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WE ARE OPEN

FOR BUSINESS

Coronavirus Safety Aware
NO physical contact with our drivers during visits
ALL communications and paperwork sent via telephone or email
NO paperwork to be signed
ALL staff are strictly following our Coronavirus Safety Policy

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Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Biggleswade?

Here in Biggleswade we are constantly being encouraged to recycle our waste materials and not put them into landfill. However, there appears to be an emerging trend for incineration of waste in many areas, but is this a good or bad step?

When it comes to waste materials the following advice is often espoused: Waste should be prevented, then reused, recycled, processed for energy recovery, and finally disposed of.

Unfortunately, although waste prevention represents the top priority of many, effective waste measures of this are yet to be developed by local authorities. This is often in part due to the lack of consistency in governmental waste policies. As a result, many local authorities are free to subsidise the activity of burning mixed waste, a process known as incineration.

When waste is not subjected to separate collection, it is called mixed or residual waste. This means that many materials such as plastics, paper and organic waste, which could be recycled if they were separated at the source, are lost, because they will be burnt in incineration plants.

The European Parliament is currently amending the European Directive on Renewable Energy, which will be implemented in the following decade. The legislation that emerges from this process will influence the choices of local policy makers and financial investors. This represents a major opportunity to offset unproductive investments and concentrate the efforts on the options that are the most sustainable, the most profitable, and generate the most jobs. In all these aspects, recycling makes much more sense than incineration, but why?

Recycling saves energy

The practice of incineration is not a sound idea for several reasons. Firstly, it disincentivises the public to care about what they consume. This is clearly a bad idea in a world where more than seven billion people live by using finite resources.

Until quite recently, recycling was considered tricky, time consuming, costly and even impossible according to some. However, now recyclers run a very profitable business, while preserving materials that can be reused. A combination of recycling and composting can save three to four times more energy than an incinerator can produce.

Even more important, recycling saves massive amounts of CO2 emissions and, if optimised, it can play key role in meeting the objectives set out in the various agreements designed to combat climate change.

Finally, when the amount of energy that an efficient recycling regime can potentially save is incredible when compared to incineration.

Recycling is far more profitable

Incineration of mixed waste is a very expensive procedure which requires significant financial investments from local authorities. Unfortunately, the costs to build the facilities and to run them are are covered mainly by public funds with very little private contribution. Therefore, its costs are to be paid by the public through higher taxes and bills for waste management.

The recycling sector has developed into a very successful business. In some countries its turnover has increased by 520 per cent between 2005 and 2009. Agreeing to maximize recycling is even more important for those countries that joined the European Union more recently and are currently building their waste management system. They have also the most to gain in terms of jobs and savings.

Recycling can create more employment opportunities in Biggleswade

Burning waste requires a lot of money but very little workforce. This means that incineration facilities create very few jobs.

On the other hand, recycling benefits the entire economy by creating at least ten times more jobs than landfilling or incineration. Now that has to be a better situation to be in!

It has been estimated that, in addition to the nearly 400,000 direct jobs brought by the implementation of the existing European Union waste legislation, 170 000 more jobs could be created, most of them impossible to allocate outside the European Union countries, and 30 billion euros could be saved by 2035.

When comparing the costs, it becomes easy to see how good management and recycling can save money for us, the taxpayers and create actual wealth.

Recycling is more flexible

The technology involved in incineration is neither efficient and presents quite a few problems. Should there be a breakdown of a major incinerator, the operators will be forced to apply for an extraordinary permit to store a massive quantiy of waste. It then follows that such a breakdown will cost vast sums of money to the operator who will likely pass down the cost to the taxpayers to recoup their losses.

