Waste management around the world

The UK government has substantially upped its efforts to improve recycling over the past decade. With landfill sites filling up and space at a premium in the UK, more and more of us are being encouraged to recycle.

However, whilst many of us seem to have caught the recycling bug here in the UK, large scale change can only be achieved through worldwide participation in recycling practises, and whilst considerable improvement has been made, the UK is still a long way off meeting our EU target of 50% of our waste to be recycled. So what is the rest of the world doing when it comes to waste recycling, and is there anything that we learn from it?

Recycling policy differs from country to country and the amount each country recycles will ultimately depend on a combination of both the attitude of the government in place at the time and the amount of consumer pressure in that area. As of 2013, the UK ranked in 11^th place in the recycling tables at 39%. In contrast, fellow EU member Austria topped the world tables with a recycling rate of 63%. Austria has managed to make such considerable advances because of two main factors. The first is media presence. Austria has managed to use advertising and the media to cultivate really positive attitudes surrounding the recycling process, which in turn has diffused through the whole of Austrian society, encouraging more and more people to recycle. Secondly, with state of the art facilities and machinery available to companies, more and more people are being incentivised to go into the recycling business, which in turn has increased demand for recyclable materials.

However, whilst it’s important that we don’t dismiss the UK’s shortcomings compared to Austria, it is important to point out that the UK has undoubtedly made considerable improvement, doubling how much it recycles over the past 15 years, and there are still plenty of countries that the UK is vastly outperforming.

Nigeria is one example. Africa’s most populous country is one of those guilty of lagging far behind with what is expected when it comes to recycling. Their infrastructure is unequipped to deal with the waste that they are producing and many of it ends up in open landfill. Estimates suggest that only 13% of recyclable materials are ever recovered from city landfills, meaning that more and more new products have to be created in order to feed the demand for plastics and glass whilst recyclable materials lie unprocessed in landfill sites.

Romania is another example. The country has extremely lax laws when it comes to waste management. Despite agreeing to EU targets being set at 50% of its waste to be recycled, Romania has been guilty of badly failing in its recycling efforts. Without the right controls put in place, and a lack of investment in both facilities and schemes, meeting these targets has been made almost impossible. Estimates suggest that just 1% of waste is ever recycled.

So, whilst the UK is doing ok, it could still do much better, which could be helped by government intervention, more awareness campaigns, more financial incentives, and businesses having the equipment needed to recycle more. Recycling is a major consideration for LSPS in Leicester, and we are dedicated to recycling everything possible to reduce waste going to landfill. If more companies offered the same service, recycling as much waste as possible, then it could greatly help with the UK’s performance. For more information about recycling, please read our article, “Recycling: are we doing our bit?”

What can I put inside my skip?

One of the most common questions that comes up when people are inquiring about hiring a skip is what items are they allowed to put in it.

Whilst skips are an excellent choice for getting rid of most things, for legal or practical reasons some items, such as liquids, are not permitted to be put in skips and therefore need to be disposed of in other ways.

Different skip hire companies will often have different rules as to what can go in their skips, so if you have items that you are unsure about it is always best to ask first before hiring. However, this article aims to give a broad overview of the type of products that might not be allowed. Everyone has different reasons for choosing a skip, so to make it easier, we’ve divided this guide up into common uses for skips.

Skips for household use

If you’re moving house and getting rid of some old possessions, or perhaps just looking to de-clutter your home as part of a spring clean then hiring a skip can be a handy solution. But you should be aware that some items, such as fridges and freezers are not permitted to be disposed of in skips as they contain harmful gases. However, you can arrange for fridge freezers to be collected by the council; typically, this costs around £10-30, or alternatively you can look to transport the fridge to a designated fridge freezer recycling plant yourself. Other household items they may be forbidden include electrical equipment such as TVs and computer screens, fluorescent tubes and air conditioning units. Batteries are also not allowed in skips, but there are many places within local communities that now have battery recycling facilities.

Construction and decorators waste

The nature of the construction process typically requires a place to put lots of waste products such as concrete, stone, bricks and other rubble. For this reason, skips are commonplace in building sites across the UK. If you’re looking to renovate old buildings and houses, you should be aware that asbestos is not permitted to be disposed of in skips as this material is dangerous for anyone in contact with it. Furthermore, paints and solvents should not be placed in skips, as paint is a chemical compound and skip hire firms do not hold licenses to dispose of this type of hazardous waste. Plasterboard is often not allowed in skips either.

