Waste Stories 21/1/2015

Healthcare

1. Standard rules consultation 12

Please see the consultation documents here: Standard rules no.12 consultation

2. Guidance on carriage of dangerous goods

Guidance on the carriage of dangerous goods other than those assigned to Class 7.

See guidance here: Carriage of dangerous goods

3. Health at a glance: Europe

This third edition of Health at a Glance: Europe presents the latest information on health and health systems in 35 European countries, including all European Union Member States, candidate countries (with the exception of Albania due to limited data availability) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The selection of indicators is largely based on the European Core Health Indicators (ECHI) shortlist, a list of indicators that has been developed by the European Commission to guide the development and reporting of health statistics. It is complemented by additional indicators on health expenditure, quality of care and access to care, building on the OECD expertise in these areas.

Read the document here: Healthcare at a glance

4. Automated waste collection

Worcestershire manufacturer, Taylor, has helped pave the way for automated waste collection within the healthcare sector following North Bristol NHS Trust’s decision to combine Taylor’s container solutions with Swisslog’s automated guided vehicles (AGVs)….

Read the full story here: automated waste collection

Waste Stories 14/1/15

Healthcare

1.Water UK guidance

National guidance for healthcare waste water discharges.

Read the guidance: Water UK guidance

2.Have your say on the EU working time directive

The European Commission issued an online public consultation on 1 December asking how the Working Time Directive (WTD) should be changed. Responses to the consultation, due by 15 March 2015, will contribute to the Commission’s current review and assessment of the impact of the WTD on workers, employers and services across Europe. The Commission will use the results to inform their proposal for a new law, which we expect them to issue in 2015.

Read the consultation here: EU working time directive

3.The 13th International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management

The annual conference will be held from March 15 – 18, 2015, in Philadelphia, USA.

See the programme here: International solid waste seminar

4. Environment Agency to confirm separate collection approach

With new legislation on separate collection coming into force on January 1st, the Environment Agency is finalising a briefing note to stakeholders in which it will confirm how it will be overseeing the requirement to separately collect recyclable materials, as set out under the English and Welsh Waste Regulations. Under the new regulations, separate collections of at least paper, metal, plastic and glass for household and commercial waste are a legal requirement from January 1st, unless it is not technically, environmentally or economically practicable (TEEP) or necessary to allow high quality recycling of the material. In the draft briefing note, the Environment Agency has stated: “From January 2015 we will start to apply the regime. We will ask operators to supply information on their current collection methods by 31st March 2015 and we will maintain a database to update that information. Our aim is to help collectors to achieve compliance, but to be robust with those who deliberately ignore their obligations.”

5. Sustainable healthcare education published in the Lancet

In December 2015, the Lancet published a letter about the curriculum for sustainable healthcare, based on work by CSH and the Sustainable Healthcare Education network over the last four years…..

Read the article here: Sustainable healthcare article

Waste Stories 17/12/2014

 

3_spark_a_christmas_decoration_hd_picture_170139HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE COMMITTEE

1. The Group’s 2014 report

A copy of the Group’s 2014 report can be found here: HCWRR steering committee report 2014a

2. Capacity building in Moldova

Injections are one of the most common health care procedures, and poor management of injection-related waste exposes patients, health care workers, waste handlers and, indeed, the wider community, to infections, toxic effects and injuries. A series of activities in the Republic of Moldova was carried out in 2012 as part of an ongoing WHO initiative to provide technical support to the Ministry of Health in this area….

Read the story here: WHO Moldova capacity building

3. Healthcare waste rules in Europe should be harmonised

Read the story here: Endseurope article

4. Carbon Trust public sector seminar on energy, February 25, 2015 (Barbican Conference Centre)

Against the backdrop of political change in 2015, the Carbon Trust Public Sector Conference agenda will feature real, practical examples of solutions that you can apply to your own specific challenges. An invaluable opportunity to network with colleagues from across the public sector, the Conference will enable you to tailor your own agenda through a choice of plenary, workshop and roundtable sessions, all of which are designed to give you knowledge and tools to help you save money and carbon.
This CPD accredited event is planned to feature the following dedicated streams:
1.  Distributed energy and heat networks – understanding the role of the public sector in establishing a successful future for decentralised energy

2.   Energy Performance Contracting – contracts, best practice and suppliers: an independent view of Energy Performance Contracting and managing built assets.

