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How to dispose of scrap metal the legal way

Smiling worker wearing a high-visibility vest in a junkyardSelling your scrap metal can earn you a decent return, but it’s important to know the rules regarding what is and what isn’t legal, as falling on the wrong side of the law could lead to hefty fines and penalties.

Here’s our run down of some important rules you should follow.

First of all, while you can make money from selling on your scrap metal, it is important that you source it from your own home or your car. If you want to go out and collect scrap metal from other people, then you require a license such as a mobile collector’s license or a site collector’s license. This is the case even for your friends, family and neighbours. You should also never try and get your scrap metal from public land, abandoned sites, buildings or bins and skips as this is deemed as theft.

If you are approached by someone offering to buy your scrap metal from you then ask to see their license. If they can’t prove that they have one, then you should refuse. Without going to a reputable and fully licensed trader, you have no way of knowing whether you are getting a good deal and whether your scrap will be disposed of in a legal way. Income from illegal scrap metal activities has regularly been linked to organised crime and scrap metal theft costs the UK economy over £220m each year.

In order to follow the latest government rulings, all scrap metal deals now have to be above-board and traceable. In practice this means that no-cash can be paid for scrap metal trades. Instead, bank transfers and cheques are now the chosen method of exchange.

Here at LSPS we are one of Leicestershire’s largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers. We are fully licensed, offer extremely competitive prices in line with industry rates and can collect larger amounts of scrap metal directly from you.

To find out more contact LSPS today on 0800 083 7807 or simply call in with your scrap metal. We are open Monday – Friday between 07:30 and 16:30 and Saturdays from 7:30 until midday.

Reverse vending machines helping UK shoppers to earn from recycling

LSPS Blog 80Customers at Iceland supermarkets have earned an equivalent of more than £30,000 by recycling their used plastic bottles in the first trial of reverse vending machines in a major national supermarket.

The scheme, pioneered by the Iceland supermarket chain, aims to reward shoppers with vouchers worth 10p for every deposit of a plastic bottle bought at their shop in an effort to reduce plastic waste. Encouraging figures show that a total of 311,500 plastic bottles were recycled to date across stores in Deeside, Wolverhampton, Mold, Fulham and Musselburgh.

The trial by the frozen food retailer was the first of such schemes but has now been followed by similar efforts in Co-Op stores, Morrisons supermarkets and several national music festivals this summer.

Commenting on the scheme, Richard Walker, Managing Director at Iceland, said: “We’ve gained hugely valuable insights into both consumer interest and the functionality of the schemes, and it’s clear from the results that consumers want to tackle the problem of plastic head on, and would be in support of a nationwide scheme.

“We’ll be using these findings to inform future Iceland initiatives, and will be sharing our findings with DEFRA and across the industry to ensure any nationwide roll-outs are comprehensive and effective in our goal of tackling the issue of single-use plastics.”

Iceland has a strong commitment to positive change for the environment and was also the first UK supermarket to remove palm oil from all of its own label ranges. Palm oil has been linked heavily to the destruction of habitats of endangered species such as orangutans.

It is currently estimated that more than 12 million tonnes of plastic enters the world’s oceans each year, which has a disastrous impact on marine life and also enters the food chain through seafood.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Walkers launches crisp packet recycling scheme

Packet of CrispsWalkers Crisps has begun a recycling campaign for their crisp packets following pressure from consumers and environmental groups.

Walkers became the focus of an internet campaign behind the hashtag #PacketInWalkers. The campaign on social media encouraged consumers to publish pictures of themselves posting empty crisp packets to the Walkers company after photos emerged of crisp packets more than 30 years old found entirely intact – highlighting the need for new environmentally friendly packaging materials.

The social media campaign asked members of the public to send used Walkers crisps packets back to the Leicester-based manufacturer with the freepost address attached on a piece of paper and taped to the packet. In turn this forced the Royal Mail to ask protesters to put the packets in envelopes before posting, after problems arose at their sorting offices with loose crisp packets.

In response to the campaign, Walkers Crisps has officially launched a new recycling scheme aimed at dealing with the problem. Crisp packets can now be sent to the company TerraCycle who will help recycle them after they have been dropped off at special collection points across the country. The campaign will allow for all brands of crisp packets – not just Walkers.

Collection points close to Leicester can be found at the following locations:

- Visit Leicester, 51 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, L1 5AD

- Wilson’s Convenience Store, 26 Ratby Road, Groby, LE6 0GG

- 7 Melba Way, Birstall, Leicester, L24 4GT

Ian Ellington, general manager of Walker’s parent company PepsiCo UK commented on the scheme:

"This is another important step towards our ambition to make all of our packaging 100 per cent recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025. This is the first crisp packet recycling scheme in the UK and it will only work if everyone gets collecting and sending in, which is why we've made the scheme as simple as possible and free."

Click here for more details on the scheme: https://www.walkers.co.uk/recycle

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Mixed progress for recycling rates in England

mixed progress for recycling rates in englandA new report from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has shown progress in some areas of recycling in England and regression in other areas.

The new report has confirmed a 0.3% increase in recycling rates, increasing from 44.9% in 2016 to 45.2% in 2017. The total amount of ‘waste from households’ in England decreased by 1.5% in 2017 to 22.4 million tonnes from 22.8 million tonnes in 2016. This equates to 403 kg per person which is down from 412kg per person in 2016 – a total decrease of 2.2%.

Residual waste treated decreased from 12.5 million tonnes in 2016 to 12.3 million tonnes – a total decrease of 2.1%, while the overall figure of recycled waste decreased from 10.2 million tonnes in 2016 to 10.1 million tonnes in 2017.

