tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7 2008-07-05T15:03:18Z "The Skip" Magazine is The Voice of the Skip Hire Industry in the UK and Ireland. Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1310 2008-07-05T14:57:11Z 2008-07-05T15:03:18Z

Worcestershire’s household rubbish could be transformed into a useful eco-fuel, if plans for a revolutionary £35 million waste processing plant go ahead. Plans to construct the plant on a site at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster, are under consideration by Worcestershire...

Jon Roberts Worcestershire’s household rubbish could be transformed into a useful eco-fuel, if plans for a revolutionary £35 million waste processing plant go ahead. Plans to construct the plant on a site at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster, are under consideration by Worcestershire County Council and its private waste contractor, Mercia Waste Management. At present the council’s plans include a new plant for dealing with recyclable waste, which is due to open at Norton, near Worcester, next year. However, under these plans, all non-recyclable rubbish will still go straight to landfill. Estech Europe is the waste company offering an alternative solution. They have been involved in negotiations with Worcestershire Council and Mercia Waste over the possibility of building a hi-tech Fibrecycle plant at Hartlebury. The waste company are proposing to use technology that puts non-recyclable waste through a process called steam autoclaving, sterilising it with high-pressure steam and transforming it into a fibrous pulp. Estech Europe claims that this pulp can then be used as a clean, renewable energy source, or put to other uses such as making paper. It says its solution would cut the amount of waste Worcestershire sends to landfill by as much as 80 per cent. Managing director of Estech, Jonathan Allen said, "We are in discussions with Mercia Waste Management. We would like to build a plant but first we have to conclude a deal with Mercia. We would like to get the negotiations completed during the summer and then start (building) on the ground in the autumn, but we have to be patient." The company already has the planning permission to build the plant and says it would be able to deal with more than 100,000 tonnes of black bin waste each year. Mercia Waste Management, which is paid by the council to dispose of the county's waste, is demanding strong evidence that what it sees as unproven technology is the best long-term solution. Mercia director Javier Periero said, "We are looking at all the options. We have asked Estech to prove the things they say they can achieve, and we're waiting for some of the details. But there are other options." The county has long wanted to build an incinerator to burn its non-recyclable waste, although in 2002 opposition from local residents stopped a plant being built near Kidderminster. Earlier this year, the council's Tory leader George Lord said he was in favour of an incinerator somewhere in the two counties.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1309 2008-07-04T14:52:35Z 2008-07-04T15:03:23Z

They say that for every winner, there has to be a loser. On one side of the coin, we have the discovery of a £40,000 table in a skip and, on the other, we have Chris Evans accidentally throwing...

Jon Roberts They say that for every winner, there has to be a loser. On one side of the coin, we have the discovery of a £40,000 table in a skip and, on the other, we have Chris Evans accidentally throwing out some very valuable artwork. Sorry, Chris, but on this occasion you’re definitely a loser. The Radio Two DJ was packing his art collection into boxes during a recent house move when the terrible error occurred. He had decided to throw out some of his paintings, so put them in separate boxes, intended to go to a local charity shop. However, Evans said that his ‘handy man’ had made a mix up with the boxes which led to the Damien Hirst painting being discarded. He now believes that the work – one of Hirst’s classic dot paintings – is lying in a charity shop somewhere waiting to be snapped up at a bargain price. A similar painting by Hirst was sold at auction for £240,000 last year! Chris Evans, 42, said “I had no idea I'd done it. We've been clearing out the house.” He also said that he’d made a hurried effort to trace the whereabouts of the painting and buy it back. He didn’t seem to be too bothered about the whole episode, though, as he told the story in fits of laughter on his drive-time radio show. It’s certainly not the first time art has been mistakenly discarded – last year a sculpture by Turner Prize artist, Anish Kapoor, valued at £350,000, was shockingly dumped in a skip by builders whilst in the care of a London fine arts storage company! A piece of ‘art’ masquerading as a bag of rubbish was also thrown into a hire skip by a cleaner at The Tate Gallery a few years back. The lost Hirst painting is now thought to be in a charity shop somewhere in Cranleigh or Godalming, Surrey. So if you’re feeling lucky it might just be worth a browse…]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1308 2008-07-03T14:40:21Z 2008-07-03T14:44:11Z

An antique table rescued from a skip in Welshpool, Powys, has sold at auction for £40,000! The table was pulled from the hire skip after being dumped during a house clearance. To the untrained eye, it could easily be passed...

Jon Roberts An antique table rescued from a skip in Welshpool, Powys, has sold at auction for £40,000! The table was pulled from the hire skip after being dumped during a house clearance. To the untrained eye, it could easily be passed over as just another cheap example of replica Edwardian furniture. But when Jeremy Lamond, Fine Art Director at Halls Auctioneers, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, spotted it, “My heart skipped a beat,” he said – hilariously. Instantly recognising the brass fittings on the table, Mr Lamond named it as a very rare example of work produced by 19th century architect Edward William Godwin. Once underway, the auction was contested by three telephone bidders. Eventually, it sold to a specialist dealer in London. The family who had tried to dispose of the table are said to be delighted with the price it sold for. As is Mr Lamond, “In terms of significant discoveries during my career, this table has got to be right up there in the top 10 because it is so rare.” Indeed, so unusual is this piece that the only other examples of its type are to be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Trust's Ellen Terry Memorial Museum at Smallhythe Place, Kent. When asked about dumping antiques, Mr Lamond said, “People have nothing to lose and everything to gain from getting a professional valuation.” So take heed. Check those skips before you consign them to the landfill. If you bury £40,000 worth of rare walnut loveliness, you’ve only got yourself to blame.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1307 2008-07-02T14:30:32Z 2008-07-02T14:47:15Z

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF 'THE SKIP'... • A table found in a skip sells at auction for £40,000 • Volunteers in a community clean-up project are forced to return the rubbish! • The new CIWM president talks about...