3.   Low Carbon Cities – partner engagement, leadership and smart technologies to enable sustainable cities in the UK and beyond.

4.   Climate Change Adaptation – managing risks to health and to public service delivery.

Register here: Carbon Trust seminar

5.WRAP to launch a waste prevention hub

Resource Minister, Dan Rogerson, announced at CIWM’s Rethinking Reuse Conference in London on December 10, that WRAP will launch a Waste Prevention Hub along with a suite of reuse guidance. The Hub will aim to be a “one-stop-shop” for those looking to write their own waste prevention plans and for those looking for specific information regarding waste initiatives. Aimed at businesses and local authorities, it will include tools to help calculate and monitor the benefits of waste prevention activity.

See full story here: WRAP waste prevention hub

Waste Stories 10/12/2014

Healthcare

1. Healthcare waste conference June 3-4, 2015

The Healthcare Waste Institute’s Annual Healthcare Waste Conference, in Las Vegas.

See conference details here: Healthcare waste conference

2. Plymouth University’s Nursing Sustainability by Design project

See video here: Plymouth University’ Nursing sustainability project

3. Wales goes ahead with separation rules for businesses

The Welsh Environment Minister has confirmed that proposals requiring businesses to separate recyclable materials will become law next year. The measure will be included in an Environment Bill, which is due to be laid before the Welsh Assembly in spring 2015. Natural Resource Minister Carl Sargeant said: “New laws requiring those who collect waste to collect paper, glass, plastics and metals separately, in order to achieve high quality recycling, come into effect on 1 January 2015. In the spring we shall be introducing proposals for further legislation that will require businesses and the public sector to separate their wastes. This will help to ensure a more circular economy for Wales so that the inherent financial value of waste materials is protected.” The proposals were first put forward in a white paper submitted for consultation between October 2013 and January 2014.

See link for more details: Welsh Government

4.Defra to rewrite environmental regulations affecting businesses

As part of ongoing efforts to make them easier to follow, Defra will rewrite environmental regulations affecting businesses by March 2015. The date was announced in a progress report on the Environment Agency’s (EA) triennial review. Defra said that, under its Smarter Environmental Regulation Review (SERR) programme, businesses will find the new system “simpler, quicker and clearer to find the information they need to be able to comply with environmental regulations”. The report also applauded a new service set up by the EA in December 2013 to make it easier for businesses to register as lower-tier waste carriers.

5.DECC unveils changes to energy subsidies

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has unveiled changes to renewable energy subsidies and additional funding to support the development of community-scale renewables, including energy-from-waste projects. “I want to give more people the power to generate their own electricity and by supporting community energy projects we can help them drive down their energy bills at the same time,” said energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey. Also announced were changes to DECC’s Feed in Tariff (FIT) Scheme that will allow more community-scale renewables developers to access the subsidies. 

The changes include:
·         allowing registered charities to join the scheme,
·         allowing two community projects each up to 5MW to share a single grid connection and receive separate FITs, and
·         extending the scheme for an extra six months

Waste Stories 3/12/2014

Healthcare

1.Bid writing workshops in December and January

This training course will provide delegates with practical bid writing techniques, enabling them to produce focused proposals, increase their success rates and win new resources for their organisation.

Idox’s “Bid Writing Workshop” is ideal for staff from public and not-for-profit organisations who are expected to write funding applications as part of their job role. Delegates are encouraged to bring along funding applications they are working on, or bids that have previously been submitted by their organisation for use in the practical elements of the day.