The volume of dry recycling dropped from 6.0 million tonnes of waste in 2016 to 5.9 million tonnes in 2016, food waste recycling increased from 355 thousand tonnes to 386 thousand tonnes, while organic waste stayed the same at around 3.8 million tonnes.

EU targets are encouraging member states to meet targets of household waste recycling of 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035 together with packaging directives of 65% recycling by 2025 and 70% by 2030. These targets aim to reduce emissions, waste and potentially save billions of pounds in waste, greenhouse gas and social costs. UK officials have stated that the EU’s directive targets will be transferred into UK law after leaving the European Union.

Commenting on the targets earlier this year, Environment Minister Therese Coffey said: “I want the UK to lead the way in driving global resource efficiency and that’s why, as well as backing the EU’s circular economy package, we have committed to publishing a new resources and waste strategy in 2018.

“As we leave the EU we’ll be able to explore how we go even further to help achieve our aim of leaving our environment in a better state than we inherited it”.

Click HERE to read the full report.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

How to choose an eco-friendly Christmas tree

how to choose an eco friendly christmas treeWith an ever-growing understanding on the fragile nature of mother earth, many people in the UK and across the world are putting their purchasing habits under greater scrutiny than ever before. This covers not only our food shops and the clothes that we buy but also at this time of year, the gifts and seasonal products that we buy for ourselves and others. One dilemma that we’re going to discuss here is that of the humble Christmas Tree.

Christmas trees are the ultimate way to embrace the festive spirit in your home, but it can be difficult to make a decision on which type to buy, especially when questions of waste and manufacturing resources are to be considered.

Artificial trees

As a rule of thumb if you already have an artificial Christmas tree then you should try and keep using it for as long as you possibly can. Fake plastic trees require mammoth amounts of energy to produce and eventually will need replacing which creates more waste to be dealt with. Where possible you should keep using or at least find another home for it using online selling sites like Gumtree, eBay and Facebook Marketplace before purchasing a new one.

Natural trees

If you’ve managed to find a home for your artificial tree, or this is the first time you’ve had a tree and you are craving the fresh pine smell that they give off then try and look out for one’s with an FSC label attached. This mean’s that it has been approved as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council. If you want to go one step further, then you can look out for a tree grown by the Soil Association which means it is totally organic and pesticide-free. Do bear in mind that you and the millions of other people buying only get one use out of a real Christmas tree and so sustainability is important.

After Christmas is over and the decorations come down you will need to think about how to dispose of your natural Christmas tree. You can take them to a waste recycling centre or tip where they will be shredded for use in parks and paths or composted.

Other options

An increasingly popular way to find a Christmas tree is to buy a potted Christmas tree with roots still intact. This means that with the right care you can use it again the following year which saves you money and has less of a hit on the environment. Another option for you is to source a Christmas tree on a rent-a-tree hire basis from a garden centre or plant nursery which will be potted and will be able to carry on growing once it is returned to where it came from.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Recycle your oral care products in Leicester for charity

recycle your oral care products in Leicester for charityOral care products such as toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes are made up of a complex mix of materials that make them particularly troublesome when it comes to recycling. However, thanks to a new campaign from leading oral care brand Colgate, residents of Leicester are now able to confidently recycle them.

The newly launched Colgate Oral Care Recycling Programme in conjunction with TerraCycle is encouraging consumers to recycle their waste from their oral care products including the following items:

- Toothbrushes

- Toothpaste tubes

- Toothpaste caps

- Toothbrush outer packaging

- Electric toothbrush heads

- Battery toothbrush heads

- Toothpaste cartons

The items are not restricted to Colgate and can be made by any brand. What’s more, the scheme offers an added incentive as it will raise funds for the school, charity or non-profit organisation of the sender’s choice.

Once collected, the products and packaging are separated by the type of polymer they contain, are cleaned and then extruded into plastic pellets to make new recycled products. However, those participating are asked to remove any leftover product and dry them completely before bringing them in.

Commenting on the news, Philip Durocher, general manager of Colgate UK, said: “With the global plastics issue high on the agenda for all, the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Programme promotes sustainability. We really encourage people to take advantage of the programme and recycle their oral care products and packaging via the programme and tell their friends and family about this new recycling initiative.”

The joint scheme operated by Colgate and TerraCycle is available throughout the UK with various drop-off locations across the country. In Leicester the nearest drop-off zone is Whitehouse Dental Surgery, 386 East Park Road, Leicester, LE5 5HH.

For more information on the initiative please click here: https://www.terracycle.co.uk/en-GB/brigades/colgate#how-it-works.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

How do I safely dispose of fireworks?

a safety guide to fireworks disposalWe’re at that time of year now where fireworks begin to pop up in the sky. In the weeks and days surrounding Bonfire Night, and again at New Years Eve, a great many people in the UK come together to celebrate with their own fireworks displays. However, if you’re new to the experience then you might not know how best to dispose of your fireworks.

Safe practices

First of all, it’s important to remember that as amazing and wonderous as fireworks can be, they are very dangerous in the wrong hands. Make sure that you follow the manufacturers instructions to the letter and that only people over the age of 18 are allowed to handle them.

You also need to check that the fireworks you have purchased are safe to use – look out for British Standard BS 7114: 1988 certification.

