Following the recent appointment of David Carson of Deloitte as Receiver to the business of Greenstar, the waste management company has confirmed that it will continues to trade as normal, servicing its 80,000 residential and 15,000 business customers throughout Ireland.

According to Greenstar, all its operations are continuing as normal without interruption. There is no change to collection times or to services.

Greenstar says its customers, whether residential or commercial, do not need to take action regarding their service from the company.

A new report on how Member States manage their municipal waste shows that Ireland still has a long way to go. The Irish results are remarkably poor in areas such as decoupling of waste from consumption, access to waste collection services and the rate of waste going to landfills. Scoring 19 out of 42 points Ireland ranks 15 out of 27 Member States (by contrast Austria and the Netherlands scored 39 points).

The report grades the Member States against 18 criteria such as total waste recycled, pricing of waste disposal, and infringements of European legislation. The resulting scoreboard forms part of an on-going study that will help Member States improve their waste management performance. Top of the table are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany,  the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Ireland is only one point ahead of the Member States with the largest implementation gaps which are Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Failings include poor or non-existent waste prevention policies, a lack of incentives to divert waste from landfills, and inadequate waste infrastructure. Heavy reliance on landfilling means that better waste management options such as re-use and recycling are consistently underexploited. The outlook is accordingly poor.

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden by contrast have comprehensive waste collection systems and landfill less than 5 % of their waste. They have well developed recycling systems, sufficient treatment capacity, and they perform well with biodegradable waste. Typically, they blend legal, administrative and economic instruments to good effect in their waste management policies.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik says: “The picture that emerges from this exercise confirms my strong concerns. Many Member States are still landfilling huge amounts of municipal waste – the worst waste management option – despite better alternatives, and despite structural funds being available to finance better options. Valuable resources are being buried, potential economic benefits are being lost, jobs in the waste management sector are not being created, and human health and the environment suffer. This is hard to defend in our present economic circumstances.”

The Commission is using this report to prepare Roadmaps for the ten worst performing Member States. These will be discussed with national authorities at bilateral seminars this autumn, starting in Prague on 19 September. The Roadmaps will help spread best practices and will contain tailor-made recommendations on how to improve waste management using economic, legal and administrative tools, and EU structural funds.

The Commission is looking to use EU structural funds with a greater focus on the objectives of EU waste policy. The proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 will ensure that EU money is only invested in waste management projects if certain conditions are met beforehand, including the development of Waste Management Plans in accordance with the Waste Framework Directive and with the waste hierarchy, favouring prevention, reuse and recycling over incineration with energy recovery, with landfilling or incineration without energy recovery as a last resort.

A recent study prepared for the Commission estimates that full implementation of EU waste legislation would save Eur72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by Eur42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020.

Growing prosperity and urbanisation could double the volume of municipal solid waste annually by 2025, challenging environmental and public health management in the world’s cities, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service. Although some of this waste is eventually recycled, the doubling of waste that current projections indicate would bring the volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) from today’s 1.3 billion tons per year to 2.6 billion tons, writes report author and Worldwatch Senior Fellow Gary Gardner.

As defined in the report, MSW consists of organic material, paper, plastic, glass, metals, and other refuse collected by municipal authorities, largely from homes, offices, institutions, and commercial establishments. MSW is a subset of the larger universe of waste and typically does not include waste collected outside of formal municipal programs. Nor does it include the sewage, industrial waste, or construction and demolition waste generated by cities. And of course MSW does not include rural wastes. MSW is measured before disposal, and data on it often include collected material that is later diverted for recycling.

MSW tends to be generated in much higher quantities in wealthier regions of the world. Members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of 34 industrialised nations, lead the world in MSW generation, at nearly 1.6 million tons per day. By contrast, sub-Saharan Africa produces less than one eighth as much, some 200,000 tons per day.

The list of top 10 MSW-generating countries includes four developing nations (Brazil, China, India and Mexico) in part because of the size of their urban populations and in part because their city dwellers are prospering and adopting high-consumption lifestyles. Although the United States leads the world in MSW output at some 621,000 tons per day, China is a relatively close second, at some 521,000 tons. Even among the top 10, however, there is a wide range of output: the United States generates nearly seven times more urban refuse than France, in tenth position, does.

Roughly a quarter of the world’s garbage is diverted to recycling, composting, or digestion – waste management options that are environmentally superior to landfills and incinerators. Recycling rates vary widely by country. In the United States, the recycled share of MSW grew from less than 10 percent in 1980 to 34 percent in 2010, and similar increases have been seen in other countries, especially industrial ones.