Incinerators are not very flexible. This means that, in order to deliver a sound economic profit, they need about fifty years of activity, without taking into account the management costs. In 1998, when the Kent County Council entered into a twenty five year contract to burn waste, it thought it was making a wise economic move. But now, as the recycling economy has improved so much, the council is losing an estimated £1.5 million a year. Rather than selling its recyclable waste for reuse, which would be both economically and environmentally efficient, it must send those valuable resources to incinerator plants. That is a bad situation that will continue until the contract eventually expires.

The re use and recycling attitudes are not only environmentally friendly, but they also deliver a far better result from the economic and social point of view.

Incineration still looms over the heads of many communities as a serious threat, while every year less than 40% of European waste is recycled or re used. The best way to turn this trend on its head is to adopt effective source separation of waste materials and separate collection schemes. It is possible to boost the percentage of recycling carried out, creating an extra value for society and the environment, and finally getting away from the practice of mixed waste incineration for good.

Hoarding costs you money

Many hoarding behaviours can be put down to past experiences the individual has gone through. This may be periods of abject poverty, that makes them feel the need to hoard items just in case they could be used to good effect at a later stage. It is now thought that hoarding can adversely affect your finances. This may sound like a strange statement to make, but a bad financial situation is something we all want to avoid.

Time to have a good clearout

We've all been there. Our house has become a little cluttered and we feel the need to have a good tidy up. Many refer to it as a spring clean, but any time of year is a good time to de-clutter our living space. Having a good tidy up not only clears your house, it will help to clear your mind too. Research has shown that living in a cluttered environment can even have adverse effects on a person's sleep.

Fly tipping: what's the problem in Biggleswade?

Illegal dumping is the proper name for fly tipping and it is typically distinguished from littering because of the type and amount of material left and the way in which it is disposed of. Fly tipping has always been a problem in Biggleswade and indeed all over Bedfordshire.

The waste consequences of Covid

In an age where we are constantly looking for ways to cut down on our waste, it seems strange that so much extra waste has been created by the covid pandemic. The vast majority of this is made from plastic, so surely it could be recycled, but when one considers what it has been used for, it renders it potentially hazardous waste.

New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste

When we throw away our waste materials, few of us know or possibly even wonder where this waste will end up. Many often believe that if it goes into the recycling bin, it will be recycled and therefore they will be doing their bit for the good of the environment. Unfortunately, a good deal of plastic waste often ends up in developing countries.

The problems with waste disposal in Biggleswade

How many times have we looked at all the waste materials we have accumulated and despaired at the arduous prospect of sorting it into various types of waste to dispose of at the local tip? This once simple task has now become a major headache for many as the restrictions on what we can dispose of in landfill has increased so much in recent times.

Plastic pollution around the globe

Plastic pollution is now one of the biggest environmental concerns we have to face. You may feel that large amounts of plastic waste are unavoidable in the world we live in, but you and your family can help with the plastic pollution issue by being aware of its dangers and taking the necessary steps to reduce your plastic waste.

Carbon emissions and the environment

An awful lot has been said over the years about the damage we are doing to our environment with the carbon emissions and waste we produce. Some dispute the possibility that we are damaging our planet beyond repair, while others state quite clearly that we have very little time to change our ways and that time is running out.

How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Biggleswade?

We have all heard of recycling our waste materials and for many years, some councils have provided special recycling bins to help residents avoid putting too much waste into landfill. But recycling is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to helping keep our environment healthy in Biggleswade.

Single use plastic products in Biggleswade

Here at Biggleswade Skip Hire we always recycle as much of your waste as possible, however, there is always more that can be done to improve the environment that we all need to survive.

A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip

At Biggleswade Skip Hire we are frequently asked what waste materials can be placed into the hired skips we supply. So we thought it would be a good idea to offer a quick guide as to what is and is not acceptable.

Recycling your waste materials in Biggleswade

Recycling is something most of us do now to some degree. Some do it more than others, but we mostly appreciate that it is an important part of our daily lives. It is more important to recycle waste in order to conserve resources and maintain a healthy environment than ever before. The question is, are we really doing everything possible when it comes to recycling our waste materials? The achances are that many of us are probably not doing all we can. So here are a few tips to help you recycle properly.