See work info here: Idox workshops

2. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on waste management in England

See a copy of the report here: EFRA Committee waste management report

3. The survivability of Ebola in healthcare waste

This CDC guidance is intended to provide additional clarity on options for waste management practices to appropriately dispose of Ebola waste.

See the CDC report: CDC guidance document

4. Defra consultation on waste definition

Defra is seeking to clarify the application of the definition of waste to reuse and repair activities, by calling on stakeholder opinions in order to “fully examine the issue”.

The Waste Prevention programme for England published in December 2013, committed Government to providing clarification on the application of the definition of waste to re-use and repair activities.

Please get in touch if you have any questions or send your response to the waste prevention mailbox (wasteprevention@defra.gsi.gov.uk) for the attention of Ibby Sanusi byFriday 30th January 2015.

See the document here: Defra consultation

5.DECC stakeholder meeting on ecodesign and energy labelling

The presentations used at DECC’s energy-using product stakeholder meeting held on the 11th  November in London.  The next meeting will be held in spring 2015.

See slides here: DECC stakeholder meeting

6. Environment Agency consultation on WM2

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on the hazardous waste guidance document WM2. The deadline for responses is 13 February, 2015.

See the document here: WM2 consultation documents

Waste Stories 26/11/2014

Symp2

1. EU healthcare waste management project survey

Below is a questionnaire and informational leaflet on the EU HCWM project “Developing an EU standardised approach to Vocational Qualifications in Healthcare Waste Management”. The information leaflet will explain in more detail about the project being undertaken. Could completed questionnaires please be sent to Scott Crossett by the 30th November 2014. Scott’s e-mail address is: scott@icerms.com

Scott will circulate the comparison report before the end of this year.

See the questionnaire and project information here: EUHCWM leaflet 3 WORD, EU HCWM Questionnaire sc

2.Incentivising the uptake of reusable nappies

There’s little doubt that in environmental terms, reusable nappies are better than disposable ones. For local councils, preventing the waste arising from disposable nappies saves around £100 per baby. But there’s an up-front cost for parents who buy towelling nappies; and then there’s all that washing…. So how can parents be incentivised to make the environmentally better choice?

See article here: incentivising reusable nappies

3. CIWM master class in hazardous waste classification

This half day Masterclass will discuss the issues recently raised by the Environment Agency regarding misclassification of hazardous waste.  Speakers from the Environment Agency and one of the CIWM Hazardous Waste trainers will clarify the issues and how the classification can be done more accurately using the most up to date sources of information.  This is your opportunity to ask questions and discuss the issues.

See event details here: CIWM master class

4. Consultation responses for national waste planning policy

See document here: DCLG consultation responses document

5. UKTI support opportunities for business growth

Exporting needn’t be difficult. It doesn’t matter which country you’re looking at, or what industry sector you are in, or what stage your business is at, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) can help you. On average, companies earn £100k in additional sales within 18 months of working with UKTI, and the advice given by our trade experts is FREE. If you want your business to grow internationally, with UK government’s global support, tap into our expertise right now. Fill in your company’s details below and one of the UKTI team will get in touch within one working day.

Sign up here: UKTI export advisor

6. London Waste and Recycling Board’s waste infrastructure funding

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) has launched a new £20m fund available for waste-related projects, following the recent publication of LWARB’s investment framework 2015-2020. The new infrastructure fund offers a wide variety of investment opportunities suitable for projects at different development stages.

Read about funding here: London waste infrastructure funding

Waste Stories 19/11/2014

 Healthcare

1. WMAHSN Health+Wealth Economic Summit

Presentations are now available from the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network Health and Wealth Summit in October. The summit was organised by the NHS European Office to look at how regional health economies are successfully using EU funds to lead the local regeneration agenda and was timed to help AHSNs, Local Education and Training Boards and other NHS bodies understand the opportunities offered by EU Structural and Investment Funds over the next seven years.