Disposing of fireworks – do’s and don’ts

Don’t rush in and start clearing up before allowing time for any delayed fireworks to explode

Don’t rush in and start clearing away parts before you’ve given them time to cool down

Do wear protective gloves to avoid irritating chemicals on your skin

Don’t put the parts straight in the bin

Do soak fireworks, debris and components in water for 1-3 days before disposing of them

Don’t pour said water into local water sources or rivers

Do wrap your fireworks up in a refuse bag and dispose of in the bin after soaking

What the law says:

Regulation 28 Explosives Regulation 2014 (ER14) requires - Any person who discards or disposes of explosives or explosive-contaminated items must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that they are discarded, or disposed of safely.

Any person who decontaminates explosive-contaminated items must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that they are decontaminated safely.

And, by Order of Secretary of State 11 (3) made under the provisions of the Explosives Act 1875 requires persons not to deposit explosives in receptacles or places appropriated for refuse and states that explosives shall not be handed or forwarded to persons or vehicles employed or appropriated for the removal or conveyance of refuse.

Click here to read The Explosives Regulations in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1638/contents/made.

Finally, one last additional thing to remember is that while bonfires are typically allowed (and encouraged) around bonfire night you need to be careful over what you burn. Burning toxic items such as plastics or contaminated (treated) woods can be harmful to both your health and the environment.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

How to support sustainable fashion

how to support sustainable fashionA recent BBC documentary presented by Stacey Dooley has thrust the shocking environmental impact of fashion back into the limelight once again. The documentary, titled ‘Stacey Dooley Investigates: Are your clothes wrecking the planet?’ looked at the environmental impact caused by the fashion industry, highlighting two powerful examples of how ‘fast fashion’ is having a harmful effect on the planet.

The first example was that of the Aral Sea, nestled between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The Aral Sea was once an important part of the economy for local fisherman, water source and holiday spot for locals. However, over the years water had begun to be diverted to feed crops like cotton and meet the demand for cheap clothing. Now, the Aral Sea has shrunken to only a fraction of its size, the local economy has collapsed, and massive dust storms wreak havoc on the remaining residents in the area.

Further backing up the claims of fashion being one of the top-5 most polluting industries in the world, Dooley visited Indonesia to look at the devastation of rivers and water sources. The documentary showed how huge factories that supply British and European clothing companies with garments are actively dumping toxic chemicals, killing local wildlife and contaminating waterways used by millions of families with cadmium, lead and arsenic.

Upon returning to the UK, Dooley was shocked at the lack of support from clothing companies and indeed government aids to support sustainable clothing options and take action against this type of pollution. However, some support was found among popular fashion bloggers who are now aiming to turn the tide on throw-a-way fashion.

Did you watch the programme? Are you now looking to act to reduce the impact your wardrobe has on the planet? If so then read on for our tips and advice on how to dress and shop more sustainably:

1 – Consider what the product is made of. Materials like hemp, soy silk, cashmere, organic cotton (not standard cotton) and flax linen have less of an impact than many other materials which are treated with pesticides, bleaches, dyes and other toxic chemicals.

2 – Become a vintage shopper. Recycling is one of the most sustainable friendly ways of shopping. Instead of allowing clothing to fall into landfill or be incinerated you can give someone else’s pre-loved clothes a new home.

3 – Learn to sew. The very low price of some clothing companies has meant that many people now buy cheap clothes which don’t last very long but are relatively cheap to replace. However, while the cost of cheap fashion may be low on our pockets, the environment pays a high cost. We can break this cycle by learning to repair our own clothes. Sites like YouTube have plenty of free videos where you can learn the basics of tailoring.

4 – Don’t be afraid to wear the same outfit twice. Social media websites and advertising have led to a culture of fashion that encourages us to have a different look every time we leave the house or appear on social media. While this might leave you with a nice Instagram feed it doesn’t help the planet and such a high consumption of clothing isn’t sustainable for the planet.

5 – Choose your brands carefully. The ethical fashion movement is growing every day and it needs your support. Look closely at the websites of your favourite retailers and see if they make any commitments to sustainability. A quick Google could give you some insight into whether or not they are a company worthy of your support.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Why hire a skip to dispose of your garden waste?

why hire a skip to dispose of your garden wasteIf your garden is beginning to resemble the Amazon rainforest, or you’re planning an ambitious new landscape project then it might be wise to hire a skip to help you on your way. There are plenty of other options available to you but in our opinion, skips are the way to go, and here are a few reasons why.

When it comes to disposing of garden waste, some people believe that a garden fire is the way to go. Unfortunately, though, it’s not always a practical idea – or sometimes, even legal! While garden fires are allowed by some councils in the UK, there are strict guidelines to follow and getting it wrong can leave you with thousands of pounds worth of fines – much costlier than simply hiring a skip for the day. It’s not just the legality you have to consider but also the practicality. Often the waste from your garden such as grass, rubble and soil won’t burn at all.

One way to get rid of garden waste is to use the green bin provided by your council, however, your bin can fill up very quickly, particularly on larger garden projects, and with many councils only collecting garden waste a couple of times a month it can take you a very long time to get rid of your waste and begin to enjoy your garden again.

Another option that people go for when cleaning away garden waste is to drive their own green waste to the local tip. While this is a cost effective means of getting rid of garden waste, once again it’s not always practical as you may spend more time in the car and driving to and from the tip than actually working on your garden project. What’s more you also risk damage to your car as garden waste can scratch and soil your interior.

Here at LSPS we offer a fast and reliable skip hire service in Leicester and the surrounding towns and villages of Leicestershire with extremely competitive rates. We offer mini, midi, and maxi skips plus Roll On – Roll Off containers.

With our online booking system, you can have a skip arranged for delivery with just a few clicks of your mouse. Find out more here: https://booking.lspsskiphire.co.uk/ or alternatively contact us on freephone 08000 083 7807.

Common ways that waste is recycled

common ways that waste is recycledThe world is beginning to wake up to the importance of recycling at home. However, while many home owners are taking great steps in doing their bit with sorting through their waste to divide up things like paper, card and plastic not many of us are so sure as to what happens to that recycling. Here we will look at some of the common ways that household waste is reused.

Card and paper
Some recycling rules can leave even the most experienced of home recyclers scratching their heads, but card and paper is one type of waste that almost everyone knows can be easily recycled. Once it arrives at the recycling plant, paper is separated into types and grades. It is then washed with a soapy water which removes inks, film, glue and staples and is then mixed with water to create a ‘slurry’. This slurry is then spread using large rollers and is left to dry. It is then cut up and sent to retailers to be reused!

Glass
From jars of jam and curry to bottles of beer, glass bottles are a common item in our recycling bins. Once glass arrives at the treatment plant is sorted by the colour of glass and washed, it is then crushed and moulded under high temperatures to create new bottles and jars ready to be sold in shops.

Aluminium
Aluminium foils and cans can come from fizzy drinks, microwave meals, frozen foods and all manner of other products. Once aluminium arrives at the treatment plant is it sorted, cleaned and then melted which removes any previous coatings and leftover residues. It is then left to cool into large blocks called ingots. These ingots are then rolled out flat and reshaped into new packaging ready for the shelves.

Plastics
Globally we have a serious problem with plastics finding their way into the oceans and harming marine life, which is why it is absolutely essential that we not only reduce the amount of plastic we buy and use but also that we recycle it. Most plastics (other than those with unsafe chemicals like anti-freeze and bleach) can be recycled. Once they arrive at the processing plant they are cut, washed, dried and then repurposed into things like clothing, fences, furniture, packaging, bins and more.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Time To Tackle The Shed

clip_image002Here in the UK we are somewhat obsessed with sheds. Far more than just a place to store bikes, lawnmowers and tools, garden sheds around the UK vary greatly from your humble workshop and refugee for stressed Dads, right through to miniature offices and pubs complete with optics and beer kegs. There’s even a Shed Of The Year Contest and a subculture of people who refer to themselves as ‘Sheddies’.

However, if you have aspirations to create your own urban oasis and earn the title of ‘Sheddie’ then you’ll have to overcome the beginners’ hurdle – clearing out your shed. Here are a few tips to get you on your way.

Watch the weather
First of all, you need to pick the right day. Take a look at the weather forecast and find a day that will be sunny, or at least has only a small chance of rain. That way you can lay everything out on your grass or patio and not have to worry about anything getting soaked in the process.

Have a plan
Think about how you’re going to tackle the job. As you make your way into your shed you’ll no doubt come across plenty of items that you’d forgotten you owned (or borrowed) and it’s easy to get side-tracked. The best thing to do is to have clear objectives about what you want to achieve and tick things off as you move along.

Be ruthless
You need to be quite ruthless if you want to free up space in your shed. Each item should be looked upon with a critical gaze and you should ask questions like ‘does this work?’ and ‘will I use it?’ and if the answer is no you shouldn’t be afraid to chuck it out.

Don’t just move things around
It can be hard to part with items sometimes, and with enough time you can probably convince yourself that everything is worth keeping but if you really want to free up space then you can’t just move things about!

Have a good clean
Once you’ve got everything laid out on the grass and sorted into piles for keeping and piles for throwing away, your shed should be looking quite bare. Now is a good time to get your marigolds on and begin cleaning down your shed. It might even be a good opportunity to give it an extra lick of paint on the exterior too.

Planning a shed clearance and thinking of hiring a skip? With our online booking system, you can have a skip arranged for delivery with just a few clicks of your mouse. Find out more here: https://booking.lspsskiphire.co.uk/ or alternatively contact us on freephone 08000 083 7807.

How to avoid adding more waste to landfill sites

How to avoid adding more waste to landfill sitesA landfill, in simple terms, is basically a large hole in the ground that is filled with all kinds of rubbish leftover from our daily lives. Once a hole is full it is sealed, covered over and another hole is made. A large amount of our waste in the UK ends up in landfill and unfortunately has an overwhelmingly bad impact on our air and water as well as natural habitats and animals.

Here are a few easy steps you can take to cut down on the amount of waste that you end up sending to landfill.

Change your eating habits
In the supermarket age of convenience, it’s easy to over buy and under eat. Quite often we will take advantage of buy one get one free offers and other deals that leave us with shopping baskets and trolleys stacked high. However, a huge proportion of the food that we buy isn’t needed, and one of the biggest contributors to landfill is in fact food waste.

To combat this, you should plan out your weekly food shop based on the meals that you will actually eat and therefore avoid having to throw out items that go out of date. You should also try and adopt a diet with plenty of fruit and veg and avoid takeaways which is not only good for your health but can also help you cut down on packaging waste should you buy loose vegetables.

Change your shopping habits
Another purchasing change that has created havoc on our environment and fuels our landfill growth is the idea of ‘throw away fashion’. Today many budget retailers offer a broad range of clothing and footwear for far cheaper than was ever possible in the past. Because of this, many people will opt for short-term products that are of low quality, but also low cost so they can simply replace them when they wear out or break. However, when they do this, more often than not the old items are discarded and end up in landfill.

To tackle this problem, you should try and take a more long-term approach with purchases, perhaps saving up for good quality and hard-wearing products that might cost a little more but will last you far longer than cheap ones.