Garages

Oil, petrol and diesel are all products that are highly flammable and are not permitted to be put into skips as there is always a chance that they could ignite. The same applies to gas bottles and canisters. Tyres and vehicle batteries are also not allowed to be disposed of in this way as these materials are extremely toxic to the environment and need to be disposed of at a registered recycler. In fact, as a general rule of thumb anything that is considered to be a hazardous or toxic material is not allowed in a skip.

Clinical or medical waste

Medical waste cannot be disposed of in skips because these materials could prove hazardous to those who come into contact with them. As a result, this type of waste is subject to very tight controls and doctors, vets or pharmacies who want to get rid of this type of waste must contact a company that is authorised to recover and dispose of medical waste.

Most other items can be disposed of in skips, but if you have got any specific concerns about what you can or cannot put in a skip, or for other general queries then please call LSPS on 0800 083 7807. More information about hiring a skip can also be found in our article “Hiring a skip? Here are some ground rules”.

Recycling and the difference it can make

With global warming on the increase and waste produce at an all-time high it is important that we are recycling as much as possible. Recycling involves converting a waste product into a reusable state to avoid the need for new raw materials being sourced. Not only does this reduce the need for new resources, but also the process of recycling waste products is more energy efficient as a greater amount of energy is needed to extract refine, transport and process raw materials than is required to recycle a product.

There is a limit to our planet’s natural supplies and by using recycled materials we can extend the lifespan of the materials we source in order to get the most value out of them. Recently we came across an interesting local example of recycling with Dunton & Broughton Rangers FC nearby in Leicestershire. Their five-a-side pitch was in such a state and the team were unable to replace the pitch due to limited finances that they were forced to train elsewhere.

Fortunately, the team was donated new turf that was previously used as a five-a-side pitch in Canary Wharf. This turf was initially destined to end up in a landfill site but thankfully this has been avoided by giving the turf a second home and Dunton & Broughton Rangers FC can once again train as a complete team at their preferred location.

This is one example on a small scale that summarises the recycling process. Recycled products can be anything from bags, clothes, books and toys to furniture, construction materials and bins. In a nutshell it involves a material that could be labelled as waste being reused in a different capacity therefore extending the material’s life and limiting the amount of waste that finds its way to our landfill sites.

LSPS are scrap metal recycling and waste management specialists. We are one of Leicestershire’s largest independent ferrous and non-ferrous metal recyclers and have a 50 tonne electronic weighbridge onsite. More information can be found on the LSPS website, information specifically about our waste recycling and disposal services can be found here or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.

Does your business need a license to carry waste?

At LSPS, our waste transfer station is designed to meet the waste disposal needs of businesses. Our extensive range of specialist, state of the art equipment makes this possible and our services are open to all traders who are licensed waste carriers. But what does being a licensed waste carrier mean? This article investigates.

As a business, if you transport, buy, sell, dispose of or arrange for someone else to buy, sell or dispose of waste then you are required to register for a waste carrier’s, broker’s or dealer’s license. If the waste you transport is produced by your own business then the registration is usually free and renews automatically but if you transport other people’s waste, such as construction or demolition waste then you are required to pay a fee of £154 for a 3 year licence.

In fact, if you don’t register you can face a fine of up to £5,000. The exception to this license requirement is for home owners and businesses who only move waste within their own premises – these parties do not require a waste carrying license.

This waste carrying license is split into two levels, lower tier and upper tier. In England, the upper tier registration covers waste management and construction businesses whereas the lower tier registrations include smaller scale businesses like carpet fitters and confidential waste collection companies.

If you are a licenced waste carrying trader in Leicestershire, LSPS can correctly process your waste ready for recycling or disposal. We do not accept waste that is considered hazardous and we do not except items such as fridges, freezers, asbestos, tyres or gas bottles.

More information can be found on the LSPS website, information specifically about our waste recycling and disposal services can be found here or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.

Book your skip online with LSPS

If you are considering hiring a skip it is important that you book the right skip to meet your needs. At LSPS we have taken steps to make the process of hiring a skip as straight forward and hassle free as possible, whilst also ensuring that you get the right skip for you at the time and place that you need it.

