Category: blog

Last week, Ruth Jones MP for Newport and Shadow Minister for Defra, visited W. Harold John (Metals) in Newport along with executives from the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA). The purpose of the visit was to gain first-hand knowledge about the metals recycling industry and explore the challenges faced by various industries in terms of workforce, trade, and the evolving global supply chain.

 

The BMRA plays a crucial role in promoting the metals recycling industry while safeguarding the interests of its member companies. With a strong focus on sustainability and a circular economy, the BMRA advocates for responsible practices in metal recycling, emphasising the importance of reducing waste, conserving resources, and minimising environmental impacts. The BMRA’s collaboration with Ruth Jones and other key stakeholders is crucial in steering UK and European legislation related to the metals recycling industry.

 

Ruth Jones MP’s visit to W. Harold John (Metal) signifies the commitment of key decision-makers to engage with local businesses and industry representatives to better understand their challenges and explore potential solutions. During her visit, Ruth Jones aimed to gain a better understanding of the circular economy and its relevance to the metals recycling industry. The circular economy seeks to transform the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model into a closed-loop system where materials are recycled, reused, or repurposed to reduce waste and maximise resource efficiency. By supporting businesses like W. Harold John, decision-makers like Ruth Jones can help shape policies that encourage sustainable practices and minimise the environmental footprint of various industries.

 

One of the key topics discussed during the visit was the new permit system designed to combat illegal scrap dealers. Illegal activities within the scrap metal industry not only harm legitimate businesses but also pose significant environmental and safety risks.

 

Will John, Managing Director of W. Harold John (Metals), said, “We’re delighted to have welcomed Ruth Jones MP and executives from BMRA to show them our site and discuss the new permit system, aimed at curbing illegal scrap dealers. Everything we do at W. Harold John is committed to recycling and contributing to a circular economy, and it’s great to have support from key decision-makers. Through ongoing dialogue and partnerships, the metals recycling industry can continue to thrive and play a vital role in building a more sustainable future.”

In October 2023, the Welsh Government are due to pass legislation around waste storing and segregation for dry mixed recycling. They’re proposing for recyclable materials to be further segregated from the normal co-mingled materials. This is to support Wales achieving its target to recycle 70% percent of its waste produced by 2025.

Their are nine specified recyclable waste materials that need to be separated for collection, collected separately, and kept separate after collection, in six recyclable waste streams, as a minimum are as follows:

• food waste
• paper and card
• glass
• metal, plastic and cartons
• unsold small electrical equipment (WEEE); and
• unsold textiles

For more information please follow this link to the Welsh Government website.

See below for some of our explainer articles on waste and recycling:

• Moving towards a circular economy
• 4 items you can recycle at your office

The new compliance requirements on items containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was introduced in December 2022 and takes effect between now and December 2024.

 

What are POPs
POPs are chemicals often used as flame retardants and were highly used in seating units that contain textiles, foams and other padding types prior to 2019. The compliance guidance issued relates to seating from domestic and business sources and includes upholstered items such as:

 

• Desk chairs
• Dining chairs
• Kitchen chairs
• Sofas, sofa beds and futons
• Foot stools
• Armchairs
• Beanbags
• Floor cushions

*The current compliance guidance does not apply to beds and mattresses, carpets and seating that is not upholstered.

 

 

How to ensure you are compliant
The guidance requires the waste producer and their waste management service provider to ensure the following:

 

1. The waste producer identifies the wastes they produce that contain or are likely to contain POPs
2. The waste producer should take all reasonable efforts to avoid co-mingling of POPs waste and other waste streams
3. The waste carrier takes POPs identified wastes to incineration only. (Landfilling and recycling of these wastes is prohibited)
4. The waste carrier is required to put in place separation and pre-treatment systems for POPs contaminated wastes by no later than December 2024
5. In collecting and managing waste, the waste carrier should prevent the contamination of non-POPs containing waste and identified POPs containing waste
6. Both waste producer and waste carrier are required to prevent damage to POPs contaminated items in presentation, collection and management

*If waste streams destined for regular collections are identified as containing POPs contaminated materials, they may not be collected at that time, and you may incur additional costs in arranging new collections and treatment.

 

How can GD help

• Our teams of experts and local teams are here to help customers to understand the new obligations under the updated compliance guidance requirements
• We are helping customers to ensure minimum disruption to scheduled waste collections
• We are adapting our relevant facilities and procedures to ensure that we manage POPs waste with full compliance during the transitional period and to meet the transitional deadline of December 2024

 

These work streams are designed to ensure your:

1. Peace of mind
2. Avoid disruption to your current collection or disposal services
3. Provide the new service required to keep you compliant in the future.

 

These new controls allow items that contain POPs to be re-used and not incinerated. Please think before you throw away!

 

Full guidance is available in the link below

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/identify-and-classify-waste-containing-persistent-organic-pollutants-pops

 

As a business, you are responsible under section 34(7) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA). You have a duty of care to know the nature of the waste you produce and to adequately describe it to your waste management service providers so they can manage it appropriately and responsibly.