See copies of the presentations here: WMAHSN Health+Wealth Economic Summit

2. International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Public Health, 2015

The 2015 Conference on Environmental Pollution and Public Health (EPPH 2015) will be held from April 10-12, 2015 in Beijing, China.

See conference website here: EPPH 2015

3. Partnership to help Welsh businesses become more efficient

The Carbon Trust and WRAP Cymru announced that they are to work in partnership to help Welsh public sector organisations and businesses of all sizes to become more resource efficient. The collaboration will deliver Client Manager Services to businesses (including third sector businesses) and public sector organisations as part of the Welsh Government’s Resource Efficient Wales service.

The two contracts are worth a total of £1.03m across an initial 18-month period. Participating organisations will receive support to reduce their energy, water, resource use and waste, helping them take advantage of the opportunities of resource efficiency. They will also be able to learn about additional sources of support from the Welsh Government.

4. UK’s first waste brokerage launched

The Scottish Government is to fund a new remanufacturing centre and a brokerage service for recyclates, it has been announced. The Scottish Institute of Remanufacture, which will focus on recouping the value of the materials and components that are lost through disposal and/or the recycling process, will be hosted by the University of Strathclyde and run in partnership with Heriot-Watt University.

Zero Waste Scotland, which delivers the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan, has committed £300,000 to the project, while the Scottish Funding Council, which distributes funding from the Scottish Government to the country’s colleges and universities, will provide £1 million to the centre. The funding will be spread over three years.

Read the story here: Scottish Government waste brokerage service

5. Waste sector sees fall in fatalities

According to the latest injury and ill health statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the number of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the waste and recycling sector has fallen. The overall trend for injury numbers in waste and recycling over the last few years is falling, the HSE confirmed. But it is still “much higher” than in the agriculture and construction sectors, it said. In 2013/14p the waste industry saw four fatal injuries to workers, including two fatal injuries to self-employed people. This compares with an average of nine over the previous five years.

Read the story here: HSE data

5. LWARB and WRAP funding for recycling by London boroughs

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and WRAP are looking to join forces to help London boroughs deliver more consistent and efficient waste and recycling services..

See article here: LWARB funding for recycling

Waste Stories 12/11/2014

Symp2

1. Consultation on Environment Agency charges from 2015

This consultation, which closes on November 20, sets out Government’s charging proposals for the Environmental Permitting, Abstraction and EU Emissions Trading Schemes.

See the consultation here: EA consultation documents

2.Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ report on costs savings in the NHS

A new report issued by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has identified nearly 2bn pounds worth of cost savings the NHS could be making if it provided more appropriate care. The report entitled Protecting resources, promoting value: a doctor’s guide to cutting waste in clinical care, provides a framework for doctors to think critically about waste from a clinical perspective and provides examples of doctors improving the value of health care by reducing waste. It looks at the different types of clinical waste and covers how doctors should be leaders in its reduction. It looks at everything from reducing physical waste, such as medicines, to saving NHS resources, estimating that around 20 percent of mainstream clinical practice brings “no benefit to the patient”, as there is widespread overuse of tests and interventions.

Using data obtained by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence and first-hand accounts from doctors, the document reveals:

  • improving doctor’s awareness of the possibility of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), particularly among the frail and elderly could save the NHS £466m a year. One analysis showed that over half of the patients being treated could safely have their medication reduced or stopped altogether. ADR’s account for 4 in every 100 hospital bed days
  • the simple measure of increasing the frequency of ward rounds means patients can often go home sooner. At the Royal Liverpool University hospital ward rounds were increased from two a week to twice daily. It reduced bed occupancy by 7.8 percent
  • maximising the use of operating theatres and managing operating schedules better, saved the University Hospital Bristol Trust £2m a year. There are 160 acute trusts in England.

The report recognises that operating at 100 percent efficiency, round-the-clock would be impossible in an organisation as large and of necessity, as flexible as the NHS, but calls for a change in culture by England’s 150,000 doctors, arguing they have an ethical duty to protect resources and promote value.