Jon Roberts IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE OF 'THE SKIP'... • A table found in a skip sells at auction for £40,000 • Volunteers in a community clean-up project are forced to return the rubbish! • The new CIWM president talks about challenges ahead for the waste industry • Skip hire insurance and how to deal with customer liability • 'Skip Hunk of The Month' & 'Skip Chicks' • Advice from industry experts • And much more...]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1276 2008-06-30T21:59:28Z 2008-06-30T22:09:34Z

In today’s era of landfill charges and LATs reporting, the weighbridge is at the heart of a waste organisation’s data collection. Downtime can bring an operation to a halt so an effective preventative maintenance programme is vital says Chris...

Jon Roberts In today’s era of landfill charges and LATs reporting, the weighbridge is at the heart of a waste organisation’s data collection. Downtime can bring an operation to a halt so an effective preventative maintenance programme is vital says Chris Thorpe, service manager for Avery Weigh-Tronix. Weighbridges are precision weighing instruments designed to meet stringent weights and measures regulations while operating in extremely harsh environments. Collecting and reporting waste data is essential for waste disposal authorities, transfer stations and landfill operators. In modern waste management the weighbridge is like a cash register for an organisation. Landfill charges, waste sorting & recycling transactions and landfill taxes all need accurate data. Indeed, with charges set to increase by 100% over the next three years for active waste going to landfill, it pays to recycle and importantly measure or weigh the different categories of waste. With the weighbridge and its software at the heart of this reporting regime, it is essential that it remains operational and also reports weight data accurately. Having the right service and maintenance agreement in place is essential, but there is much that weighbridge operators can do to ensure that equipment stays reliable. Perhaps the first thing is to be aware of the most common causes of damage or failure. For example, if the load cell or weighbar is left in water or even in very damp conditions it can fail prematurely. This is one of the most common causes of inaccurate weighing and leads to rejection by trading standards officers. Second, “shock loading” can cause excessive movement of the weighbridge platform damaging the structure. This can be due to the heavy braking of a vehicle, impact damage caused by a loading shovel or by heavy loads dropped directly onto the weighbridge or into a vehicle positioned on it. Another common problem is electrical disruption, including mains borne interference through the weighbridge indicator supply or a lightning strike, either directly or via dissipation when the surrounding ground becomes electrically charged. Modern weighbridge designs generally incorporate protection against lightning, but it is important to check the weighbridge for damage after any thunderstorm. So, assuming you already have a maintenance contract in place, what else can an operator do to help keep the weighbridge operational and legally compliant? The answer lies in housekeeping and good practice, with daily, weekly, monthly and twice yearly tasks. These simple tasks are important as accumulation of dirt, debris, water or slurry will affect the integrity of the weighbridge. In the short term this will lead to inaccurate weighing and, if allowed to continue, the load cells or weigh bars will fail, making the weighbridge unusable. On a daily basis, for example, it is best practice to visually inspect the platform to ensure it is free from debris. Check that the side and end frames are not fouled. Next ensure that the digital display reads zero before the vehicle drives onto the platform. Make sure that vehicles approach the platform slowly and avoid sudden braking and for an accurate weight reading ensure that all of its wheels are on the weighbridge. For pit-mounted installations where T section rubber is fitted, check it is located correctly and that any pit drainage system and/or automatic pumps are working correctly. For surface mounted weighbridges make sure there is clearance between the superstructure and the ground . Weekly tasks involve carefully checking the load cell assemblies for debris build up, which should be removed carefully without damaging the load cell cables. You should also carry out a weekly weigh check using a loaded vehicle. Compare the vehicle’s weight when it is weighed at each end of the weighbridge and in the centre of the platform. If discrepancies of ± 2 indicated divisions are found then it should be reported. In the example below, the weight is displayed in 20kg increments. At 25980Kg the weight is acceptable at -1 indicated division, but at 26060kg at the front end of the platform it is unacceptable with +3 indicated divisions. For a pit-mounted weighbridge, check the pit monthly for possible “ponding” of water, debris build up or other damage to the leading edge of foundations, and the side and end frames of the platform. If the platform has moved excessively since the last inspection, then report it to your maintenance service provider. You should also repeat the end-middle-end test as detailed in the weekly tasks and record the readings. After doing this jet wash the weighbridge to remove any loose debris and any material beneath the platform, taking care to avoid the load cells or weighbars. Rebalance, or zero, the weighbridge and repeat the end-middle-end test noting the readings. Compare these before and after results and report any discrepancies. Finally, once every six months you should check the weighbridge for any signs of structural damage. For example, inspect the foundations for any significant movement or cracks and report any signs to your maintenance service provider. For surface mounted weighbridges visually check the load cell cables and again report any damage. Never electrically weld on the weighbridge structure without consulting your service provider as this can seriously damage your loadcells or weighbars. Also if the weighbridge needs cleaning out then you must take into account that waste can produce methane and other dangerous gases. For pit mounted weighbridges, you must ensure that suitably certified gas detectors are used in compliance with the Confined Space, Health and Safety legislation, both before and during such work. With proper care your weighbridge will give longer trouble free operation in between planned maintenance visits. But remember not to get carried away by ‘DIY service’. Do not attempt to carry out detailed repair or maintenance work as this may affect its operation and contravene Weights and Measures regulations. This is where a planned maintenance contract is essential, taking into account the way a weighbridge is used and its frequency of use, as this will vary from one organisation to another. Maintenance contracts can be flexible to meet your needs. Avery Weigh Tronix often finds that a basic package is fine for a new weighbridge in its first year, with extra cover added progressively as the equipment ages. A basic package will typically only include a scheduled preventative maintenance visit or visits – ranging from monthly to annual visits. Additional features can include emergency cover for breakdowns, labour costs for repairs, parts and even replacement of load cells or weighbars. If replacement parts are fitted, you may need to get the weighbridge re-verified to ensure it meets weights and measures legislation – check whether your service supplier can do this for you as not all service and repair companies have the necessary skills, tools and experience. To meet your due diligence obligations you should also have your weighbridge calibrated regularly – at least once a year. Again your maintenance service provider should be trained and qualified to offer this service. If the worst should happen you should also check your contract for response times. Even in the remotest regions of the UK, an eight hour response time is achievable and much shorter response times are available for critical operations. In summary your weighbridge is one of the most important elements of your business. Without it operating properly, you risk mis-measurement. Even worse, if the problems build up and the weighbridge becomes inoperable it could slow or even close down your operation. Finally there is the nightmare scenario, of non-compliance with Weights & Measures and the risk of legal action by Trading Standards with all the damage to your reputation, to say nothing of the direct financial losses. Even though your weighbridge looks a simple, robust, heavy duty piece of kit that can ‘look after itself’, a few minutes spent on basic housekeeping each day, an hour each week and a couple of hours each month, will make all the difference to its reliable, trouble free operation.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1263 2008-06-28T21:08:23Z 2008-06-28T21:11:58Z

