Albion Environmental Waste Management http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:42:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Illegal disposals of waste, seven companies, £113,500 in fines http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=379 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=379#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:40:47 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=379 Fines totalling £113,500 have been handed out to seven companies following investigations by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) into a site in South Lanarkshire.
The site at Bardykes Bing, located between Cambuslang and Blantyre, is operated by Doonin Plant Limited. They pled guilty last year to disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.
Five other companies also pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court, on various dates, to depositing controlled waste on the site when no waste management licence was in force:
  • C.E.P. Demolitions Limited – fined £7,500 on 29 September 2009.
  • JCJ (Demolition and Construction) Limited – fined £2,500 on 15 February 2010.
  • George Hunter (Demolishers) Limited – fined £6,000 on 4 March 2010.
  • E. Nicholson & Sons (Metals) Limited – fined £2,250 on 16 March 2010.
  • St Andrews Demolition & Construction Limited – fined £2,250 on 16 March 2010.
One further company pled guilty to failing to provide SEPA with waste transfer notes for waste sent to the site:
  • Enviroclean (Scotland) Limited – fined £3,000 on 25 November 2009.
Iain Cruickshank, SEPA's Unit Manager in South Lanarkshire, said: "Every company dealing with waste is under a duty of care to regularly review operating practices and check the public register to ensure they are complying with legislation. The six companies prosecuted for using Bardykes Bing during our investigation may have been told the waste could be accepted, but they never actually checked to make sure a waste management licence was in place. If anyone wants to check whether a site they plan to use has the appropriate licences in place they can contact SEPA ."
 "Long established companies know that sites with waste management licences are strict with the types of waste taken on to site and the procedures involved in segregating the waste. Licensed sites have unloading bays where different types of waste are held, ensuring total segregation of the waste."
"The methods adopted at Bardykes Bing were contrary to the good practice that should be adopted at waste management sites, and any company that has been involved with the waste industry should be well aware of their environmental duties and responsibilities."
Source – SEPA
Albion Environmental can provide quality training and consultancy within the waste management industry to ensure that companies are fully compliant with all the legal and licence requirements they may be subject to.
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=379 0 Intro to Waste Management Legislation 2 Day Course – 15th & 16th September 2010 – Glasgow http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=374 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=374#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:23:36 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=374 Albion Environmental Ltd have developed an introductory Course for Waste Managers and operational staff.
This two-day course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the legislation relating to the Waste industry and provide background Knowledge and Understanding for WAMITAB candidates.
The Course has been designed for those new to the Industry, anyone starting or completing WAMITAB COTC or experienced managers who require to be kept abreast of recent changes.
"….this course was really interesting as it made me more aware of information that I wasn't 100% sure of…….the manner in which both of you put across the information was excellent and very clear." W Spence, Shanks
Objective
  • Provide evidence of the knowledge & understanding aspects required for most units of WAMITAB’s Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC’s)
  • Understand the practical aspects of:
    • The Definition of Waste
    • The Duty of Care
    • Registration of Carriers
    • Special Waste Regulations
    • Transport of Wastes (Including Dangerous Goods)
  • Provide a basic understanding of the relevant parts of The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
For more information – click here or call Jayne on 01292 610428
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=374 0 HSE – Inspection in the Waste and Recycling Industry in 2010/11 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=368 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=368#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:36:47 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=368 HSE alerts inspectors to a planned inspection campaign within the waste and recycling industry during 20010/11. Inspections should be targeted at skip-hire operations and associated recycling activities, particularly those where hand sorting of recyclables ('totting') takes place, and has specific emphasis on management of workplace transport risks. Full details HERE
 