The growing interest in MSW recovery is driven by a maturation of regulations and of markets for post-consumer materials. The global market for scrap metal and paper is at least $30 billion per year, according to the World Bank. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates the market for waste management, from collection through recycling, to be some $400 billion worldwide. Yet UNEP also estimates that to “green” the waste sector would require, among other things, a 3.5-fold increase in MSW recycling at the global level, including nearly complete recovery of all organic material through composting or conversion to energy.

The gold standard for MSW will be to integrate it into a materials management approach known as a “circular economy,” which involves a series of policies to reduce the use of some materials and to reclaim or recycle most of the rest. Japan has made the circular economy a national priority since the early 1990s through passage of a steady progression of waste reduction laws, and the country has achieved notable successes. Resource productivity (tons of material used per yen of gross domestic product) is on track to more than double by 2015 over 1990 levels, the recycling rate is projected to roughly double over the same period, and total material sent to landfills will likely decrease to about a fifth of the 1990 level by 2015.

The UK’s largest energy from waste (EfW) facility has been officially opened by Cory Environmental at Belvedere in Bexley, London. The new Riverside Resource Recovery (RRR) facility plays a crucial role in the integrated waste management solution which Cory Environmental has developed to process London’s waste. The facility will make an important contribution to the capital’s ability to meet its landfill diversion and renewable energy targets for the next 30 years.

The RRR facility will process an average of 585,000 tonnes of non-recyclable residual waste each year, generating 66MW of renewable electricity for export to the National Grid – enough to power around 100,000 homes. RRR is currently not only the largest EfW facility in the UK but also one of the most efficient.

The majority of the waste comes from four London boroughs – Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Lambeth and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Cory Environmental also holds contracts with the London Borough of Bexley, the City of London and Westminster City Council, and the facility also takes commercial and industrial waste from the surrounding area.

RRR incorporates a 270m long deep-water jetty, which enables the majority of waste to be delivered by river, removing more than 100,000 lorry movements from the capital’s congested roads each year.

RRR produces around 170,000 tonnes of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) each year. This ash is the principal residue from the incineration process, and is transported by river to Tilbury in Essex where it is used to make aggregate for the construction sector. It is already being used on the M25 widening scheme.

Galway headquartered waste management firm, The City Bin Co, has scooped two national awards from one of the world’s top business consultancies. Having just won the Deloitte ‘Best Managed Companies’ accolade for the fourth year in a row, the company has capped it with the Deloitte ‘Gold Standard’ Award for 2012.

Established in 1997, The City Bin Co. has operations in Galway, Dublin and other counties. The company’s focus on customer service is the cornerstone of its success. As well as the Deloitte ‘Best Managed Companies’ and ‘Gold Standard’ Awards, the firm has a further 15 accolades and accreditations.

The Deloitte ‘Best Managed Companies’ awards recognise indigenous Irish businesses that surpass their peers in performance. Companies must compete in a rigorous, independent evaluation of their management capabilities and practices. The bar is high and only the most capable companies can win.

Dan O’Donovan, partner, Deloitte and Best Managed Companies coach, comments: “To be recognised as a Best Managed Company for four years in a row is a fantastic achievement. We were extremely impressed with the commitment to progress and growth that was shown by the management team.”

“A world class team takes great ideas to great results. I’m privileged to lead and be part of such a team at The City Bin Co,” says Gene Browne (pictured), chief executive of The City Bin Co. “Most businesses today have access to the same products, technology, services etc. The real difference is in how they manage these resources.”

NTR, the Dubin-based investor in renewable energy and sustainable waste management businesses, has increased its shareholding in Wind Capital Group, its US-based wind energy business, from 62% to 97%. In recent months, NTR has also invested further capital in Wind Capital Group.

Wind Capital Group’s 201MW Post Rock wind energy project is scheduled to come online in the second half of 2012 and will provide enough electricity to power over 70,000 homes. Kansas-based electric utility Westar Energy will purchase the power generated at Post Rock under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The project will use 134 General Electric 1.5-82.5 wind turbines.

“Wind Capital Group has made significant progress in the last year and is on track to have 350MW of operating assets and a strong pipeline of follow on projects,” comments Michael McNicholas, chief executive of NTR. “Our increased shareholding in Wind Capital consolidates our position in the company at a time in which a substantive amount of operating assets are coming on-stream. Wind Capital represents a solid asset and is well positioned as a platform for NTR’s renewable activities in the US market.”