This month’s Skip Hunk is Dave ‘The Pie’ Haskins from 5 Star Skip Hire. You may have difficulty picking him out, what with his face being as red as his truck! Q. Hi Dave. I’ll ask the obvious question...

Jon Roberts This month’s Skip Hunk is Dave ‘The Pie’ Haskins from 5 Star Skip Hire. You may have difficulty picking him out, what with his face being as red as his truck! Q. Hi Dave. I’ll ask the obvious question to start with - what’s ‘The Pie’ bit in your name all about? A. Well, it’s quite easy to explain really. I always have at least one pie a day - have done since I was about 15 I think. (Apart from one time at my Nanna’s in Whitley Bay when the chippy closed early due to a potato theft). Q. Wow, that’s an impressive claim! So what’s the best thing about working at 5 Star Skip Hire then? A. There’s an absolutely cracking pie shop two minutes from the yard. Second best is Amanda in the office - partly because she’s a cracking good laugh, but mainly cos she loves pies. Sometimes we eat lunch together on a wall. Q. So, have you been busy recently then - it looks like you’ve caught the sun on your rounds. A. Yeah, I’ve been busy. This isn’t sun burn though. My blood pressure’s shot from all the pies. Q. Oh, right. There’s a down side to all things enjoyable I suppose. So, what’s your favourite thing about The Skip magazine, Dave? A. The logo. It looks a bit like a cross-section of a pie. Q. I suppose it does, when you think about it. They say beauty is in the pie of the beholder! Do you have any other hobbies besides pastry products, then? A. Yes, I’m part of a Band Aid tribute act, actually. We play round the local pubs every Christmas for charity. Q. Oh great. For a minute there, I thought everything about you was going to be pie related! What’s the band called? A. We’re called ‘Do They Know It’s Ginsters?’ Blinking heck, that’s enough for me. Pie pie everyone!]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1266 2008-06-27T21:21:14Z 2008-06-27T21:32:35Z

Dear The Skip, In response to your article of issue 33, this government has not got a green policy; it has a mean policy. We all welcome a better environment and responsible Waste Management Companies strive hard to comply. Albeit,...

Jon Roberts The Skip, In response to your article of issue 33, this government has not got a green policy; it has a mean policy. We all welcome a better environment and responsible Waste Management Companies strive hard to comply. Albeit, this government does not encourage or reward responsible hardworking companies at all. Instead they continually introduce penalties and taxes etc. Why do they never provide opportunities or support to enable us to comply? We all know that the reduction in landfill sites is inevitable and an increasing problem but not one that has occurred overnight. Why is there no infrastructure in place? There is no help with developing future sites for recycling plants etc. Local Councils are not pro-active; they are narrow minded and do not welcome such visual sites. All the brownfield sites available should be utilised for the development of the appropriate area, in particular replacing work where it has previously been lost. Not all businesses are call centres or distribution warehouses. To recycle certain material, the distance to travel outweighs the tipping costs - with respect to fuel costs and time taken this does not help our carbon footprint. If more sites were available this would encourage recycling and sites would be more widespread. We need forward thinking Government representatives but where are they??? Regards, Debbie Garlick Potteries Waste Limited. THE SKIP SAYS: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Debbie. You raise some very valid points. As for finding any “forward thinking Government representatives” - there’s probably more chance that Elvis is currently working on a policy for rationalising skip permit pricing.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1273 2008-06-26T21:49:26Z 2008-06-26T22:03:45Z

The use of new technology, called Viper, means that VOSA is cracking down on overloaded vehicles. It is time for the waste industry to take action, but to do so they need accurate and reliable solutions argues Chris McAllister,...

