingham (11 December).  The seminars are free of charge and should be of particular interest to local authority waste management officers, private sector organisations involved in the importing, manufacture or distribution of electronic products and components and organisations involved in there furbishment of old electrical products. Registration forms are available from the event coordinator:
Charlie McDermott on 01865 384 927 or email charlie.mcdermott@erm.com

"TOWARDS A THEMATIC STRATEGY ON THE PREVENTION AND RECYCLING OF WASTE": A RESPONSE.
 Revised paper is now available. Please email tom.ellis@ciwm.co.uk for a free copy and add 'any comments/additions/etc to the drfat response  should be submitted to Tom Ellis by 21st November so that these can be incorporated and submitted to EU on behalf of CIWM'