Meanwhile, NTR has reduced its stake in Green Plains Renewable Energy from 23% to approximately 2%. The move is in line with NTR’s strategy to rebalance its portfolio and the capital released to support its investment in US wind.

Household recycling rates in Northern Ireland have risen by 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. The quarterly household recycling and composting figures for January–March 2011 are at their highest since statistics began in 2008.

The Northern Ireland Waste Management Statistics for this period also highlight a 5.6% decrease in the amount of waste being landfilled by councils on the same basis.

Northern Ireland Environment Minister Alex Attwood welcomes the useful improvements that these statistics demonstrate. “The encouraging decrease in landfilled municipal waste is also welcome both environmentally and financially as this will reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and landfill tax costs,” he says. “However I was disappointed to see that the amount of household waste produced in Northern Ireland this quarter has increased by 2.6% compared to the same period last year. This demonstrates that we cannot be complacent. Recycling is one of the many ways that we can make our local area a better place to live and invest and I will be pushing to make Northern Ireland the leader of recycling on these Islands.”

The Minister recently released £400,000 of funding via round two of the Rethink Waste Revenue Fund to assist community and voluntary groups, councils and the private sector for recycling and re-use projects. Further detailed information on the application process, including the assessment criteria, application form and guidance notes is available on the News and Events section on the rethink waste website.

With barbecues and salad days fast approaching Stop Food Waste is reminding the public that 50% of the lettuce we buy ends up in the bin. While a head of lettuce may seem cheap at around under €1 you can see how quickly this amount of waste can add up in euros over time.

The Stop Food Waste programme is funded under the EPA National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP). Waste Prevention is the preferred waste management option in Ireland.

Odile Le Bolloch, spokesperson for Stop Food Waste at the EPA, advises lettuce lovers: “When you buy lettuce, make sure to take it out of its bag and wash it as soon as possible. Spin the lettuce in a salad spinner to dry off the washing water and store it in the fridge in the salad spinner. Leave a small amount of water in the bottom of the spinner and top up if needed. This keeps the lettuce fresh, it lasts longer and you have a supply of washed lettuce to use during the week.

“Another mistake people sometimes make is to cut the stalk off the lettuce with a metal knife. This can cause the lettuce to get those brown edges people hate so instead simply break off the leaves as you need them.”

Stop Food Waste also points out that growing your own lettuce and other greens not only gives you a greater appreciation for it, because you have grown and nurtured it yourself, but it also means that you take as much as you want as you need it. “You don’t need that much space to grow a few heads of lettuce, rocket or herbs – a well drained window box works great where space is limited,” says Odile Le Bolloch. “Start the window box indoors and once the first few sprouts start to show you can put it outside on a sunny sill. Make sure you keep it watered – though in Irish summers this is usually not a problem!”

Clearpower, the Wicklow based bio-energy and organic waste management company, has won the ‘Green Business Award’ at the national final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards. Established in 2002, privately owned Clearpower creates renewable energy in the form of heat or electricity using products such as wood chip, wood pellets and organic waste.

Clearpower has the exclusive Irish agency for three of the pre-eminent wood fuelled boiler manufacturers in Europe: Kob, Heizomat and Compte.

Clearpower also provides heating and power installations and solutions, wood fuel, operation and maintenance, organic waste remediation and software services and consultancy. The company has an in-house team specialising in bio-energy technology. Clients include BSkyB, London Olympic Stadium, UCD, NUIG, the HSE, OPW, IKEA and many county councils. It currently employs 60 people.

Nearly 400 businesses across Ireland entered the 2010 Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards. The winning business in each category was selected from a shortlist of four companies, one from each province. Companies were rigorously judged on a variety of merits including financial performance, company milestones and achievements, future strategy for the business and development of innovative products and services.

CAPTION:

Pictured at the National Final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards were (l-r), Sean Martyn, director, Ulster Bank; Carol Walsh, Clearpower; John Heffernan, Clearpower; and Mike Shelly, Clearpower.

The CIWM (Chartered Institution of Waste Management) is hosting its AGM in the Derrynaflan Theatre at the Horse and Jockey Hotel near Thurles, County Tipperary at 9.30am on Thursday 28th April 2011. The AGM will include a themed open meeting entitled ‘Biodegradable Waste Treatment in Ireland – A review of progress to date in achieving Ireland’s targets’, a field tour to the In-Vessel Compost Facility of Acorn Recycling in Littleton and a visit to RX3 commissioned field trials of spring barley grown using compost and digestate.