Jon Roberts The use of new technology, called Viper, means that VOSA is cracking down on overloaded vehicles. It is time for the waste industry to take action, but to do so they need accurate and reliable solutions argues Chris McAllister, market manager for Avery Weigh-Tronix’s waste division. VOSA states that overloading continues to be one of the most frequent offences for HGVs, ranking alongside tachograph and drivers’ hours offences. It is a serious health and safety issue because it increases braking distances in an emergency and makes the vehicle more difficult to control. None of us want to be associated with the consequences of a serious road traffic accident. Overloaded vehicles also cause extra wear and tear on the road network and VOSA is taking the issue very seriously. According to the Road Traffic Act, overloading your vehicle is an absolute offence. This means that an offence is committed even where the driver or operator had no knowledge of the overloading. Beware if someone else loads the vehicle, as the consignor can and often does state the weight incorrectly. Wherever possible get the consignor to confirm the cargo weight in writing and make sure that this information is printed on the weight bill as this can be used as evidence in mitigation. If your vehicle is stopped and directed to a weighing site and is then found to be overweight, the driver and any other person who permits the use of the vehicle may be liable for prosecution. In addition the authorised officer will issue a prohibition notice making it illegal for the vehicle to travel on the road. This notice must be cleared in writing before the vehicle can proceed and it is up to you to meet the costs of offloading excess weight safely. The penalties for overloading can be severe. There is a maximum fine of £5,000 per offence i.e. per axle, per gross and per train overload and you can also have your licence disqualified. Convictions can also affect the decision of the traffic commissioner to suspend revoke or renew an HGV driver’s licence. In practice there are two statutory defences. First it must be shown that the vehicle was proceeding to the nearest available weighbridge or was proceeding from the weighbridge to the nearest suitable offloading point. The second defence is that the vehicle was loaded to within its legal limits and that the weight had increased in transit by no more than 5 percent and nothing had been added to the vehicle since it was first loaded. In the past enforcement may have been an issue. The only solution was to have random checks at fixed sites with police officers stopping vehicles. Once word got out, many vehicles could easily avoid inspection sites. In 2003/04 for instance VOSA weighed 41,731 UK and foreign vehicles with a prohibition rate of 7.84%. Beware the Viper Now, however, VOSA is using new technology and has new powers to make enforcement more effective. In 2004 it gained the power to stop vehicles itself, following accreditation from chief officers. The police have now trained a number of VOSA staff who can operate in specially marked cars. Since that time there have been significant increases in the number of vehicles stopped and prohibitions issued. More recently the organisation has started using a combination of weighing in motion sensors and automatic number plate recognition called VIPER. In-road piezoelectric strips measure a vehicle’s weight and each individual axle to a margin of better than 5% and cameras record the number plates of any overloaded vehicles. The system will identify the type of vehicle and, if it is overweight, will record its number plate and other details. Such targeting reduces the need to stop law-abiding drivers, but increases the chance of those that are inadvertently overloaded being caught. A recent pilot study recorded a 700% increase in identifying and prohibiting overweight vehicles. In this study the system identified 434 vehicles as being overweight. These vehicles were stopped and 379 were found to be actually overweight. A total of 344 weight prohibition notices were issued. Since then road checks between February and April were 100% effective and only non-compliant operators were stopped. Such was its success that VIPER has won the Intelligent Transport Society’s technology award for excellence. There are now four sites operating with another 10 to be added by April 2008. Negotiations are ongoing for further sites. Weighing up a solution So it is no longer good enough to estimate the weight of your vehicle or, if a third party is loading it, accept their word that it is within legal limits. It has always been the responsibility of the operator and/or driver. Some may have been tempted to gamble in the past, but the chances are that they will now be caught. Equally with fuel prices increasing and margins tight, you do not want to err too much on the side of caution and significantly underload your vehicle. Potentially there are several proven solutions. One, of course, is to visit a weighbridge, but this is not always convenient. For most, the best option is to install On Board Weighing. You can then monitor and check the load yourself. In theory this is the ideal answer, but unfortunately some systems have in the past been unreliable. The good news is that the technology is getting better and there are now more reliable and accurate systems on the market. So if you are specifying on board weighing what should you ask the supplier? Chris Hodge of Commercial Motor magazine has some recommendations. He suggests asking: “Can it be tailored to suit an individual vehicle or operation? Can it be transferred from one truck to another? Is it accurate to within 50kg? Is it simple to operate? Is it robust and reliable? Does the system come with a tailor made warranty? Is it quick and easy to install? Does the system come with a nationwide aftersales and service backup?” He finishes off the list by questioning whether the system allows your drivers to load safely and if it helps ensure that you’re not losing money by underloading. I would add to this list and suggest that you ask for references and proof points. For example, how many technicians are in my local area? How quickly can they get to me – time off the road is money lost. And can simple repairs be done at the roadside? One recent advance that makes such systems inherently more reliable is the introduction of digital load cell technology. This is not new technology for weighbridges and other applications, but it is new for On Board Weighing. Using digital load cells halves the number of wires in the chassis cable from four to two. It also reduces the amount of cable needed, eliminates any need for a junction box and minimises the number of chassis cable contacts. Quite simply there is less to go wrong. In addition, reliability is better because the temporary presence of moisture in the connectors will not affect digital data transmission. In an analogue system this would stop it working. Will all of this make overloaded vehicles a thing of the past? Probably not, but new technology means that VOSA will catch more of those who transgress and genuine errors are not a defence in law. So beware the VIPER and make the most of current technology to help you stay legal while also maximising your load for efficiency. It’s a delicate balancing act, but one that you have to get right.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1275 2008-06-24T21:56:21Z 2008-06-24T22:02:59Z

A major magnetic equipment manufacturer has successfully solved numerous Aluminium Recycling problems world wide. Master Magnets Ltd is a world leader in the field of Metal Separation applications, they are now willing to share the secrets behind their success. The...