Avoid single use products
Single use plastics are a blight on the environment and are one of the hardest types of products to recycle. Not only should you adopt a reusable water bottle rather than buying throwaway ones, but you should also do an audit of what other single use plastics you have lying about the home such as cleaning products like bleach and surface cleaner. Of course, you want a lovely clean home, but by using natural products like vinegar which often comes in a recyclable glass bottle, or lemons which will naturally decay, you can clean your home effectively and without the need for hazardous chemicals.

Hire a skip!
If you’re having a big clear out or moving to a new house, then hiring a skip is the number one environmentally friendly way to dispose of your waste. Here at LSPS all of our skips are taken to our waste transfer site where materials are separated, and every effort is made to recycle, recycle, recycle, thus lessening the impact on the environment and helping to avoid the damage caused by landfill.

You can book yours using our online form in just a few clicks here, or alternatively you can contact us on freephone 0800 083 7807.

What does the law say about scrap metal for cash?

what does the law say about scrap metal for cashLike many different industries the scrap metal industry has rules and regulations to abide by. Here at LSPS we follow strictly all the key legislation surrounding the metal trade. Here we will explain some of the rules surrounding scrap metal and payment for scrap metal.

Paying for scrap metal

Whereas in the past recyclers would pay in cash for scrap metal, new legislation introduced in 2013 now means that metal must be paid for either electronically or by cheque. This is in an effort to provide a paper trail for any investigations by authorities into dealings. Traders who buy and sell scrap metal for cash now face £5,000 fines should they pay for goods in cash.

Metal theft costs the UK economy around £220 million a year and the theft of scrap metal has serious consequences not only for owners of private property but can also disrupt public amenities like railways, telecommunication networks and more. The new laws are helping to curb scrap metal theft.

The new laws mean that scrap metal dealers are required to verify the details of the seller at the point of sale documenting their name and address and keeping it on file and dealers must sign a national register. Trading without registering is a criminal offence. These new laws protect consumers as they link every sale with physical proof, which means stolen goods such as cars can be tracked down.

Here at LSPS we have years of experience in scrap metal and waste management. We are one of Leicestershire's largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers equipped with our own electronic 50 tonne weighbridge. We are keen to buy all grades of ferrous metals for recycling and offer extremely competitive prices.

To make sure our customers receive the fairest price possible our ferrous and non-ferrous metal rates are linked to the The Metal Bulletin - a trading and pricing system for the global metals industry. For the most up to date prices you can also call us on 0800 083 7807.

To find out more please contact LSPS today on 0800 083 7807 for competitive prices or alternatively simply visit us today with your scrap metal.

Do you have scrap metal lying around? Here are a few reasons to bring it to us!

do you have scrap metal lying aroundMuch has been made in recent years about the benefits of reducing or carbon footprints and while a great deal of noise is made around plastic and packaging recycling, car sharing and buying locally sourced produce, the benefits of scrap metal recycling are still off the radar for many people. Here we will look at a few of the benefits of recycling your scrap metal.

The benefits of metal recycling

A key reason to recycle your scrap metal is that it lessens the demand for raw materials. Mining often has a detrimental effect on the environment and can cause harmful impacts such as the release of toxic and radioactive chemicals contaminating soil and water tables, the formation of dangerous sinkholes and the disruption or destruction of habitats for local wildlife.

In terms of pollution, recycling is a better option than creating new products from metal as it lessens the demand for mining which causes damage to the environment along the way. Carbon emissions are one of the leading contributors to global warming and mining metals is a long process which takes up plenty of resources and leaving carbon emissions it its wake. By comparison, recycled aluminium uses 92% less energy than the mining, purifying and shaping involved in new metal creation, copper uses 90% less energy and steel 56% less energy.

There is also an economic motivation for recycling metal. The cost of extracting new metals is very high and is also time intensive. If more people recycle scrap metal, then the cost of producing metal products will be reduced which should eventually be passed on to consumers like you!

Recycling metal can be everything from making sure that you put aluminium cans in the right recycling bin through to bringing your ferrous and non-ferrous metals to a scrap metals recycler like LSPS.

Here at LSPS we have years of experience in scrap metal and waste management. We are one of Leicestershire's largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers equipped with our own electronic 50 tonne weighbridge. We are keen to buy all grades of ferrous metals for recycling and offer extremely competitive prices.

To make sure our customers receive the fairest price possible our ferrous and non-ferrous metal rates are linked to the The Metal Bulletin - a trading and pricing system for the global metals industry. For the most up to date prices you can also call us on 0800 083 7807.

To find out more please contact LSPS today on 0800 083 7807 for competitive prices or alternatively simply visit us today with your scrap metal.

4 reasons to hire a skip when moving house

4 reasons to hire a skip when moving houseIn a list of stressful life events, moving to a new house is without a doubt in most people’s top few picks. In fact, in a recent poll, two thirds of people said that moving house caused more anxiety than starting a new job, the breakdown of a relationship and the end of a marriage. However, here at LSPS we believe that the humble skip can help make things a lot easier – read on to find out why.

1 - A skip helps you banish junk

One aspect of moving which can be a real stress inducer is the physical aspect of moving all of your belongings. For many people, moving represents new beginnings and a chance to start a-fresh and so with that in mind they decide to have a mass clear out. From clothes that don’t fit, to old computer games and paperwork, there are a great deal of things that we keep promising ourselves that one day we’ll find a use for them. However, moving house is a good time to re-evaluate just how much you need (or don’t need) those items. By hiring a skip, you can easily unload your unwanted items without having to worry about what goes in the recycling bin and what goes in general waste and whether or not you’ll be able to find time to take your junk to the local tip.