It suggests they should ask not simply if a treatment or procedure is possible, but, whether it provides real value to the patient and genuinely improves the quality of their life or their prospects for recovery.

Academy Chair Professor Terence Stephenson said: “Maintaining NHS services in the future depends on doctors ensuring the best use of resources today. Quality of care is a doctor’s prime concern. But, delivering quality care and promoting value are really two sides of the same coin. One doctor’s waste is another patient’s delay; potentially it could be another patient’s lack of treatment.”

Read the report here: Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ report

3. CIWM 2014 award winners (including two University of Northampton students) announced

The 2014 winners of the CIWM Awards have been unveiled, representing the pinnacle of best practice and innovation in the waste and resources industry. Over 400 attendees gathered at the ceremony held at the London Marriot, which was hosted this year by TV presenter and adventurer, Helen Skelton, who’s widely known for presenting BBC’s Blue Peter and Countryfile.

The CIWM Awards recognise the achievements and innovations made by companies, local authorities, professionals and academics, and cover all aspects of the industry – from waste and resource management, to sustainability and energy recovery.

Read about the winners here: CIWM 2014 award winners (including John Dururu and Rob Reinhardt)

4. Scotland’s 2012 waste arisings revealed

Newly compiled data has been published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that provides a breakdown of all waste generated and managed in Scotland during 2012. The data brings together information on the waste collected from all sources, such as commercial enterprises, the construction industry and households, including detailed information on the waste generated, recycled and disposed to landfill.

Publicly available on the Scotland’s Environment website, the data is presented for the first time through the new interactive Waste Discover Data tool. It allows users to analyse and display data in greater detail, while filters are available to isolate key information by waste management method, origin, hazard, location and specific waste material.

See the tool here: Scotland waste arisings tool

5. Green Investment Bank has invested more than £200m in waste projects

More than £200 million has been invested by the Green Investment Bank (GIB) in waste projects since the Bank opened two years ago. The GIB was set up with around £3 billion of government funding in 2012 and identified waste as one of its priority sectors. A specific team was set up within the GIB aimed at identifying investment opportunities within the waste sector. The GIB’s waste and bio-energy team has funded a series of projects in the sector, of which the majority are energy-from-waste and anaerobic digestion projects. The Bank’s aim is to attract private funding for projects, with GIB funding intended to act as an incentive for private sectors to step in. To date the GIB has invested a total of £1.6 billion in 37 different projects across all sectors.
Visit the Bank’s site here: GIB website

Waste stories 5/11/2014

Healthcare

1. New health and safety guidance for waste and recycling collection

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and The Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) have published guidance on managing the risks from waste and recycling collection services. According to HSE, collection activities account for the largest proportion of accidents in the waste and recycling industries.

See guidance here: HSE and WISH guidance

2. Boosting business resource efficiency through End-of Waste

11th November | 8.30am – 10.30am | Jubilee Room, Palace of Westminster

Speakers include:

Dr Paul Leinster – Chief Executive, Environment Agency

Gary Crawford – Vice President – Emerging Markets, Veolia Environmental Services

Peter Young – Chairman, Aldersgate Group

On behalf of the Environment Agency and its Equal (Ensuring Quality waste-derived products) programme partners, this event will launch the IsItWaste? programme’s support tool. The free online tool empowers businesses to assess and make informed decisions about whether a waste-derived material is a by-product, achieves End-of-Waste criteria or remains a waste. The Equal LIFE+ programme aims to promote the re-use and recycling of waste materials whilst protecting human health and the environment. The IsItWaste? webtool will help businesses to derive value from waste materials by demonstrating that they are safe, high quality products. The programme partners are the Environment Agency, CIWM, ESA, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & the Environment, the Organics Recycling Group, and Energy UK.

This event will be chaired by Barry Sheerman MP. Please email apsrg@policyconnect.org.uk for more information and to register.