Jon Roberts Recycling problems world wide. Master Magnets Ltd is a world leader in the field of Metal Separation applications, they are now willing to share the secrets behind their success. The recycling of aluminum generally produces significant cost savings over the production of new aluminum even when the cost of collection, separation and recycling are taken into account. Over the long term, even larger national savings are made when the reduction in the capital costs associated with landfills, mines and international shipping of raw aluminium are considered. The environmental benefits of recycling aluminium are also enormous. Only around 5% of the CO2 is produced during the recycling process compared to producing raw aluminium (and an even smaller percentage when considering the complete cycle of mining and transporting the aluminium). Also, open-cut mining is most often used for obtaining aluminium ore, which destroys large sections of the world's natural land. Recycling Aluminium has been further improved through Master Magnets high performance ‘Eddy Current Separator’. In the late 80’s Master Magnets recognised a need in the market for a machine which can separate Aluminium (Non Ferrous) from other metals and non metallic’s (E.g Iron and Plastics). Therefore Master Magnets launched the Eddy Current Separator into the market place. Operating Principle An Eddy Current Separator basically consists of a short belt conveyor with its drive at the return end. Inside the delivery pulley a rotor fitted with magnets spins at high speed generating a high frequency alternating magnetic field. In a similar manner to electric motors the alternating magnetic field sets up an electric current in conducting metals within its influence, which in turn produces a magnetic field opposing that of the rotor. Conducting metals are therefore repelled by the rotor, and tend to jump away from it. In operation non metallics are discharged as from a normal conveyor. Non ferrous metals, because of the repulsive force, take a higher trajectory passing over a splitter plate placed between the two flows. The separating efficiency depends on the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, the strength of the magnets, the speed of the conveyor and the position of the splitter plate. All of these factors should be taken into account when selecting a machine for a particular application. In order to allow non ferrous metals to be repulsed by the rotor, material on the conveyor should ideally be in a monolayer, so throughput will depend on the density and particle size of the material, and the width and speed of the conveyor. Applications Eddy Current Separators are increasingly used wherever separation of non ferrous metals from a product stream can give a more valuable product, whether the end use is in recycling, reduction of waste, raw material production or any other process where separation is beneficial. Typical examples of applications are :- • Separation of non ferrous metals in auto shredder residue • Separation of non ferrous metals from solid waste incinerator ash • Sorting aluminium beverage cans from non metalllics • Removal of contamination from crushed glass cullet • Extraction of contaminants from process lines • Separation of non ferrous dross from foundry sand • Non ferrous metal removal in WEE recycling plants • Removal of aluminium components in UPVC window recycling At the heart of many Material Recycling Facilities (MRF’s) an Eddy Current Separator will remove non ferrous metals from domestic, commercial and industrial waste. Technology from Master Magnets Master Magnets ECS designs incorporate the latest generation neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnetic elements to give the high field strengths necessary for efficient separation. Careful design of the rotor within the outer pulley shell ensures that the product is as close as possible to the magnets, as does the selection of high quality thin section conveyor belts. Various combinations of rotor size and magnetic design are available depending on the application. The standard rotor functions well on such applications as municipal waste recycling. The ‘Fines’ rotor will treat small particle sizes where high rejecting forces are required, and a special design treats coarse, light material such as beverage cans. All are available in widths from 300mm to 1500mm depending on the throughput required. Master Magnets’ latest version of the eddy current separator is lower in cost and specifically designed for can sorting. Master Magnets can supply a complete solution to a non ferrous separation problem, from laboratory sample testing to design and installation of a complete separation plant. After careful consideration of the operational requirements the plant will be designed to give a long and trouble free life, and to produce separated materials to the customer’s specification. In house experience will be drawn on to ensure that hoppers, feeders, conveyors, magnetic separators, and all other parts of the plant are compatible, and together function efficiently. For more info, call 0844 560 7706 and quote ‘Recycling Aluminium TS35’.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1274 2008-06-23T21:53:54Z 2008-06-23T21:55:00Z

This has to be the waste management mantra to all skip companies looking to reduce their future landfill tax bill. As landfill tax and gate fees increase, skip companies’ waste disposal methods need to be smarter and further opportunities...

Jon Roberts This has to be the waste management mantra to all skip companies looking to reduce their future landfill tax bill. As landfill tax and gate fees increase, skip companies’ waste disposal methods need to be smarter and further opportunities to recycle identified. Fairfield Materials Management believes that Greater Manchester-based skip companies should be sorting and separating incoming green or garden waste material as a means of saving on landfill charges, and redirecting it to Fairfield’s site in East Manchester. Landfill tax on biodegradable waste was increased at the beginning of April 2008 by a further £8.00, to £32.00 per tonne. This price doesn’t include the gate fee. Fairfield offers a ‘throw-away’ gate fee of £25.00/tonne for green waste; a price that has encouraged many landscapers and skip hire companies through their gates. With zero waste ambitions for the New Smithfield wholesale market site on which it is based, Fairfield has contributed to a phenomenal increase in recycling rates on the market from 8% to 60% in 3 years. Fairfield is a social enterprise that was set up in 2003 in order to divert thousands of tonnes of green and vegetable waste away from landfill and eradicate unnecessary transportation. Its in-situ composting facility on the New Smithfield wholesale market processes fruit & veg waste from the traders and makes it into a BSI PAS100 compost. The result? A: many happy skip hire firms that are enjoying lower disposal costs. B: a dark brown, nutrient-rich compost, in which waste really has been turned into goodness. As Emma Smith, Projects Manager says, “Companies trying to dispose of their green waste material like to come to us because we provide a very low cost service. We also think they like our genuine environmental intentions”. Fairfield provides a 6 day drop-off service at its New Smithfield market site in East Manchester. Large green waste customers are billed at the end of the month. Fairfield's green waste service will help customers to be more sustainable, to help save the earth, and to save the pounds in their pocket. ]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1272 2008-06-21T21:44:06Z 2008-06-21T21:48:45Z

The latest Generation IV fully hydrostatic tracked loading shovels, from leading crawler loader manufacturer, Liebherr, includes two models in the range which are specifically engineered and factory-built for all the requirements of landfill work – the LR 624 Litronic and...

