News and information about things going on in the world of waste and recycling
 

News in brief:

  1. The DCRN and DCCN's Annual Conference will be held on 24th June 2009 at Boniface Centre, Crediton. Recycling, Composting, Reuse and Climate Action Groups will come together with interested individuals, Councillors and Local Authority Officers to discuss cutting edge issues affecting our communities. Register your interest now via e-mail to: dcrn-ccn@hotmail.com

  2. Plastic Packaging Waste conference, 28th November, Venue: Coaver Club, County Hall, Topsham Rd, Exeter. Open to individuals, businesses, community sector, Local Authorities & Agencies. Please contact Devon County Council for more detail and bookings. An opportunity to learn about and discuss issues around packaging waste and what we can do about it.

  3. TQ Recycling Ltd have gained planning permission for a new plastic sorting plant to be located near Kingsbridge in Devon. The plant aims to use state of the art technology to sort 10,000 tonnes of mixed plastics for recycling, and has the potential to transform the way plastics from trade waste and households are dealt with in the area. It will be the first automated sorting plant of its kind in the region.

  4. Devon schools recycling and composting grants - £500 grants are available from Devon County Council. The initiative aims to encourage more recycling and composting in Devon schools - if your school wants to do more there is lots of support. E mail: heidi.diepold@devon.gov.uk. at Devon County Council for details of the grants and other programmes of school waste work or 01392 382920. Contact Nicky Scott for composting in schools via e-mail to: dcrn-ccn@hotmail.com or contact your LA Recycling Officer for recycling support.  Nicky has been installing Jora tumbler composters and 'Scotties Hotbox' as a workable composting system. Resource Futures is now delivering waste education in Devon schools, including waste audits to paper making to portable living 'wormeries'. There's also the annual Waste Summit attended by pupils from over 10 schools. Additionally the eco-schools programme takes a wider approach to support schools to address waste, energy, water, resources and other isuues. 

  5. Devon scoops triple awards! - Devon won 3 awards at this years Community Recycling Network Conference in recognition of its outstanding performance and work - Mid Devon Community Recycling won 'Best kerbside recycling project', Proper Job won the 'Climate conscious' award and Nicky Scott won individual contribution to the sector.

  6. Secretary of State Hilary Benn also presented Mid Devon Community Recycling with the 'Social Enterprise Mark' at the Conference. The Mark will work similar to the Fair Trade Mark. MDCR are the first recycling organisation to qualify for the prestigious mark. It shows that the business meets ethical, social, environmental and local economic standards.

  7. Recycling and Climate Change - DCRN and DCCN are working to represent the interests of recycling, reuse and composting and help support emerging low carbon community initiatives and the development of a network for climate action groups in Devon.

  8. Totnes Waste Week was held between 4th and 11th october by Transition Town Totnes, FoE, and Sth Hams DC. Various events were held including an evening focussing on packaging waste to raise awareness of issues around waste and see what action could be taken by local people. A workshop on 'economics, livlihoods and waste' is being held at Totnes Methodist Church, Fore St on November 15th between 2.30-4.30pm.

  9. Past newsletters can be downloaded direct from DCRN's and DCCN's websites and newsletters can be sent out in in pdf format via e-mail if required - please see newsletter page

  10. Devon Authorities hit 50% recycling rate! This combined recycling rate for Devon has put the county in the nations top performers for recycling. Both Teignbridge and South Hams both topped 56%recycling rate. Extended kerbside collections, reorganised Recycling Centres, increased reuse and waste awareness campaigns have all helped. However, major challenges are still to be faced, such as waste reduction, raising participation in hard to reach areas,  stopping trade waste leaking into the system, ending un-segregated waste disposal at rural waste skips, and reaching the biodegradable waste diversion targets for the Landfill Directive. Visit www.recycledevon.org.uk for info on all Local Authority recycling matters

  11. Phil Hope, Government Minister for the Third Sector  visited Proper Job and Mid Devon Community Recycling in the spring, on route to the Eden Project. Formerly Skills Minister, and a committed supporter of co-operatives, the Minister demonstrated his support for the brilliant work community businesses are doing in Devon in bringing added value, providing  services and jobs, and stimulating community engagement .

  12. Go Green Devon is a new not for profit garden waste collection and composting project operating across Teignbridge and Torbay, set up by local businessmen Eric Mahy and Simon Woodman. The project will collect bulky loads of garden materials as well as by the bag from Teignmouth, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, Dawlish, Kingsteignton, Bovey Tracey, and Torbay areas. The service will cost 50p per bag, tags must be pre-purchased ( see their website for outlets). The project will involve disadvantaged groups to gain work experience in producing quality composts. Compost, mulch, logs, and wormeries can all be delivered direct to customers.  Contact 01626 853558, e-mail: sales@gogreendevon.com, website www.gogreendevon.com

  13. Printer toner cartridge recycling for Exeter - Neil Wintrip of A1 Positive Recycling Project seeks help with developing a printer cartridge reuse and recycling initiative. A1 aims to collect more cartridges from businesses and households. Millions of cartridges currently go to waste.

    Contact: Neil Wintrip, A1 Positive Recycling Project Ltd, 63a Summerway, Whipton, Exeter EX4 8DJ Tel:01392 202779 

      E-mail: neil@positiverecyclingproject.org.uk.

 

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Contact info@dcrn.org.uk to give us an update on your organisation and its achievements. We can put it on this What's New page.