WASTE & RECYCLING
“DITCH THE PLASTIC”
PLANET ORGANIC PIONEERS AGAIN.
Planet Organic supermarkets lead the way and find a carbon neutral
solution to the plastic carrier bag.
A
s from this month, the UK’s the environmental problem, despite some contribution towards the actual cost of the bags
largest fully certified organic commitment to cut back in total number of and Planet Organic does not profit from the
supermarket will be the only bags being given out to shoppers. Alternatives sale. The stores continue to offer shoppers
high street retailer to have have included bags made from 20% to 30% alternative carriers: long life organic,
introduced a naturally recyclable plastic, incentives for shoppers who unbleached cotton string bags and heavy duty
carbon neutral disposable refuse bags and encouraging customers bags to purchase, free cardboard boxes and
carrier bag. The new bag is made from GM to recycle. encouraging customers to bring in their
free cornstarch and is grown and Since they became available, Planet own bags.
manufactured in Italy. The bag is totally Organic has been using biodegradable plastic Within the first week of introducing the new
compostable and biodegradable - and can carrier bags, which are quicker to decompose. 100% biodegradable bag at minimal cost to
break down within six months. More Although these break down much more easily, the customer, Planet Organic has already
importantly, it will not leave behind any toxic they are still made from plastic and end up in decreased the volume of carrier bags used
residues as a corn crop absorbs carbon landfills across the UK, littering our streets or across all of their stores by 75%.
dioxide from the atmosphere while it grows are often sent back to China for recycling. To “The free plastic bag that shoppers are
and then releases it as it breaks down. organic retail pioneer Planet Organic, this is accustomed to picking up from the
About 10 billion plastic bags are given still an unacceptable solution. supermarket isn’t really free. It comes at a
away at supermarket checkouts each year in “This simply cannot continue. We here at huge cost to our environment and our planet is
Britain. In London alone, 1.6 million of these Planet Organic feel that we can no longer already suffering because of it,” says RenÈe
bags end up in landfill sites unable to contribute to the problem while remaining true Elliott, Founder of Planet Organic.
decompose and polluting our environment. to our core environmental beliefs. We have Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London supports
Every plastic bag that has ever been made is taken the decision to stop handing out plastic Planet Organic’s new bag policy. “Planet
still here, as they can take up to 2000 years to carrier bags in all of our stores. We will offer Organic is setting a prime example for other
break down. Every plastic bag that we use in our customers several viable alternatives and retailers to follow. They are tackling a key issue
our lifetimes will outlive us for hundreds hope that they will support us in this decision,” in society today. Climate change impacts on
of generations. says RenÈe Elliott, Founder of Planet Organic. the lives of every Londoner and we need only
Big retailers on the high street have more Planet Organic has now introduced the to alter everyday lifestyle habits to make a
recently implemented various soft alternatives new GM free cornstarch bags that will cost significant change and impact,” says
to plastic bags, all of which continue to add to customers 4p each. The charge is a 50% Ken Livingstone.
VIRIDOR REPORTS
INCREASED WEEE RECYCLING
T
he amount of Waste Electrical and recycled along with scrap metal. Now that Sussex HWRC network
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) separate containers are provided for these five alone will collect and
collected across Viridor Waste categories of WEEE, a clear picture is emerging send for treatment nearly 12 kg per person;
Management’s nine local authority as to the quantity of electrical items that are almost three times the minimum UK
contracts has steadily increased making their way into the waste stream. annual requirement.
since the introduction of the Using West Sussex County Council’s 11 Bill Griffiths, National Recycling Manager
WEEE Regulations. HWRC as an example, the amount of small for Viridor said: “Working with our local
From 1st July 2007, producers of electrical appliances (hairdryers, stereos and kettles) and authority partners we have successfully
and electronic equipment have been large appliances (cookers, dishwashers and segregated WEEE for recycling over the past
responsible for the costs involved in the microwaves) collected during the first quarter three months and have clearly demonstrated
collection, treatment and recovery of their has reached a staggering 1,334 tonnes - the that we are well placed to assist the UK exceed
appliances. Over the same time period, all equivalent weight of 178 double-decker buses! WEEE collection targets, simply by operating
Viridor operated Household Waste Recycling With estimates that householders throw well run sites.”
Centre’s (HWRC) across their nine local away 1 million tonnes of electrical and He added “I’m confident that tonnages of
authority contracts are segregating small electronic equipment every year it is hoped that small domestic appliances will eventually
domestic appliances, large domestic the WEEE regulations will go some way to overtake that of large domestic appliances, as
appliances, fridges and freezers, TV’s and addressing the need to capture more electrical soon as more and more householders realise
monitors, fluorescent tubes and low-energy equipment for proper treatment and recycling. they can use their local HWRC to recycle their
light bulbs, which are subsequently sent for The future looks promising. The UK is old and redundant electrical equipment
recycling at approved treatment facilities. required to collect and treat 4 kg of electrical completely free of charge, seven days a week,
Before the regulations came into effect items per person, per year. If results from the irrespective of what it is and when and where it
many of these electrical appliances were first quarter continue as predicted, the West was purchased”.
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SUSTAINABLE FM | NOVEMBER 2007
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