Jon Roberts A number of specific landfill features have been designed into the machines and the latest engine technology is employed to ensure reliability, performance, fuel economy and reduced noise and exhaust emissions. Liebherr’s well proven and highly developed hydrostatic drive system remains at the heart of the crawler loader range, which now also includes the well-proven high-technology Litronic engine and hydraulics management system to ensure optimum output and efficiency at all times, as well as fulfiling a diagnostic role for maintenance and workover. One of the most versatile machine ranges employed on landfill, Liebherr hydrostatic crawler loaders are capable of a wide variety of tasks, including: loading and carrying, sorting and condensing garbage, bulldozing and grading. Additionally, these machines come into their own for spreading landfill cover, or on general earthmoving duties when new cells have to be created. Standard landfill specification includes all the necessary features required to protect the machine and operator – even on the most arduous of sites. These features include lift cylinder covers, external air supply alternator, exhaust manifold isolation, radiator guard, engine air pre-cleaner with automatic dust ejection, cooling system reversible fan, final drive protection rings and fine perforated plates to the engine housing. Optional extras are available such as rear striker bar, fuel tank guard, track shoes with trapezoidal holes, tilt cylinder guard. Rear-view CCTV systems can be installed, as can an automatic central lubrication system. For the operator, the spacious cab on Liebherr crawler loaders is a comfortable, functional and safe work station for optimum performance and minimum fatigue, is glazed with tinted armoured glass and is fully ROPS and FOPS protected. Employing the science of ergonomics, the cab is lightly pressurised to prevent dust and odour incursion and is fully air-conditioned. A fully adjustable seat, with ventral safety belt, includes twin joystick controls integrated into the armrests – one for travel speed and direction, the other for attachment movements; Liebherr also offers an option of steering pedals via V-pattern travel control. There is even a lockable storage space under the armrest, a cup holder, coat hook and a 12v electric coolbox. Front end attachments include standard, multi-purpose, waste and clamshell buckets with appropriate bolt-on or flush-mounted weld adaptors for teeth and cutting edges suited to the purpose. A rear-mounted rigid drawbar or three-shank ripper can also be fitted and the latter is particularly useful for loosening overburden. For more info call 0844 560 7706 and quote ‘Learn to Crawl TS35’]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1271 2008-06-20T21:39:42Z 2008-06-20T21:47:11Z

“All my tips come from personal experience managing waste recycling facilities in the sunny North West of England - Wigan, Liverpool, Widnes, Stoke on Trent, etc...” 1. Waste Picker Productivity Make the job simple with as little double handling...

Jon Roberts “All my tips come from personal experience managing waste recycling facilities in the sunny North West of England - Wigan, Liverpool, Widnes, Stoke on Trent, etc...” 1. Waste Picker Productivity Make the job simple with as little double handling as possible. A mixed builder’s skip could contain all sorts that can be diverted from landfill. Tip and spread the contents on the floor, then load each fraction, like timber and metal, into a medium size loading shovel. At many companies I visit the loads are being pushed up and contaminating good material for recycling. Space is always at a premium - I say again, buy a baler and buy extra hook lift bins to store recyclate. 2. Second Sorting Shift Consider introducing a second shift to your transfer station/ recycling facility. It may be safer and more cost effective to sort after hours, when there are no vehicles tipping. 3. You’re Fired! The work in transfer stations is hard, dirty and dangerous, so staff turnover can be high. Ensure your employment contracts, offer letters and even notes in diaries are up to date. To get rid of unsuitable staff, the paperwork must be right. 4. There’s Gold in Them There Skips! Never give up looking for cash in the trash. This week I found a mint condition Elvis EP inside an old radiogram! Roger Hudspith is a director of A2Shred Ltd in Winsford, Cheshire. He also holds the level 4 COTC for waste transfer treatment and hazardous waste treatment. Email the Garbage Guru at theguru@theskip.net to ask any questions about the murky world of waste. For more tips visit www.theskip.net]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1270 2008-06-19T21:35:17Z 2008-06-19T21:47:13Z

In this month’s article I have returned to H&S having discussed the new WAMITAB Competency scheme last month. The stimulus for the title is actually based on some real conversations that I have had this month when out and about...

Jon Roberts I remember reading about this in the papers last year and thought that it was a case of H&S gone mad. Unfortunately the reality is that some schools did in fact require kids to wear goggles when playing conkers, but the HSE maintain that this has nothing to do with them. Quite rightly they say that the risk from playing conkers is incredibly low and just not worth bothering about. They go on to recognise that if kids deliberately hit each other over the head with conkers, that’s a discipline issue, not health and safety. I appreciate that skip hire staff won’t be playing conkers at work, but there are parallels, as all too often companies jump straight into issuing PPE for tasks, without really thinking about other (and better) control measures. A decent risk assessment should be the starting point, particularly where the precautions are based on the risk hierarchy. MYTH THREE : WORKERS ARE BANNED FROM PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN THE OFFICE. This has a seasonal airing and some companies may be banning such frivolity, but again this shouldn’t be pinned on H&S. This doesn’t mean that it is a free for all, with you still needing to take some basic precautions... use a stepladder and not a chair, also use sensible footwear when using the steps and think about where you are putting the decorations, avoiding sources of heat. All of this seems to be common sense and doesn’t stop the festive season! Again, this can have broader relevance, as the risk is from staff doing tasks in a dangerous manner, rather than the activity being dangerous in its own right. Make sure that a decent risk assessment has been undertaken, precautions have been communicated and, importantly, that they are enforced. These three myths are based on well intentioned concerns, but all too often H&S seems to make people switch off their common sense and either do nothing, or do too much. Both can be dangerous and both certainly give H&S a bad name. The HSE refer to “sensible risk management” and we would certainly concur with this principle. Nigel Mair is a WAMITAB assessor and verifier and runs the North West Regional Assessment Centre, delivering WAMITAB qualifications and other H&S, waste and environmental training. If you have any questions for Nigel, please email them through to nigel@theskip.net ]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1269 2008-06-18T21:31:06Z 2008-06-18T21:40:40Z

Karen Wilde takes a look at weighbridge evolution and the modern tools available to enhance your weighing operations. Some days, I look down at my ever expanding waistline and think I’m going to need a weighbridge instead of scales...