If you need any help/advice regarding your site, please contact us for an informal discussion.
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=368 0 Local Authority Waste Analysis http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=359 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=359#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:25:19 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=359 Albion Environmental Ltd is pleased to announce they will be conducting a second quarterly  Waste Analysis service for one of our Local Authorities. The service can be provided for un-segregated waste, segregated waste and residual waste. Detailed Method Statement and Risk Assessments are discussed and agreed with the client.
Waste analysis will be carried out as per the ‘Scottish Household Waste Analysis Methodology’ specification. This document lists 18 categories in which the waste will be sorted into. In previous waste analyses we have broken down the waste further into sub-categories which total 31 different fractions
 
Albion Environmental Ltd is an experienced Waste Analysis contractor (see attached client list) and we will provide the following as standard-
·                Provision of experienced analysis supervisor.
·                Trained and experienced staff that have completed waste analysis work before.
·                All staff will be trained as a minimum in manual handling, safe handling of waste and needle stick injuries.
·                We will also ensure that at least one member of staff will be an appointed First Aid person for the duration of the work.
·                All necessary PPE for staff as per Risk Assessment.
·                Electronic scales to allow accurate weighing of waste types.
·                All necessary equipment to complete analysis with the exception of wheeled bins to sort waste into.
A copy of our Waste Audit Procedure which includes standard risk assessment, needle stick injury procedure and COSHH assessments can also be provided for your information
Waste Analysis service is primarily geared at gaining good quality, consistent data to allow Local Authorities to continue to expand and improve their collection methods. For further information and informal discussion please contact us.
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=359 0 Continued Competence http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=346 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=346#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:12:53 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=346 CIWM and WAMITAB's 'Operator Competence Scheme' (the Scheme') for England and Wales only has a requirement for individuals to keep their competence up to date. Therefore all competent persons falling within the Scheme will be required to demonstrate Continuing Competence and this will be appropriate to the level of risk posed by the facility so that it remains proportional. Although this only applies to England and Wales if you wish to keep your qualification current for the whole of the UK you need to complete this test.
 
Further information relating to this scheme and how you book your test is available HERE
 
Albion has provided the following support to candidates to prepare them for completing this test.
 
We have prepared a mock test which is available HERE
This test is free to use and is available to anyone who registers and agrees to a disclaimer.
 
In addition we have also prepared a 1 day CIWM and WAMITAB's 'Operator Competence Scheme' refresher course to assist with candidate revision. The purpose of this course is to prepare candidates to allow them to successfully complete their test.
We will shortly be arranging a number of open courses around the UK further details to follow. Alternatively, if your organisation has a number of COTC holders, we would be happy to deliver the course inhouse for you up to a maximum of 16 candidates per session.
 
