The Welsh Government has published guidance on the separate collection of waste paper, metal, plastic and glass, in line with the EU legal requirements which came into force on January 1st 2015. 

All organisations responsible for waste collection, including waste collection businesses and local authorities, will be required to collect waste paper, metal, plastic and glass in a way that maximises the amount of materials that can be recycled.  

These four waste materials should be collected separately from each other and from other sources of waste, where this is necessary to maximise the amount of materials that can be recycled, and where technically, environmentally and economically practicable. 

You can read the guidance in full on the Welsh Government website. 

Working in close partnership with Care and Repair Swansea and Recipro, CEW has set up a builders’ surplus centre at Swansea Enterprise Park. The principle behind the centre is that it provides a cost effective solution to the common problem on construction sites of surplus unused materials. These surpluses arise for a variety of reasons and all too often end up being disposed of as waste. The surplus centre model ensures that these materials never enter the waste stream but instead are diverted to the centre for use in community based projects. In the first place Care and Repair as a Third Sector organisation will have the chance to make first use of these surpluses but they can also ensure that materials that they cannot utilise will be redirected to another worthy cause.

The service has got off to a flying start thanks to a donation of nearly 19 tonnes of brick and block by Bouygues/Leadbitter from their Swansea University Campus site at Fabian Way Swansea. These materials would have been destined for the skip without CEW’s intervention. This first success was due in no small measure to the generous help of W D Lewis Ltd of Aberdare who kindly arranged to collect the materials from site and back-haul them intact to the centre.

Thanks to the work of Jim Owen of OPS working on behalf of CEW a number of other significant construction companies have signed up to the surplus scheme and we are hopeful that over the coming weeks BAM at Morriston Hospital, Carillion at Morriston Comprehensive School, Dawnus at Burlais Primary School and Vinci at Swansea University Campus will all be donating surplus items into the centre.

We will be updating you on future successes.

Installing energy efficiency measures in domestic homes can help consumers reduce their energy consumption and save money on their energy bills.  Improving energy efficiency of the housing stock is also crucial to combatting fuel poverty and achieving carbon emission reduction targets.  However if the energy efficiency measures are not appropriate for the home, or are not installed correctly, the end result can be long-term problems for the consumer, as well as failing to deliver anticipated cost or energy savings.  If such issues persist, they contribute to a general lack of trust among consumers, which can undermine the market.
 
This Call for Evidence has been prompted by the complexity of the quality assurance landscape across Government energy efficiency and low carbon schemes. Citizens Advice have concerns that the range of quality marks, accreditation schemes, organisations, warranties and standards are difficult for consumers and businesses to understand and navigate. Citizens Advice are also aware of concerns in some parts of the market that the quality assurance landscape may not be delivering high quality assessments and installation.
 
Citizens Advice is now seeking evidence of what does, and what does not, work in terms of quality assurance in the domestic energy efficiency market. The main objective is to gain an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the wider landscape and infrastructure specific to quality assurance underpinning consumer protection.  Outputs will be used to make recommendations for improving existing and future quality assurance frameworks in order to enhance the consumer protection landscape in energy efficiency.
 
They would like to receive responses from a wide range of individuals and organisations with a remit in relation to energy efficiency in the domestic market, including:
 
- Energy efficiency installers and assessors
- Green Deal accredited installers, assessors and providers
- Energy supply companies
- Energy efficiency certification bodies
- Manufacturers or guarantee/warranty providers of energy efficiency schemes or measures
- Government bodies and local authorities
- Professional, trade and employer representative bodies
- Consumer protection bodies
 
Please respond by completing the online questionnaire available at: www.pyetait.com/energyquality before the 19th January 2015.

Welsh Government's call for evidence - The development of an energy efficiency strategy for Wales

We need you! The deadline for responses to this quick survey has now been extended until Monday, January 12th at 12:00 - you could win yourself a £50 voucher by taking just a few minutes to respond…

Click here to begin. The amount of time you dedicate to responding is entirely up to you and you don't have to answer every question, but in order for the supply chain in Wales to be fully represented, it is beneficial that we receive a response.

You may already be aware of the Welsh Government's call for evidence; we are seeking your views and experience to support and influence this development of an Energy Efficiency Strategy for Wales.

But, if you would like further information then we welcome you to watch/listen to a webinar outlining the consultation by clicking here.

All entries submitted with contact details will be entered into a draw to win a £50 Love2Shop gift voucher. The winner will be announced by close of business on Monday 12th January on the Linkedin Group and will be notified by email.