2 – A skip helps you move into your new home quicker

After all the stress of finding a new property, you’ll likely be counting down the days until you can get moved in. However, if you have lots of junk to get rid of, and you need to clean your current home before you vacate then the actual day can really begin to drag on and it could be very late into the night before you’re finally able to shut that door. By hiring a skip in advance of your moving date, you can begin unloading waste from your home well in advance so that come moving day the whole process takes far less time.

3 – Skips can be the environmentally friendly option

If you’re conscious of the environment and want to cut down on your carbon footprint then hiring a skip should be high on your agenda. Whereas landfill ends up rotting, waste that goes to skips is taken to our waste transfer sites where every effort is made to recycle recyclable materials, lessening the impact on the environment.

4 – Hiring a skip can bring down costs in other ways

By taking a minimalist approach to your possessions and having a mass clear out you can drastically cut down on the number of things that you need to take to your new home. While this might be a gut-wrenching decision for your inner-hoarder, you may find that the decision helps you out in a big way. The less stuff you have to transport, the smaller a van you will need to hire, or the smaller a removal team will be required on the day.

Are you interested in hiring a skip for your moving day? You can book yours using our online form in just a few clicks here, or alternatively you can contact us on freephone 0800 083 7807.

Skips for garden waste

lsps blog 95With the summer holidays just around the corner, it’ll be just a matter of weeks before we hit BBQ season in the UK. If you want your garden to be in tip-top shape for your friends and family to come and join in the fun then you may well need to give your garden some lengthy maintenance, making it an attractive place to spend your time again after a long cold winter.

When it comes to disposing of garden waste you have quite a few options, but some are certainly better than others. First of all, you could use your green bin. Green bins are usually provided freely by your councils and allow you some space to unload debris from your garden. However, they aren’t the most efficient of methods. Most councils only pick up green waste on a fortnightly basis, which means you are limited in the amount of waste you can get rid of in a period of time. So, if you have a big garden or you have a lot of work to do then it may take you a very long time to get rid of all the waste required to get your garden where you want it to be.

Another option that is sometimes used by homeowners is to incinerate all of their garden waste. This means setting fire to as much of your garden waste as you can. However, while this seems like a quick and efficient way to get rid of waste, it’s often not the case. While wood, dried up leaves and other dry rubbish may burn away, grass and rubble and other types of garden waste like soil aren’t going to budge. You can also land yourself in hot water if the fire gets out of control, creates too much smoke or ends up scorching the ground beneath it.

By far the most efficient method of reducing garden waste is to hire a skip. A skip is dropped right at your front door, at the most convenient time for you, in the actual size you require and your waste is removed of in a clean and healthy way with no risk.

Planning a garden clearance and thinking of hiring a skip? With our online booking system you can have a skip arranged for delivery with just a few clicks of your mouse. Find out more here: https://booking.lspsskiphire.co.uk/ or alternatively contact us on freephone 08000 083 7807.

How to teach your child about recycling

how to teach your child about recyclingIn the UK alone, there are over 30 million tonnes of waste in the UK generated from households every year. That sounds like a startling figure, but how would you explain that to a child who might not understand the gravity? Well, you could start by comparing it to some things that they do understand the weight of. 30 million tonnes is the equivalent of 4,000,000 elephants and 800,000 times as heavy as an adult hippopotamus.

In the same way that we teach our children about practicing good hygiene, looking both ways when they cross the road and how to look after their money, we also need to teach them the importance of looking after the world we inhabit, and recycling is a key part of that process.

The Three R’s

One of the best methods of teaching your children how to recycle is the ‘Three R’s’ which stand for reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce is the idea of trying to use, buy and consume less. Reuse is the idea of putting the waste that we do use to a new use and recycle is to properly throw away items that can be recycled so that they avoid going to landfill.

A simple way to teach your children the three R’s is to write them on the fridge and to quiz them occasionally on what they are to see if they still remember. However, to really get the three R’s to stick with your children, you need to teach them why they are important and ultimately a positive thing instead of a chore. Watching nature programmes and highlighting stories about habitat destruction, global warming and other forms of disruption to the environment can help them to understand why they need to do their bit.

That might sound a miserable way to spend your time, but lots of fun can be had with the three R’s too. For example, you can play games in the supermarket where the person who finds a product with the most recyclable form of packaging, or the largest bulk product (to cut down on repeat waste) wins a small prize.

It can also teach valuable life skills too. Instead of throwing away a toy, game or piece of clothing when it breaks you can show them how to repair them instead. Even if you don’t know yourself how to fix something, there are often great instructional articles and videos ‘littered’ around the internet that can show you how.

Another fun activity to enjoy with your children that falls under the reuse category is to enjoy some creative time with your children. Often products like paper, napkins, plates, cups and other household waste items can be repurposed into fun crafts that bring out your child’s artistic side.

Teaching your children about the finite resources of our planet and how we need to help protect it can help your children to not only lead responsible lives but also equip them with valuable skills for the future.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

How are the new bottle deposit schemes going to work?

how are the new bottle deposit schemes going to workEnvironment Secretary Michael Gove recently announced that the government will commit to introducing further efforts to cut plastic waste in the UK, including a bottle and can deposit scheme, in efforts to boost recycling figures and cut down on the impact of plastic waste on the environment.

Consultation will take place later this year to look at rolling it out, but how will the scheme actually work? Luckily there are lots of other examples around the world that can give us a clue or two.

The basic premise of a bottle and can deposit scheme is that a levy is added to the cost of any single-use glass or plastic bottle or steel and aluminium can. This extra cost can then be refunded when the bottle or can is returned. This helps to boost recycling and ultimately cut down on waste that goes to landfill or is littered into the environment.