We trust you have found this information useful, if you wish to book an in house course please contact us 01292 610428 or online
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=346 0 Scotland Pioneer Zero Waste Plan http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=334 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=334#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:16:15 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=334 Scotland Debut – Zero Waste Plan
In June, Scotland become one of the first countries in the world to set out plans to become a "zero waste society", announcing a series of new initiatives and targets designed to ultimately reclassify waste as a valuable resource. (www.businessgreen.com)
The plan includes a range of new targets, including a commitment to ensure only five per cent of waste is sent to landfill by 2025 with 70 per cent of waste being recycled and the remaining 25 per cent reused or employed by waste-to-energy plants.
An additional target will aim to ensure that all waste with recycling or reuse potential is diverted from landfill by 2020.
A spokeswoman for the government said the targets would cover all waste, including commercial, construction and industrial.
"In the past the targets have only covered municipal waste, which is a relatively small part of the waste stream," she said, adding that the aim of the new plan was to create a wide-ranging framework that encourages businesses and households to treat waste as a valuable resource.
The new targets will not be enforced using fines, but the government signaled it would introduce a range of new regulations designed to boost recycling rates, including landfill bans on waste types such as glass, metal and timber.
It added that it would also roll out separate collections of certain waste types, including food waste, in order to increase recycling rates and limit the cross contamination of waste streams.
Speaking at the official launch of the zero waste plan in Edinburgh, Scottish environment secretary Richard Lochhead said that reducing waste levels would deliver huge economic and commercial benefits for the country.
"In recent years, the people of Scotland have made substantial progress in cutting waste but households, businesses and wider society still produces enough waste to fill an Olympic size swimming pool every 10 minutes," he said. " Viewing waste as a resource opens many doors; rather than carelessly discarding materials to landfill, we can create new products and generate renewable energy, heat and fertiliser while creating more than 2,000 jobs."
The new plan was accompanied by an immediate commitment from recycling and waste-to-energy specialist Viridor to invest up to £800m over the next five years to build new facilities in the country.
Colin Paterson, Viridor's Scottish regional director, hailed the new action plan as "rightly ambitious and visionary", but warned that the target will only be met if planning barriers to new waste infrastructure is overcome.
"We can't afford another two, three or four years of planning delays," he argued, adding that the government should now approve projects such as the company's proposed energy from waste plant in Dunbar.
If you would like any advice/assistance for planning/permits for your company or information/guidance on waste please do not hesitate to contact Albion on 01292610428 / info@albion-environmental.co.uk
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=334 0 Albion to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Care in Great Scottish Run 2010 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=338 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=338#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:57:14 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=338 5th September 2010 – Albion Environmental Ltd have decided raise money for MacMillan cancer care whilst at the same time challenging ourselves to jointly covering just short of 40 miles competing in the Great Scottish Run. 
Jonathan & Alasdair (being the slightly slimmer members of staff!!) will complete a half marathon each and Gary & Billy will each complete 10k.
All sponsorship can be made on www.justgiving.com/albion and will be gratefully received.
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=338 0 Govt to carry out full review of waste policy in England http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=330 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=330#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:21:44 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=330 The Government is to carry out a full review of waste policy in England, looking at the most effective ways of reducing waste, maximising the money to be made from waste and recycling, and how waste policies affect local communities and individual households. (https://nds.coi.gov.uk)
Announcing the review at the Futuresource conference (on 15th June 2010), Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:
“There is an economic and environmental urgency to developing the right waste strategy.
“We have been slowly moving in the right direction with recycling rates. The direction of travel is right – it’s the pace that’s the problem. We need to go faster and we need to go further.”
The review will  include:
·    the effect of waste policies on local communities and individual households, and how local authorities can best work with people to make the best decisions;
·    maximising the contribution of the waste and recycling industries to the UK economically and environmentally;
·    how we work towards the “zero waste economy”, and drastically reduce the amount of waste created and valuable resources sent to landfill, looking at the entire process from source to end of life; and
·    new approaches to dealing with commercial waste and promoting ‘responsibility deals’, reducing the amount of waste generated by production and retail.
Caroline Spelman continued:
“We need a new approach to waste – one which works for the new economy. We cannot keep putting recyclable and biodegradable material into landfill. It threatens the environment and wastes what are incredibly valuable natural resources.
“We have an unprecedented opportunity to create the green jobs, green growth, and take our share of the green jobs of the future.”
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=330 0 Continued Competence Scheme http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=325 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=325#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:07:28 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=325 On Monday 7th June, Alasdair Meldrum of Albion Environmental Ltd received his award of Certificate on Continuing Competence. The continuing competence scheme was developed jointly by WAMITAB & CIWM and approved by Defra & the Welsh Assembly Government.
The award provides evidence maintaining competence over time and meets the specific requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007. For further information on Continuing Competence please click.
To contact Albion to discuss how you go about updating your COTC, please click 
]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=325 0 Albion host visit from 20 Romanian guests of SQA http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=321 http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=321#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:09:13 +0000 Alasdair http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?p=321 On Friday 28th May, Albion Environmental Ltd were pleased to play host to SQA and 20 visitors from Romania. During their visit they were shown around our approved centre and received a presentation on how an approved SQA centre is run. A follow up message from SQA was emailed showing the feedback from the visit.  “You will see that levels of satisfaction were very high and that the visit was a success. Many thanks to you all once again for your support and invaluable contributions” Mike Hewitt (SQA) ]]> http://www.albion-environmental.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=321 0