The problem with plastic pollution in Bedfordshire

Waste reduction in Bedfordshire

The country is now committed to reducing the amount of waste and the government have set targets for waste reduction. A new plan for cutting waste was published back in 2007 that aimed for at least 40 per cent of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2010, this rose to 50 per cent by 2020.

Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled

Massive amounts of packaging waste is being sent overseas to be recycled and turned into new products. However, concerns have been raised that in reality a good deal of it is being dumped in landfill sites in countries that we have no agreement with.

Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Biggleswade Skip Hire

We all know that plastic is recyclable, so as long as we put it in the correct bin it will be made into something else useful. Sadly this is a myth that all too many people believe, the painful truth is quite the opposite. We have all seen the triangular set of chasing arrows logo on plastic products and seem to automatically assume that it denotes that the product is recyclable.

What happens to all the plastic we throw out

Just where would we be without plastic? The production of plastic has exploded over the last fifty or so years, growing from 16.5 million tons in 1964 to 343 million tons in 2014; it is expected to double by 2036. The question is, where does all of this plastic go when people in Bedfordshire throw it away?

Fly tipping: A modern day curse

Fly tipping is simply another term used to describe illegal dumping of all manner of waste material, it is also called fly dumping. Whatever term is used, it is the dumping of waste illegally instead of using an authorised method such as kerbside collection or using an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, including waste dumped or tipped on a site with no licence to accept waste.

Recycled plastic for roads and pavements

Plastic use in road and pavement construction is not exactly a new concept, but it does appear to be increasing. Using plastic waste to make plastic roads is definitely on the upward trend. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carrier bags, disposable cups and PET bottles that are collected from landfill sites prior to burial and are a vital part of this construction material.

Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic

Indonesia has a wealth of naturally growing seaweed that can make an edible, water permeable film that can be used in sachets that hold tea, coffee, and hot cocoa as well as a whole host of other useful daily consumable products.

The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans

The amount of plastic in the oceans of the world is predicted to treble in the next ten years unless affirmative action is taken to deal with the problem, according to a new report just published.

Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers

A scary statistic is that more than eight million tons of waste plastic ends up in the ocean every single year. If we continue to pollute our oceans at this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 and it can take many years to break down if at all, not to mention the toxins it leaches in the process.

Ways to reduce your plastic waste

Plastic is a great product in so many ways, but the environmental impact it can have is enormous, particularly when it comes to the single use plastic products we seem to uses on a daily basis in our throw away society. Can we as private individuals do to cut down our personal plastic usage?

Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish

Would you like to fill your mouth with plastic, or cover other parts of your anatomy with it on a regular basis? The answer would most likely be a resounding no, but we are already doing just that.

Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe

Literally thousands of tons of plastic scrap collected for recycling from British households have been transported and dumped on sites across the world. This shocking revelation was revealed from a recent freedom of information request.

Hiring a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire rather than using the local dump

Have you got a load of rubbish to dump? Is it better to hire a skip or use the local dump? Do you need a permit for having a skip? Can anyone apply for a permit? Here are a few answers which could help you when hiring a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire

Hire a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire for your garden waste

No matter what the season, a medium sized Bedfordshire garden can generate a massive amount of waste materials. The winter will leave a lot of dead leaves and twiggs from nearby trees to clear up, and when the warmer months hit, the waste is generated on a weekly basis as things grow rapidly.

Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Bedfordshire

Not only does fly tipping blight the Bedfordshire countryside around us, it can have a devastating effect on the wildlife that we co-exist with. Then of course there is the eye watering cost of clearing up the mess that inconsiderate people have created. We all pay the price for this ecologically unsound practice through increased council tax bills from our councils. This could all be avoided if everyone disposed of their waste in the correct manner and hiring a skip is probably the best way to go about this, particularly if you have a large amount of waste to dispose of.