Jon Roberts Karen Wilde takes a look at weighbridge evolution and the modern tools available to enhance your weighing operations. Some days, I look down at my ever expanding waistline and think I’m going to need a weighbridge instead of scales soon. Middle age spread is no fun. But weighbridges are. Stick with me now... Those glorified bathroom scales that we call weighbridges have evolved over the years. At one time full of levers and counterbalances and hard to use; best not to mention accuracy too loudly either. Today, things are different. Weighbridge technology has vastly improved, and a good weighbridge can become the central hub of your business. A variety of types and sizes means you can find just the right one for your particular business needs. As you can imagine, these needs vary from company to company. So much so, that finding an industry standard is almost impossible. It gets worse when you start to examine the software these companies use. Each business is unique in its application of this equipment and it isn’t unusual for software to be fully customised, or even made to order. TYPES OF WEIGHBRIDGE Surface Mounted Surface mounted bridges, as the name suggests, are fitted directly on top of the road. It goes without saying that you will need a good flat surface to fit this type, although some weighbridges can accommodate an angle of up to 5°. These bridges are supplied in sections, and can be anything up to 24 metres in length and take weights of up to 100 tons. Big enough for most skip yard applications. Fitted into the main deck are a set of components that actually do the weighing, load cells, instead of the old levers and counterbalances. New digital cells are very accurate and hard-wearing; they can even be connected to the Internet and will automatically notify an engineer if there is a problem. Troubleshooting becomes a breeze when you don’t need to start digging and dismantling to handle repairs and recalibration. Surface mounted weighbridges do require ramps on either end so that your vehicles can ride up onto the weighing deck. This means not only is the bridge very long, but will also need a good bit of space beyond this to position yourself for your run up. Because of this, it can be a good idea to fit them near the entrance to your yard. One of the major plus points with surface decks, is that they are easily taken up, relatively speaking. If you should ever move to a new yard, for example, you can take your weighbridge with you. Portable Doing this is even easier with one of the many portable decks that are available. These mini bridges are great for spot checks or for filling in while you are waiting for the installation of your full size bridge. Using them is slightly different though, as you are weighing each axle separately, instead of the truck as a whole. To do this you have to drive over them at a slow, steady speed. The cells then weigh each axle as it passes over to get a total weight. Not as accurate as a full size bridge but they serve a useful purpose. Pit Mounted Pit mounted bridges, on the other hand, are fitted flush with the road surface. This is done by digging a trench to the required size and lining it with concrete. Load cells can then be dropped in and the main weighing deck fitted on top. Handily, many of the old lever based bridges were also built into pits. So, if you are stuck with an old bridge, it can be updated quite easily. Because they don’t need mounting ramps at either end, pit mounted bridges can fit into a much smaller space than surface mounted. No more run up problems. They don’t even need to be full length, just full width. Using it this way creates a much more accurate axle weighbridge, especially if your truck has self-compensating axles. Take these over a surface mounted bridge and you find the weight shifting about as you ride up the ramp. This will inevitably affect the weighing and give you an inaccurate reading. Dynamic weighing of this type can be done over a pit mounted deck; the flat surface means that the load won’t shift as it goes over the bridge. Making it smooth and accurate, like a Beckham free kick. On the downside, pit mounted bridges can be prone to flooding. This makes choosing the right bridge for your yard especially important as you must take drainage into account. And digging that pit in the first place could increase the cost of your installation. Portable versions of the pit mounted weighbridges have not yet been developed. I am told that manufacturers are still waiting for ACME Industries to perfect the movable hole. On-board Weighing Fines for an overweight truck on the public highway are no laughing matter and a small business could be hit hard. There is no excuse. With this in mind, load cells on trucks make a lot of sense. Besides letting the driver know he is overloaded, modern cells can also be trade approved. This now makes it possible for the driver to pick up a skip, weigh it there and then and print off an invoice in the cab. How much better to be able to charge by weight instead of volume? SOFTWARE A good bridge is only half as useful as it could be without some good software to back it up. True, your bridge will probably come with its own rudimentary software and a basic controller as standard. But, various companies now provide bespoke software for weighbridges, and the controllers can be easily replaced, meaning you don’t have to struggle to find an off-the-shelf package with just the right combination of functionality for you. And with more of us being affected by LATS, recording the amount of waste being diverted from landfill will be easy and pain free. The right software will keep track of all the relevant details without slowing down other aspects of your business. Your software could do more than just operate the bridge. Packages are available that can track skips and lorries so you will always know where everything and everyone should be. Don’t worry though; this isn’t a Big Brother thing. It’s all a matter of knowing which customer a particular load is for, or where it’s returning from. For instance, if a driver is going to collect a skip, you will know where he is going. Weighing him when he gets back allows you to match up that truck and skip with the relevant customer. Billing the client is made easier too as any software worth its salt will connect directly and seamlessly with an accounts package like Sage. As soon as you have weighed the skip, an invoice can be ready within minutes. Things can be even easier with some clever electronics to replace the simple control box normally attached to your bridge. Companies such as Weightron and Avery Weigh-Tronix have developed Number Plate Recognition Systems (NPRS). With these, your computer can now control who has access to the bridge, or even the yard. It is a simple set up then for the computer to know who is leaving the yard, where they are going and how heavy they are when they return. Weight in and weight out is simply done. Now, thanks to the wonders of the internet, more complex systems can be set up. You could track the movements of trucks around the country (or a very large yard) with a network of weighbridges all linked to a central computer; all of which can be linked to accounts for invoicing the right people at the right time, or recorded for LATS. HEALTH & SAFETY In a large yard, it just makes sense to have as few people as possible wandering about around heavy plant and trucks. Driver operated control boxes keep bums on seats. There’s no real need to have drivers leave cabs, and these boxes give your bridge a huge safety boost. Each driver is issued with a swipe card that is read by the box. Visiting drivers can have bar-coded tickets printed at the bridge as they come in which they swipe again as they leave. So, there is no excuse for anyone to be wandering around. Of course, with NPRS there is no need for swipe cards either. Your bridge can act as “Guardian of the Yard” and record the movement of every truck and its load. Twin bridges can be an expensive option for controlling vehicle movements but they do lend themselves to a health and safety conscious one way system. Many companies find they more than pay for themselves because they allow more trips to be made with no unnecessary, expensive and potentially dangerous queuing. Whichever type of weighing system suits your organisation depends on many factors. Weighbridges can be a lot more important, and useful, than you might have thought – not just for weighing your staff after the Christmas party. But used correctly, and with thought, can really streamline virtually every aspect of your business.]]> tag:www.theskip.net,2008:/the-skip-magazine//7.1268 2008-06-17T21:27:51Z 2008-06-17T21:32:17Z