It is very quick and easy to hire a skip from LSPS using our online skip booking form which asks for:

· the size of skip you require

· when you need the skip to be delivered

· when you need the skip to be collected

· your preferred delivery time

· the address the skip needs to be delivered to

· your contact telephone number

· the type of waste the skip will be used for (mixed, builders waste, green waste, scrap metal or paper)

· whether the skip is to be positioned on or off road

· whether you will be available to pay the driver on the delivery date

In addition to these fields you also have the opportunity to detail any special requirements that are unique to your skip hire order such as the need for lockable doors that prevent unauthorised access. Once you have submitted the online booking form we will contact you to confirm the order’s details and discuss skip availability.

When ordering a skip your primary concerns should be booking a skip that is an adequate size for your needs, assessing any site access issues and acquiring a skip permit if your skip is to be positioned on a public road or pavement. To avoid additional skip hire costs you should consider hiring a skip that is slightly larger than what you think you might need. LSPS can also acquire your skip permit to give you peace of mind during use. If you are unsure what type of skip would be best for your needs then you can visit our skip hire guide for more details.

More information about LSPS Ltd services can be found on our website, or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.

Experience is crucial when moving machinery

If your business is looking to move items of machinery, we strongly recommend that you consult with a professional team to minimise the risk of causing damage. Attempting to move machinery with inadequate equipment could lead to the loss of production time or create significant bills to repair items damaged in transit. The process of moving machinery requires extensive planning, precision, extreme care and an attentive approach to health and safety. Above all, experience can be the most important asset during the process of relocating a machine. The knowledge required to foresee potential issues or spot developing problems during the moving process can only be gained through on-the-job experience.

For over 35 years, LSPS Ltd have assisted numerous companies with their machine relocation, removal and installation requirements. Our experienced team can move single or multiple machines within your business premises and provide transport for offsite relocation or dismantling. To do this effectively LSPS Ltd uses an extensive range of specialist machine moving equipment:

· fork lift trucks with 1-40 tonne load capacity

· hiabs with a 65 tonne lifting capacity at 1 metre

· stepframes

· curtainsides

· low-loader trailers

· mega lifts

Hiring LSPS Ltd to move your machinery will allow the process to be run smoothly, in a timely manner and will relieve your business of the stress that this delicate procedure can cause. Regardless of the scale of a project, our company can adapt and meet your machinery moving requirements, and with an international service we can relocate machinery to anywhere within Great Britain or Europe.

More information about LSPS Ltd services can be found on our website, or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.

The benefits of using recycled wood as a heat source

It is estimated that around 7.5 million tonnes of waste wood is created in the United Kingdom each year. Currently, only around 16-20% of this waste is being recycled, either through reuse or by being converted into an energy product ready for incineration. Around 6 million tonnes (or 80%) of waste wood finds its way into UK landfill sites every year.

As well as the costs involved for our county councils, landfill sites also contribute a huge amount to land, water and air pollution. Increasing the amount of recycled and reused wood is a big concern of ours as the demand for wood is still on the rise. Recycling or reusing more waste wood would reduce the amount of wood waste left rotting in landfill sites and reduce the number of trees needed to maintain the world’s need for timber.

Using recycled wood to create heat

Recycled waste wood is providing a second use for the material and is reducing the amount being buried in landfill sites. Wood was one of the first materials used as a heat source because when dry the properties of wood allow it to produce a good amount of heat over a long period of time. When burnt in an enclosed stove wood can burn up to five times more efficiently than an open fire. It is important to state that you should never burn wood that is painted, coated in plastic or melamine, chipboard and MDF as these will produce toxic fumes.

Wood burning stoves are engineered to be highly efficient and are a great way to heat your home. Switching from a gas or electric heating system to using a wood burning stove as your main source of heat can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. This is because you are replacing a fossil fuel with a sustainable fuel source. In addition to the eco-friendly aspect of recycling wood, there are significant benefits to using recycled wood products as a heat source in your home.

At LSPS we use the waste products from environmentally friendly saw mills to create our Wood Briquettes and Wood Pellets. Therefore, our Wood Briquettes are made from 100% recycled material, they burn more efficiently than regular timber and even radiate more heat compared to coal. These products can be used in open fires, stoves and boilers or cookers designed for these materials. They have very low moisture content which allows them to light quickly. They are smoke, spark and spitting free. They produce very low emissions, and leave a far smaller amount of ash residue.

More information can be found on the LSPS website, or alternatively you can call LSPS on our free phone number: 0800 083 7807.