The new Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Phil Hogan, TD will open and address the conference.

The conference is aimed at waste management companies, waste management practioners, environmental consultants, waste regulators, policy makers, local authority staff, elected members, technology providers, waste planners, farmers looking to diversify / source new fertilizer sources, finance houses, students studying in this area and other relevant interested parties/persons.

The cost for attending this event is Eur60 for members, Eur120 for non-members and Eur40 for students (on production of a relevant student ID card). For further information contact Toddy Cuthbert MCIWM, Republic of Ireland Centre CIWM on Mobile 086 3864518, E-mail toddy.cuthbert@gmail.com.

Work has started on one of the UK’s first large scale advanced gasification plants. Based in Dagenham, the £80 million plant will transform household rubbish into clean energy to power up to 15,000 local homes. The project is expected to create 25 permanent skilled jobs as well as up to 100 construction jobs during the building works. Once it is operational in 2013 it will turn almost 100,000 tonnes of waste into around 19 megawatts of energy each year.

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) has agreed a £8.9million loan to Biossence East London, some of which has been used to secure the site and complete preparation work. This is part of the London Waste and Recycling Board’s commitment to supporting the development of new waste infrastructure in London.

The site has been bought from Ford Motor Company which will benefit from the energy generated by the facility, the majority of which will be exported to the National Grid. The use of renewable energy plays an important role in the running of Ford’s Dagenham plant, which has two existing wind turbines with a planned third on the way.

The gasification plant works by taking residual household rubbish and breaking it down through thermal and chemical processes to create a synthetic gas fuel which is then used to generate electricity. The new plant will take household waste from the four local boroughs which form the East London Waste Authority – Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge.

The Shanks ‘Frog Island’ facility, which will provide the rubbish, is less than half a mile away from where the gasification plant is being built, so transportation is minimal, helping to cut down on carbon emissions.

LWARB has committed more than £30.5 million to various projects across London, to improve waste management in the capital.

The European Commission has published a report on Member States’ performance in the prevention and recycling of waste. This shows that some Member States have made excellent progress, but that we are still some way from achieving the long-term goal of becoming a ‘recycling society’ – one that not only avoids producing waste but also uses it as a resource.

The report shows that in most Member States overall waste generation seems to be increasing (or at best stabilising) but at a lower rate than economic growth. Over the last ten years municipal waste generation has stabilised at around 524 kg per year per person, although household consumption has increased by around 16% during the same period. More could be done, therefore, to reduce the absolute generation of waste. For example, 25% of food bought by EU households is thrown away. Some 60% of this waste could be avoided, saving each household around €500 per year.

There are huge differences between Member States. Recycling rates vary from a few percent up to 70%. In some Member States landfilling has virtually disappeared, in others more than 90% of waste is still buried in the ground. This shows a significant margin for progress beyond the current EU minimum collection and recycling targets.

The introduction of a combination of economic and legal instruments used by the best performing Member States should be encouraged, including landfill bans and applying the producer responsibility concept to additional waste streams across the EU. More consistency between product design and waste policies is needed to further boost recycling. As meeting ambitious recycling and prevention targets requires the participation of society as a whole, the report insists on continuous efforts to improve stakeholder participation and raise public awareness.

Waste still represents about 20% of all environmental infringement cases. As recent events in Hungary and Italy have shown, full implementation of waste legislation is vital to protect the environment and human health.

The new Waste Framework Directive, which should have been transposed by 12 December 2010, has still not passed into national law in many EU countries. Member States had a transitional period of two years to put the necessary measures in place to comply with the new Directive. However, only a small number have so far informed the Commission of the transposition of the legislation. The Commission is monitoring the situation closely and, if necessary, will take action against those failing to implement the Directive.

The new Directive modernises and simplifies our approach to waste policy around the concept of ‘life cycle thinking’. The Directive introduces a binding waste hierarchy defining the order of priority for treating waste. Top of the list is waste prevention, followed by re-use, recycling and other recovery operations, with disposal such as landfill used only as the last resort. The Directive obliges Member States to modernise their waste management plans and to set up waste prevention programmes by 2013. They must also recycle 50% of their municipal waste and 70% of construction and demolition waste by 2020.

The Commission will continue to monitor the implementation and enforcement of waste legislation at national level, including the requirements of the new Waste Framework Directive. But it will also seek to develop support for Member States in designing appropriate strategies and policies upstream. To further consolidate its waste policies, the Commission will make further proposals in 2012 including setting out the concrete steps it will take in order to move closer towards an EU resource-efficient recycling society.