Dear The Skip, Not too long ago, Mr Darling and Mr Brown decided that they needed a lot more tax to help fill the hole of incompetence they find themselves in. So in their wisdom they decided to ambush the...

Jon Roberts The Skip, Not too long ago, Mr Darling and Mr Brown decided that they needed a lot more tax to help fill the hole of incompetence they find themselves in. So in their wisdom they decided to ambush the landfill tax with an escalator that has left many in the industry wondering what the hell happened. As one manager from a large national company said to me last year, “The £8 per tonne has caught us all out and it’s going to hurt”. Tough s***, I say, we’ve seen it coming for years and invested - that’s why 98% of all our waste comes through our MRF and that’s why they’ve been caught out. I must confess I find it difficult to sympathise with such comments when the big players’ press departments then come out with announcements such as “They welcome the tax hike and it will help their company”. What a load of bo****ks ! Mr Darling, on the other hand, can sit back safe in the knowledge that companies such as mine and yours will act as unpaid tax collectors, ensuring his money grubbing government will get every penny without even having to negotiate the rate. Likewise, the Landfill sites have no leverage and they’ve no alternative but to pass it on to the waste carriers. I should remind readers that, at this point, the government’s perception is that the landfill tax cascades down to the waste producers and the ‘polluter pay’ principle is achieved. I’m afraid this is far from the truth, and let it be said that at this point things start to go very badly wrong. Waste collectors have to pass this tax on to their customers, but the finance act from which the landfill tax is spawned makes no provisions for waste carriers and as such it isn’t a tax we have to pass on, but rather an increased cost of working. Consequently, more and more waste producers are finding it fair game to screw their waste collection price down when the tax hike comes around each year. Quite conveniently, the finance act doesn’t allow for any bad debt relief for waste carriers. So if the waste producer goes bust the waste carrier still has to pay the landfill tax to the site operator. And, just to add a twist of concern for the future, you may like to ponder the fact that the exposure on any bad debt that occurs is escalating each year as landfill tax rises. The effects aren’t just limited to bad debt, because even if you manage to pass on the tax to the waste producer without your prices being screwed down, the increased cost of working naturally increases your company’s turnover and most insurance companies calculate their premiums on T/O, so you will be paying higher insurance charges as the tax snowballs for the treasury. The Governments tax take doesn’t stop there either, because the landfill tax - or rather your increased cost of working - attracts even more VAT and those increasing insurance premiums are subject to IPT (Insurance Premium Tax) so Mr Darling is on to a right winner! Just this year alone, our company has responded to over 50 customers seeking a reduction in waste collection charges to offset the effects of the landfill tax. One wonders if sending the annual letter to customers warning them of this Mr Darling’s tax increase is a good idea. I’m sure we would have been better off just filling a skip full of £20 notes and setting them on fire! Just to give you folks reading this some idea of how bad it is out there - all of our work is contracted with terms and conditions that allow for landfill tax increases, but this counts for nothing as waste producers take matters into their own hands. Indeed, as I write this wake up call, our company is dealing with a customer who, because of previous negotiations, hasn’t had an increase for two years and they are currently refusing point blank to accept any increases this year. Suffice to say, we have implemented our right to charge and they have cancelled the contract and are refusing to pay our invoices! To make matters worse, we are now burdened with legal costs as we take action to recover our premature termination losses and unpaid invoices which could take years to recover. The truth of the matter is, many in the waste management industry are the first in line to collect the tax for the government and we remain increasingly vulnerable. Waste carriers have become unpaid landfill tax collectors for H.M. Customs and the amounts we collect continue to grow significantly each year. This incurs more admin costs and the risks are becoming so great that, if a waste producer goes bust, the debt associated with the landfill tax could easily be 60% of your invoice total. And if you can’t stand the hit, you could find yourself in the hands of the receivers. We recognised the impending problems 12 years ago and raised these very issues with the then Prime Minister, John Major, and the Treasury MP David Heathcoat-Amory. Suffice to say, the door was closed in my face and that’s the way it’s stayed ever since. Behind that door today sits Mr Darling. He needs to recognise these problems and provide our industry with some protection, similar to the bad debt relief afforded to landfill operators. Quite why the like of the ESA (The Environmental Services Association) have never addressed these matters is a mystery. I know for a fact that the Road Haulage Association waste group has raised concerns, so someone else is speaking out but what’s needed is a collective voice. I’m sure many people involved in the waste management industry will relate to my concerns. I for one will be writing to my M.P. and the Chancellor expressing my unease. If you share my sentiments you will do the same. Regards, Peter Allen Director, ISM Waste Recycling THE SKIP SAYS: Thanks for your letter, Peter. Your frustration is no doubt echoed throughout the industry. It’s great to hear of people like yourself taking action rather than just accepting what is handed down. Is anyone else out there joining Peter in making a stand against this? Let us know.]]>