3. Defra EU and UK footprinting update

Defra is running an event on November 24, from 1:30 – 5pm, to update UK businesses about the ongoing work on environmental footprinting led by the European Commission.   The EC has published two generic footprinting methods – one for products and one for organisations, and has recommended their use by Member States and by companies.  The aim is that the methods will be used to measure environmental performance on a life cycle basis, and will counteract the proliferation of different methodologies.   A 3 year pilot of these methods began in November 2013 and includes work to develop product- and sector-specific rules and to test communications vehicles.   Further background information is on the EC PEF website.

At this session you will hear from the European Commission directly on the progress of the pilot work, and from businesses involved in individual pilots on their experiences so far.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions and to contribute your views on the potential future impacts and issues for UK business.  Defra are keen to gather views in this area to help us develop our policy on how footprinting methodologies can most usefully be developed and how they might contribute to environmental policy in the future. If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Defra to request a place:

Ruth Coward |  Sustainable Products  | Resource, Atmosphere and Sustainability | DEFRA

ruth.coward@defra.gsi.gov.uk  |  0207 238 5281

Please note that numbers are limited by the venue size and places will be confirmed according to availability.

4. Free subscription to Waste Management World

Waste Management World Magazine delivers the latest news and global developments on international projects, best practices, technological developments, trends and legislation. Each issue covers biological waste treatment, collection and transport, recycling and waste minimization, sanitary landfill and thermal treatment of waste.

Click here: Waste Management World

Waste Stories 30/10/2014

 

Symp2

1. Launch of CIWM’s Circular Economy Report

4th November | 2.30pm – 4.00pm | CPA Room, Palace of Westminster

Speakers include:

The Rt Hon the Lord Deben – Chairman, Climate Change Committee

John Quinn – Chief Executive, Arc21 and President of CIWM

Ray Georgeson – Report Author

This parliamentary event will launch the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management’s (CIWM) Circular Economy Report. This report explores how well the circular economy concept is understood across the waste and resources sector and what it means for professionals within the sector.

This event will be chaired by Barry Sheerman MP. Please email apsrg@policyconnect.org.uk for more information and to register.

2. National waste planning policy consultation

The national waste planning policy consultation report has been published, accompanied by the new “National Planning Policy for Waste”, which suggests councils should work “jointly and collaboratively” with other planning authorities to collect and share data and information on waste.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) launched its consultation on an updated national waste planning policy in July this year. The Department said the new policy document means councils can no longer give special consideration to locational needs, or wider economic benefits the site could bring, over other considerations, as justification for building waste facilities on green belt land.

See document here: Waste policy consultation

3. ISWA TRP+ hazardous waste project

The TRP+ Project (Training Resources Pack for Hazardous Waste Mangement) had its third Expert Workshop in Vienna at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), alongside the UNEP/ISWA Mercury Expert Group Meeting.  From 25 to 26 August, six participants worked on 8 sub-chapters of the TRP+ and had very interesting and effective discussions. Topics discussed included: Mercury Wastes, PoPs, Asbestos, Physical-chemical Treatment, Waste Handling, Storage and Waste Handling, Management Systems for Safety, Environment and Social Factor.  It is expected to have the final draft of these sub-chapters ready and uploaded to the online expert forum, in order to be finally compiled into the complete package next year in 2015.

Read about the project here: TRP+ project

4. Interactive map of UK recycling

National recycling and resource management company, SITA UK, has released an interactive digital map of local authority recycling data across the UK, allowing for a clear view on where low lowest and highest recyclers live.

See the map here: UK map of recycling

5. Water, wastewater and environmental monitoring seminar (November 5 – 6)

The 6th WWEM seminar will be held on November 5 and 6, at the Telford International Centre. It is focused on measurement, testing and analysis for the water and wastewater and environmental industry. From test kits to process measurement, laboratory analysis right through to fixed and portable gas detection.

See full programme here: WWEM seminar