Some facts about waste and recycling from Biggleswade Skip Hire

The United Kingdom produces over 100 million tonnes of waste every single year. If you consider that one tonne is about the weight of a small car, it is easy to see how it mounts up. In less than two hours, the waste we produce would fill the Albert Hall.

Hire a skip instead of going to your local Bedfordshire tip

Using a local Bedfordshire tip is not the same as it was a few years ago. These days everything has to go in the correct hopper, it cannot all go in the same one any longer. This means you have to know what goes where in order to segregate all the rubbish at home.

Hire a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire for your soil and mud

A Bedfordshire client recently hired one of our skips as they just could not believe how much earth they had to get rid of when they dug out a pond in their back garden. Our client had intended to build up their flower beds and other low spots of their garden with the excavated earth. They never thought they would need to get rid of any earth at all.

Useful information about skip hire in Bedfordshire

The one question we get asked the most at Biggleswade Skip Hire is what size skip the customer will need. We always suggest that you think about what you need to dispose of and remember that two skips can be far more expensive than one larger skip. Skips are measured by the yard and range from 3 yard mini skips to roll-on roll-off containers more suitable for higher volume waste requirements.

Hire a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire to save you time effort and money

Hiring a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire is without a doubt the best way to get rid of all your waste materials! It is convenient, quick, easy and saves you a huge amount of work. Generally speaking, we only get a couple of days a week away from work, and when you end up ferrying your household waste back and forth from the local tip, your weekend soon gets swallowed up.

The benefits of skip hire from Biggleswade Skip Hire in Bedfordshire

Having a good clear out of the garden shed or garage produces way more rubbish than you ever imagined possible. Decorating preparation can also produce a good deal of waste, such as old skirting boards and stripped wood chip paper that his been up since the war, so a skip is a great way to dispose of the waste.

Further Information

If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 0800 169 8588, email us at info@stevenageskiphire.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd - Envirowaste Recycling Centre - Jacks Hill - Graveley - Herts SG4 7EQ

Stevenage Skip Hire Ltd
Envirowaste Recycling Centre
Jacks Hill
Graveley
Herts SG4 7EQ

Articles :: Areas covered list :: Website map

Articles
Hoarding costs you money
Time to have a good clearout
Fly tipping: what's the problem in Biggleswade?
The waste consequences of Covid
New Bill designed to ban export of plastic waste
The problems with waste disposal in Biggleswade
Plastic pollution around the globe
Carbon emissions and the environment
How the five R's can dramatically improve our environment in Biggleswade?
Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Biggleswade?
Single use plastic products in Biggleswade
A guide to what can and cannot go into a hired skip
Recycling your waste materials in Biggleswade
The problem with plastic pollution in Bedfordshire
Waste reduction in Bedfordshire
Plastic waste from the United Kingdom may be sent overseas instead of recycled
Just how recyclable is the plastic we use in Biggleswade Skip Hire
What happens to all the plastic we throw out
Fly tipping: A modern day curse
Recycled plastic for roads and pavements
Seaweed sachets offer an alternative to plastic
The increasing problem of plastics in our oceans
Plastic pollution in the ocean starts from the rivers
Ways to reduce your plastic waste
Plastic microbeads are a load of rubbish
Waste plastic from the UK is polluting the globe
Hiring a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire rather than using the local dump
Hire a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire for your garden waste
Get a skip and avoid fly tipping in Bedfordshire
Some facts about waste and recycling from Biggleswade Skip Hire
Hire a skip instead of going to your local Bedfordshire tip
Hire a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire for your soil and mud
Useful information about skip hire in Bedfordshire
Hire a skip from Biggleswade Skip Hire to save you time effort and money
The benefits of skip hire from Biggleswade Skip Hire in Bedfordshire
Areas covered list
Website map

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Recycle or incinerate! What is the best solution for our waste materials in Biggleswade?