Some factors that are still to be decided are the cost and the price of such a scheme. Across the world there are currently 40 counties that utilize a deposit return scheme as well as 21 US states. The price of the extra cost addition to the drink ranges between 8p and 22p with Germany at the top-end and Sweden the cheapest.

In terms of returning the bottles and cans, most schemes either see collections made at supermarkets and shops where they are purchased, or at automated collection points, typically in easy to access public areas such as supermarket car parks.

Obviously, not everyone will make the effort to return their bottles and cans for a deposit and what happens to the money when this happens varies from country to country. In some cases the money is donated to charities, while in other schemes the money goes back to the producer, retailer or is put towards the costs of running the scheme.

Currently in the UK only 7.5 billion plastic bottles are recycled every year out of the 13 billion sold. Another 15,000,000 are dropped as litter, landfilled or incinerated every day, a process which creates almost 250,000 tonnes of CO2 in the atmosphere. The move towards a recycling scheme has also been welcomed by environmental activists concerned about the effect that plastic waste has on marine life, with recent figures showing that plastic pollution could treble in our seas within the decade unless efforts are taken to keep it in check.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

Co-op chain to embrace part-recycled bottles

co-op chain to embrace part-recycled bottlesUK supermarket chain The Co-Op is to become the first retailer in the UK to sell all its bottled water in recycled containers – a move it says could save almost 350 tonnes of plastic annually.

The new 50% recycled bottles offer a “cloudy” appearance, making them less aesthetically pleasing than the current bottles that the retailer uses. However, the society has said that they are putting their faith in the ethics of their customers who they say would like to see more sustainable packaging options available.

The new bottles, which are processed by Cleantech in Hemswell, Lincolnshire, are made up of 50% recycled plastic, however are 100% recyclable according to the supermarket chain and could amount to a saving of almost 350 tonnes of plastic year on year. The bottles, which contain either still, sparkling or flavoured water, will contain to contain water sourced from Montgomery Spring, North Wales and Princes Foods’ Eden Valley in Cumbria.

Commenting on the move, Co-op Environmental Manager Iain Ferguson said: “Working with stakeholders across both supply and waste value chains is key to increasing the recyclability of our products and sourcing scalable, sustainable alternatives as we strive towards a more circular economy”.

This latest environmentally friendly move from the retailer follows other recent initiatives including a fully biodegradable paper tea bag that contains no plastics for its 99-tea brand. Many teabags in the UK are currently sealed using plastic which means they often are sent to landfill instead of being recycled.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

An end to wheelie bins? Introducing a flat that recycles for you

a flat that recycles for youAn innovative new scheme set for East London plans to make recycling far easier than in the past, removing the need for wheelie bins and allowing greater amounts of waste to be recycled.

The scheme, which has already been piloted in cities like New York, Stockholm and Doha, allows for rubbish to be “sucked” through household shoots and sent into bins at the bottom of an apartment block. These bins feature cyclone technology which sorts recyclable materials from non-recyclable materials and sends the unrecyclable material to an incinerator. The recyclable material is then stored in the bins before it is collected as normal.

The scheme is set to be incorporated as part of the brand-new Barking Riverside development in London. This will be one of the “most ambitious and important new developments in the UK” where over ten thousand homes will be built on the site of a former power station, lying across the banks of the Thames. This follows on from the Quintain project in Wembley Park which has incorporated a similar system with great results, including a reported cut in carbon emissions.

In such a populous city, waste can be a real problem to deal with, a problem that is often exacerbated in flats and apartment blocks where less space is available for bins. A development of the same size as Barking Riverside would typically require as many as 19,000 waste bins and collections, however the new cyclone technology may help to reduce this number down to just 460 waste processing outlets instead.

Around the world, many local authorities and planners are looking at ways to reduce the overall output of waste among households. In Bergen, Norway for instance, households share communal chute bins on housing estates. Here in the UK, in North West Cambridge, a modern eco development in the city has incorporated specially designed kitchen bins as well as composting areas and further underground waste bins that have replaced wheelie bins.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.

UK urged to do more to improve household recycling figures

uk urged to do more to improve household recycling figuresThe latest figures from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) demonstrate slow progress in the amount of household waste that is recycled.

In the ‘UK Statistics on Waste’ report by DEFRA, figures show that while the amount of waste sent for recycling from UK homes crept above 45% for the first time in 2016, progress has been too slow to have a realistic chance of meeting binding EU targets set for 2020.

Recycling rates among UK households differed between nations, with Wales the best performing country with a rate of 57% and Scotland, the worst with 42.8%. The recycling rate overall increased only marginally from 44.6% in 2015, to 45.2% in 2016.

These fractional improvements have been condemned by environmental groups such as the Environmental Services Association (ESA) who commented that UK recycling rates “remain in the doldrums” and that it was unlikely that we would reach targets set by the EU of 50% home recycling by 2020. He went on to encourage DEFRA to turn their resources and waste strategy towards the issue of sustainable markets for recyclable materials, and the residual waste capacity gap.

This year the UK government, launched a comprehensive 25-year plan aimed at protecting the environment and cracking down on so-called “avoidable” plastic waste - a move welcomed by green groups who pointed out that over half a million tonnes of plastic was collected from UK homes in 2017. However, some groups such as Greenpeace voiced scepticism as to whether the government would follow through with their plans and criticized them for not tackling other environmental issues.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807, or visit our website for further information.

Starbucks to trial 5p cup charge in stores

starbucks to trial 5p cup charge in storresCoffee shop giant Starbucks has launched a three-month trial scheme aimed at reducing the environmental impact of their products and joins a growing number of businesses looking to address their environmental sustainability.

