Recycling fraud

Latest Articles

Recycling fraud

Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Author

Message

tinyclanger

Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 190
Location: in the kitchen, baking

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 05 3:31 pm Post subject: Recycling fraud
Hi, I'd be very interested in any examples of recycling fraud as I will be doing a project on domestic waste recycling as part of my Open University course this year. Could you point me in the right direction for articles, documents etc. I won't be able to use anicdotal evidence as I must site all sources so they must be articles and reports either printed or on the web. Cheers, em:-)

Blacksmith

Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 5025
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 05 11:28 pm Post subject:
See if you can get a copy of "Penn and Tellers bullshit" on Recycling In the US but food for thought.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 1:19 am Post subject:

Everyone in our street has just received recycling boxes and bags - I don't mind giving them my newspapers and cans but always donate my clothes, etc to the local charity shops, because I know they will put funds raised to good use.

I know this isn't/may not be relevant to recycling fraud but how can I be sure that the company taking all this stuff away and recycling it as they state (therefore hopefully making financial gain from it) are legit. and not some dodgy organisation?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 9:25 am Post subject:
Deleted because I didn't read the previous message properly! Last edited by judith on Fri Mar 18, 05 9:54 am; edited 1 time in total

tinyclanger

Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 190
Location: in the kitchen, baking

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 9:43 am Post subject:
Thank you for the lead Blacksmith. I'm looking for fraud in the UK really but this will be a good start. Cheers, em:-)

tinyclanger

Joined: 27 Dec 2004
Posts: 190
Location: in the kitchen, baking

Posted: Fri Mar 18, 05 10:35 am Post subject:

Hi Gertie,

Quote:

I know this isn't/may not be relevant to recycling fraud but how can I be sure that the company taking all this stuff away and recycling it as they state (therefore hopefully making financial gain from it) are legit. and not some dodgy organisation?

There is quite a lot of legislation regarding the safe transport and disposal (and therefore recycling) of waste in the UK and Europe, which is designed to keep waste safe, protect the environment and public health.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 - section 34 - The Duty of Care requires that all reasonable steps must be taken to keep waste safe.

This applies to anyone who-

- produces waste
- imports waste
- keeps or stores waste
- transports waste
- treats waste
- recycles waste
- disposes waste

it also applies to brokers who arrange these activities. Anyone who passes waste to another must ensure that that person is authoriseed to accept, transport, recycle or dispose of it safely.

This means that any company, community organisation or individual who undertakes any of these activities must be authourised to do so by the Environment Agency who issues the licences.

So in order for your refuse and recycling to be collected the contractors will have to have a licence to carry/transport the waste, they must be a licenced broker and if they take the waste to a site for reprossesing and/or disposal that site must be licenced as well.

The Environment Agency has the power to stop and search all vehicles, inspect all paper work and documentation carried by the driver, inspect all sites unanounced and can seize vehicles and close down sites imediatley if there is reasonable suspision of the law being broken.

The Environmental Protection Act is just one piece of legislation, there are several others that deal with other waste that is not domestic.

For you this means that your council will have contracts with registered waste carriers and will recieve documentation in the form of waste transfer notes and weighbridge tickets for all waste disposed of and/or recycled. The Council will audit its contractors and the council in turn will be audited by the Audit Commission.

By law your council must know where this waste is going, who is transporting it and what happens to it.
The Enviroment Agency are very thorough when it comes to waste management have a look on their website.

If you are interested in what happens to the materials that you recycle contact your council waste management and recycling team and ask them what happens to your materials. Most councils have information on waste and recycling on their websites. You can find out who their contractors are and look on the web for information on them as well.

As for old clothes, I always give the wearable ones to a charity shop and put out the unwearble ones in my recycling box. Unwearable clothes have the buttons and zips removed for reuse and the fabric is then either shredded for stuffing sofas and matresses or the fibres are recovered and spun into new yarns for use in the textile industry.

cheers, em:-)

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts