Waste Stories 1/2/2016

RuthRuth Stringer

1. 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.

One of the speakers at the event will be Ms Ruth Stringer (pictured above). Ruth is the International Science and Policy Coordinator for Health Care Without Harm. She is a member of the International Solid Waste Association healthcare waste working group, and a co-author of the 2014 edition of the World Health Organization Guidelines for the Safe Management of Wastes from Healthcare facilities. Current priorities include projects on the use of biological methods to treat biodegradable infectious waste and disseminating non-incineration waste treatment technologies in four countries in Africa, via a project in which HCWH is collaborating with UNDP and the World Health Organization, with funding from the Global Environment Facility.

The full programme can be found here: Programme – Jan 2016

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

Booking details can be found at: healthcare waste 2016 conference

 

2. Environment Agency changes to premises’ registration and consignment note numbering format

As of 1 April, 2016, there will be changes to the premises registation and consignment note number format. Read the guidance Changes to Premises Registration and the Consignment Note Number format

3. Government misses its own waste target

The UK Government has missed its own target to reduce the amount of waste it generates, according to a report quietly published in November.

Read the story here

4. EU report calls for mandatory separate collections

The European Commission has published a major study lead by CRI and German consultancy BiPRO, assessing the legislation and practice of separate collection systems for waste across the 28 EU member states.

Setting out recommendations, the report concludes that strict separate collections (one recyclable in one bin) “usually leads to higher recycling rates”, and that mandatory separate collection systems for certain municipal waste fractions, eg, waste paper, in addition to packaging waste, or mandatory separate collection of bio-waste, should be introduced.

Read the report here

5. Waste and resource digest

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published key statistics from the waste and resources sector together in one publication.

The Digest of Waste and Resources – 2016 edition is the second digest the department has published, and is a compendium of “key statistics” on a range of waste and resource areas, based on data published mainly by Defra, WRAP, the Environment Agency, Office for National Statistics and Eurostat.

Read the digest here

Waste Stories 3/2/2015

Healthcare

1.US EPA to propose new regulations for pharmaceuticals

The EPA plans to propose new regulations this year to address the management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The agency anticipates issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking on this issue in June 2015, according to its updated regulatory agenda, the availability of which was announced in the Federal Register on December 22, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 76,772).

Read the story here: EPA guidelines on pharmaceutical waste

2. Half day master class in planning, at CIWM HQ

In partnership with ENDS and Waste Planning magazine, CIWM is delighted to offer a half-day masterclass on ‘Smarter Planning and Delivery for Waste’. Three highly experienced speakers will cover the vital issues facing those working in the waste sector, including guidance for robust and compliant waste planning, advice on locating suitable locations for waste facilities (with reference to what the new waste policy means for development in the green belt) and how to effectively communicate plans for waste development to the wider community.

See booking details here: CIWM master class in planning

3. Defra digest of waste and resources

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published key statistics from the waste and resources sector in a single publication.

See the report here: Defra waste digest

4. North Bristol NHS Trust uses ‘robots’ to move waste

North Bristol National Health Service (NHS) Trust has rolled out a new automated waste collection system using containers from bin manufacturer Taylor and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) from automative specialists Swisslog.

Read the story here: North Bristol NHS waste ‘robots’