Instantly nicknamed the ‘latte levy’, Starbucks stores will introduce a 5p charge on takeaway cups, beginning with an initial trial in London across 35 stores.

The company hopes that the new charges will encourage customers to bring their own reusable cups and therefore reduce the amount of single-use plastic cups that can end up littering streets or in landfill. They have also confirmed that the proceeds of the trial scheme will go to Hubbub, an environmental and behaviour change charity.

“We’re hoping that this charge will remind customers to rethink their use of single-use plastic lined cups, as it has with plastic bags,” explained Simon Redfern, vice president of communications at Starbucks.

The recycling programme follows on from other large coffee companies such as Costa Coffee who have also taken steps to reduce coffee cup litter. Costa launched a scheme in October 2016 which introduced 45 cup collection points across the UK in stores which would be taken to specialist recycling plants to allow them to be reused.

Coffee lovers can also enjoy discounts in Starbucks stores for bringing in their own cup. Bringing your own reusable cup to enjoy your coffee will net you a 25p discount in Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Paul, a slightly reduced 20p discount in Greggs and an impressive 50p in Pret A Manger stores.

Here at LSPS, we take recycling seriously. For more information or to find out how we can help both businesses and individuals with their waste disposal efforts, please visit our website or call us on freephone 0800 083 7807.

5 Exciting Innovations in Plastic Recycling That You Never Knew Existed

5 exciting innovations in plastic recycling that you never knew existedScience is once again helping to pave the way to innovation and in turn reducing waste and helping protect the environment. Here we look at five of the most exciting recycling innovations currently in production or being rolled out as we speak.

1 – PET
PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate and is among the worst offenders when it comes to packaging that plagues our environment. Currently only 50% of PET, commonly found in drinks bottles and food packaging, winds up being recycled while the other half winds up in landfill or littered. However, a team of Japanese researchers have recently uncovered a possible way to break down these plastics with the help of nature itself. The team have unearthed a microorganism with the capability to degrade plastic. The bacteria contain naturally produced enzymes which can break down PET’s tough make up over time. However, the team has stressed that the research is only in early development and tests have only broken down a piece of plastic smaller than the size of a ‘postage stamp’ thus far.

2 – Cigarette Butts
Another problem waste product that litters streets worldwide is the cigarette butt. Currently around 6trn cigarettes are produced every year and a large number are littered after they are used. Cigarette buts are full of dangerous chemicals and are responsible for as many as 1 million deaths of seabirds and 100,000 mammals every year. Researchers in Austria have been investigating possible solutions to this problem material and have discovered a way to repurpose cigarette butts. They suggest that cigarette butts could be encapsulated into material such as asphalt that covers our roads. The material will not only remove a “waste stream” but could also help to reduce thermal conductivity, which will keep roads cooler.

3 – Edible Packaging
While we can’t cut out plastic use all together, there are examples of where we should be seeking to reduce our daily usage. One example of this is that of single-use cutlery such as forks, knives and sporks which are commonly sold with chilled supermarket and takeaway food. An Indian company called Bakeys is aiming to tackle the problem by producing edible cutlery. Made from rice, wheat and grain their cutlery comes in sweet, savoury and plain flavours and have a taste similar to that of a cracker.

4 – Plastic Housing
A social enterprise group called Conceptos Plasticos based in Bogota, Colombia has come up with innovative way to not only tackle plastic waste but also help reduce the countries housing shortfall. According to the groups crowd funding page they are in the process of manufacturing homes, emergency housing, shelters, classrooms and other dwellings from a mixture of recycled plastics. They hope that if the project gathers stream they will be able to help tackle housing deficits of up to 40% in countries throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America.

5 – Fuel
University of Illinois researchers have uncovered a way to make petroleum products such as diesel fuel from the humble plastic shopping bag. Currently an estimated 500 billion – 1 trillion plastic shopping bags are used worldwide and often end up in landfill sites. However, the researchers have developed a way to create fuel for a variety of applications including jet fuel, car fuel and even candle wax. What’s more, it may even be more efficient than traditional diesel. At present, only 55% of petroleum crude oil that is distilled ends up as fuel, however using their newly developed technique researchers have been able to convert roughly 80% into useable fuel.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807, or visit our website for further information.

UK Government Announces Long Term Environmental Strategy

uk goverment announces long term environmental strategyThe UK government has launched a comprehensive 25-year plan which aims to protect the environment and crack down on “avoidable” plastic waste.

Entitled “A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment” the report pledges to bring an end to avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042.

Under the plan, the government will strive to introduce “plastic-free” aisles in supermarkets where packaging is kept to a minimum and consider charges on items such as takeaway containers. The plan also confirmed that the popular 5p charge for plastic carrier bags will be extended to all retailers in England. There are also pledges to fund research into ‘plastics innovation’ and to help developing nations tackle pollution and plastic waste.

However, while there has been praise for the plans from some corners, environmental campaigners such as Greenpeace have criticized the plans as vague and said that they are skeptical of whether they will follow through with their pledges. Questions were also raised as to why there were no plans for bottle-return schemes, and as to whether a firm timetable had been put in place to realize the pledges.

Last year, in the UK over half a million tonnes of plastic was collected from British homes. This included bottles, tubs, trays and other plastic items. However, while the figures may sound encouraging in total they represented just a 1% increase from the previous year. Recoup, who produced the figures, cited budget cuts and poor communications to homeowners from their local authorities as to what can and cannot be recycled.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state of the art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807, or visit our website for further information.

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