Waste Stories 9/11/2015

20150401_1210581. Green Investment Bank takes next step towards privatisation

The Rt Hon Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has confirmed that plans to remove ministerial powers over the Green Investment Bank (GIB) will take place, in a major step towards the privatisation of the bank. Following the announcement of the GIB’s planned privatisation in June 2015, Mr Javid said in a ministerial statement that he was planning to remove public sector controls over the bank. The planned change aims to allow the bank to borrow and raise capital without affecting public sector net debt. Following this news, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has launched a new inquiry into the “Future of the Green Investment Bank” and is currently accepting written evidence. The inquiry will look into issues such as if the privatisation of the GIB will achieve the benefits claimed by the Government and if the change presents any specific risks or opportunities.

2. Register for the Paris conference on climate change and healthcare

Organised in parallel with the UN climate conference, COP21, this event will bring together health care leaders from across Europe and around the world. Representatives from hospitals and health systems in France, Europe, the US, Asia, Africa and Latin America will discuss strategies for reducing their carbon footprint, as well as healthcare  leadership initiatives to protect public health from climate change.

Register here

3. Joint Healthcare Waste and Resources Research Group and ISWA International conference (sponsored by Grundon Waste Management)

In conjunction with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the Group will be hosting an international conference on April 14 and 15, 2016. It will be held at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Topics to be covered will include current and emerging technologies, sustainability and preparing for emergencies.

The programme can be found here: Programme – Nov 2015

Sponsors include: Daniels, Econix, GV Health, Frontier Medical Group, Newster and ISS Ltd. (Please contact Terry Tudor: terry.tudor@northampton.ac.uk, if you wish to sponsor)

Booking details for early bird registration can be found here: healthcare waste 2016 conference

4. Practical source book on mercury waste storage and disposal
We are delighted to announce the launch of a brand-new publication, the product of a cooperation between ISWA and UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (Chemicals Branch) (UNEP DTIE).
ISWA, together with the UNEP DTIE, the International Environmental and Technology Centre/IETC and the Ministry of Environment Japan, lead of the Global Mercury Waste Management partnership area jointly launched the ‘Practical Sourcebook on Mercury Waste Storage and Disposal’ during a side event at the 4th International Conference on Chemicals Management which took place on Friday, 2 October 2015.
The Sourcebook is an informative tool that aims to enhance the capacity of governments and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the environmentally sound storage and disposal of the major types of mercury wastes. The content of the ‘Sourcebook’ is based on the ‘updated technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing, or contaminated with mercury or mercury compounds’, recently adopted by the Conference of the Parties of the Basel Convention.
A copy of the Sourcebook is available at this link Sourcebook-Mercury-FINAL-web-_01

 

5. Suez’s England recycling report

This report aims to provide England’s local authorities and policy makers with a blueprint for raising our household waste recycling rate to the next level. With potential for some of the recommendations made could initiate debate on how we can move forward, especially in relation to meeting the EU 2020 target.

View the report here

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