 

For further information regarding collection and disposal of such items please contact us on 01633 277755 or email info@gd-environmental.co.uk

And they’re off! Over 5 days at sea and counting! 65 to go!

We felt compelled to sponsor Team Enginoars for the 2022 trans-Atlantic row, as their mission statement of ‘Global Sustainability’ closely aligns with our aims as a sustainable waste management business. We are working towards becoming one of the first carbon-positive waste management companies in the UK. Aside from this, our management team have known Roo for some time and had to support him and the team in this epic challenge.

Head here for more information

 

We’re delighted to announce that we’re sponsoring Newport U11’s Schools Rugby, providing funding for tracksuits, t-shirts and rain jackets for the players.

We’re happy to announce that over £22,000 was raised at this year’s BIG Charity Golf Day, held at The Rolls of Monmouth!

A ‘BIG’ thank you to every team who participated for their support and donations to this fantastic cause. Another thank you to the staff at GD, Acorn, MDW and The Rolls, without which the day would not be the success it is and has been.

Since 2013, GD and MDW have raised over £210,000 for Velindre, which is Wales’ premier cancer centre, providing care, support and treatment to cancer patients and their families. Long may this continue!

 

 

Here at GD, we think it’s important to shed some light on what happens to your trade waste after you’ve disposed of it. We implement a mixture of manual and automated facilities to sort, process and recycle varieties of waste products into usable commodities. Generally speaking, there are 3 phases at play when it comes to waste management at GD.

1. Delivery

Waste is brought to our transfer stations in Newport and Pontypool to be sorted and processed into separate waste streams ready to be recycled. 

2. Sorting

Any waste that isn’t pre-sorted prior to being deposited at our transfer station will be sorted by one of our team on the automatic picking line. From here it is then placed into its relevant waste stream. Once the various waste products have been sorted, our specialist teams are able to start processing the waste 

3. Processing

Below is an example of a handful of products that GD processes to be able to be recycled:

Aggregates 

We apply crushing, screening, and washing technology to process construction, demolition and road-sweeping waste into usable recyclable aggregates in line with WRAP protocols that meet EU and BS standards.

Metal

We have a specialist scrap metal processing plant and trading arm as part of the group

entity. This allows us to collect and process all scrap metal to sell on to metal recycling companies such as Sims Metal and Celsa.

Wood

Operating a multi-function wood processing plant we reprocess wood into wood chip, suitable for horticultural, agricultural and urban amenity markets. Any untreated grade A waste wood is suitable to be chipped an used in one of our 5 biomass boilers, which provides space heating for our warehouses across Newport. 

Cardboard & Paper

We deploy a shredding machine to cut all grades and sizes of cardboard into smaller grades which is then sent to various paper mills across Wales to be made into cardboard, newsprints, office paper and labels. 

Contaminated water

Our specialist liquid treatment plant offers a comprehensive process for a range of liquid wastes, including oily contaminated water and sludges. The plant employs a gravity separation process which recovers liquids suitable for recycling.

Other waste

Anything that we can’t process ourselves or transport to other recycling companies is sent for incineration in Bristol and Cardiff. This allows waste to power homes across the Southwest and the ash residue that is left behind is recycled for use in cement manufacture. 

For more information on our commercial waste services please contact 01633277755 or email info@gd-environmental.co.uk

GD offers a competitive, convenient and reliable business waste management service across Wales and the South West. Whatever your business waste needs are, from a one-off solution to a tailored-made waste management program, GD can take care of it.

 

What does commercial skip hire entail for commercial, industrial and retail businesses

Our service includes collection, classification, treatment, transfer, recycling and/or disposal of waste from your site. We have project and sales managers on hand to offer advice and deal with more difficult waste streams. To find out more, please contact our commercial waste service team here.

 

Do I need a permit for commercial skip-hire?

If you plan to place your skip on a site owned by your business, you will not require a skip permit. However, if you require the skip to be placed in a publicly owned area such as the roadside, you will require a permit. This complies with section 139 of the Highway Act of 1980; any builder’s skip on a public highway or ‘roadside’ must be covered by a permit.

 

How much does a permit cost?
Prices may change depending on your council area so please check your local councils’ website in the permit section. As a rule of thumb individual skip permits costs between £25-50 for a 7-day licence,  and £50-100 for a 28-day licence.

 

What can I put into a commercial skip?
In general, most of the below materials can go into a commercial waste skip:

• Wood
• Plastics
• Metals
• Paper/cardboard
• Bricks, rubble, concrete
• Non-contaminated soil
• Green waste

 

How to choose the right skip?

