Head Office Press Office - 2-Feb-2007 - The Environment Agency has today, 1 February 2007, published new guidance to help business and industry meet the changes to landfill regulations which come into play later this year.

Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment Agency, said: "From 30th October 2007, new rules mean waste must be treated before it is disposed of at a landfill site. At the same time, liquid waste will be banned from any landfill.

"Waste treatment is good for the environment, as it encourages the recycling of waste and reduces the impact of the waste we send to landfill. Much of the waste we send to landfill is already treated, however for some wastes more effort is needed. Treatment can simply be separating the waste on site, and recycling one or more of the separated components."

To explain what needs to be done, the Environment Agency has been working with members of the waste industry and waste producers on this new two-part guidance, Treatment of non hazardous wastes for landfill. Part A explains the requirements of the regulations and part B provides suggested methods from industry on how you could deal with certain wastes.

Liz Parkes added: "There are many easy ways to treat waste and deliver real environmental improvements. If you are a waste producer, now is a good time to review how you manage your waste, including whether it needs to be produced at all. If your waste does go to landfill, check to see if it is already being treated. If it isn't you will need to treat it or ensure that your waste management company does this for you.

"It’s also an ideal opportunity for waste producers and landfill operators to discuss how they need to adapt to these changes and take more responsibility for their waste. We will continue to encourage this dialogue as these new rules bed in after October. Rather than having our staff standing at the entrance to landfill sites checking individual loads, our focus will be on helping business to improve the way they manage their waste."

The new guidance for pre-treatment of waste is available to download at www.environment-agency.gov.uk or by calling 08708 506 506. The guidance on how to deal with liquid waste following the landfill ban will be published in the coming weeks.

+ More

Environment Agency orders a fill it with fish and small fry, to go
Dave Ferguson - 1-Feb-2007 - A further 2,600 fish, including chub, tench and dace, will also be put in rivers across the region, including the Thames, the Thame, the Cherwell, the Ock and the Marsworth Moat in Tring.

The fish population in Hinksey Lake was devastated in 2005 after an algal bloom wiped out thousands of fish. Large blooms of the blue-green algae died out late in the summer, causing the oxygen levels in the lake to crash, killing the tench, roach and common bream.

But the lake has undergone a number of habitat improvements, including the installation of floating reed islands, angling platforms and disabled angling platforms. These were carried out by the Environment Agency, in partnership with Oxford District Angling Association and Oxford City Council.

The Environment Agency is now hoping that by re-stocking the lake, as well as the other rivers, it will aid the fish populations and encourage more fishing along these stretches.

Andy Went, a fisheries officer at the Environment Agency, said: “Hinksey Lake suffered from a devastating algal bloom two years ago, and it seriously decimated the fish, and fishing opportunities, in the local area.

“But by reintroducing these fish today, we hope to boost fish populations, and help in assisting the recovery of the lake and much of wildlife in it.

“We also hope it will encourage more people to come to Hinksey Lake and take part in angling, which is a fantastic way to enjoy a great sport while getting closer to nature. We have already held highly successful junior angling days at the lake and are planning to hold more in the future.

“The reintroduction of the other lakes and rivers is taking place as part of our commitment to restoring fish populations in the area."

The fish have come from an Environment Agency fish hatchery in Nottingham, and are being transported today in time for the restocking.

Notes
The fish are being stocked at the following locations:
Hinksey Lake, Oxford 300 bream 1,800 roach 250 tench
River Thames at Cricklade 500 chub 300 dace
River Cherwell at Thrupp 400 chub 300 dace
River Thame at Chiselhampton 800 dace
River Ock at Garford 300 dace
Marsworth Moat, Marsworth, Tring. 50 tench