• 3-yard skip: Holds approx. 35 black bin bags. Sufficient for small domestic jobs

 

• 5-yard skip: Holds approx. 55 black bin bags. Big enough for most domestic jobs

 

• 8-yard skip: Commonly known as a ‘builders skip’. Holds approx. 80 black bin bags. Perfect for large domestic projects

 

• 8-yard enclosed skip: Can also be supplied with a cover or door. Subject to availability

 

• 8-yard drop-down door skip: Generally used for soil. Subject to availability

 

• 14-yard skip: Holds approx. 200 black bin bags of waste. Generally used for commercial hire

 

• 14-yard enclosed skip: Can be supplied with a cover or door. Subject to availability

 

GD Environmental can offer a wide range of skips to meet any commercial waste removal project. The diagrams shown here provide an overview of our available skips. However, if you are looking for some advice or would like to discuss your requirements, please call us on 01633 277755 and we will be happy to help.

In most cases on privately owned land, you will not require a permit for a skip (driveway, garden or building site). However, if you require the skip to be placed in a publicly owned area such as the roadside, you will require a permit. This complies with section 139 of the Highway Act of 1980, any builder’s skip on a public highway or ‘roadside’ must be covered by a permit. 

How much does a permit cost?

Prices may change depending on your council area but Cardiff City Council (CCC) states that an individual skip permits costs:

• £38.87 – per skip for a 7-day licence 
• £77.74 – per skip for a 28-day licence 

Other important points to note

• CCC will not issue a refund after the start date of the permit
• Further daily charges will be incurred if the skip is located in a pay and display parking area. If this is the case please check the relevant parking area rates.

How to apply for a skip permit?

To avoid any hassle, GD can liaise with the council on your behalf to arrange a permit in readiness for the delivery of your skip. When you speak to our team for domestic skip hire in Cardiff, please make them aware that you would like them to arrange a permit on your behalf. Click here to order your domestic skip now.

If you would prefer to arrange the permit yourself the application can be started on Cardiff City Council’s website. Just head to their Homepage then follow > Business > Licences and Permits > Roads and Highways Licences > Skip Permits.

Key information regarding skip hire in Cardiff

• Skips must not be placed:
  • On blind corners
  • Near give way junctions
  • In bus stops
  • On double yellow lines
  • In school crossings
  • On grass verges 

For more of the rules and regulations on domestic skip hire please speak to a member of our team on 01633 277755.

How to choose the right skip?

• 3 yard skip: Holds approx. 35 black bin bags. Sufficient for small domestic jobs
• 5 yard skip: Holds approx. 55 black bin bags. Big enough for most domestic jobs.
• 8 yard skip: Commonly known as a ‘builders skip’. Holds approx. 80 black bin bags. Perfect for large domestic projects.
• 8 yard enclosed skip: Can also be supplied with a cover or door. Subject to availability.
• 8 yard drop down door skip: Generally used for soil. Subject to availability.
• 14 yard skip: Holds approx. 200 black bin bags of waste. Generally used for commercial hire.
• 14 yard enclosed skip: Can be supplied with a cover or door. Subject to availability.

GD Environmental can offer a wide range of skips to meet any household waste removal project. The diagrams shown here provide an overview of our available skips. However, if you are looking for some advice or would like to discuss your requirements, please call us on 01633 277755 and we will be happy to help.

In most cases on privately owned land, you will not require a permit for a skip in Newport (driveway, garden or building site). However, if you require the skip to be placed in a publicly owned area such as the roadside, you will require a permit.

Under the Highway Act of 1980, any builder’s skip on a public highway or ‘roadside’ must be covered by a permit. The current permit charge in the Newport area is £46.80 for 14 days.

In most cases, permission needs to be granted before the skip is delivered though permission may be granted after an application. It is important to note that retrospective applications will be charged by the council at the rate of £179.

To avoid any hassle, GD can liaise with the council on your behalf to arrange a permit in readiness for the delivery of your skip. When you speak to our team for domestic skip hire, please make them aware that you would like them to arrange a permit on your behalf. Click here to order your domestic skip now.

If you would prefer to arrange the permit yourself the application can be started on Newport City Council’s website on the Road & Street Maintenance page. There are 6 stages to fill out your details, conditions, licenses, payment and confirmation.

Key information regarding skip hire in Newport
Skips must not be placed:

• On blind corners
• Near give way junctions
• In bus stops
• On double yellow lines
• In school crossings
• On grass verges

For more of the rules and regulations on domestic skip hire please speak to a member of our team on 01633 277755.

How to choose the right skip?

• 3 yard skip: Holds approx. 35 black bin bags. Sufficient for small domestic jobs
• 5 yard skip: Holds approx. 55 black bin bags. Big enough for most domestic jobs.
• 8 yard skip: Commonly known as a ‘builders skip’. Holds approx. 80 black bin bags. Perfect for large domestic projects.
• 8 yard enclosed skip: Can also be supplied with a cover or door. Subject to availability.
• 8 yard drop down door skip: Generally used for soil. Subject to availability.
  14 yard skip: Holds approx. 200 black bin bags of waste. Generally used for commercial hire.
• 14 yard enclosed skip: Can be supplied with a cover or door. Subject to availability.

For more information, visit the Newport City Council page on Skips.

GD Environmental can offer a wide range of skips to meet any household waste removal project. The diagrams shown here provide an overview of our available skips. However, if you are looking for some advice or would like to discuss your requirements, please call us on 01633 277755 and we will be happy to help.