On Your Bike to Help Your Hospice

The Friends of The Wisdom Hospice are looking for people who are keen to get on their bikes to support their local Hospice. This is a brand new cycling challenge for those with a sense of adventure or for that kick start to getting fit.

The inaugural Wheels for Wisdom Cycle Challenge will take place on Sunday 29^th April and registration for the event is now open. Registration is available on-line via the Friends’ website: www.friendsofthewisdomhospice.org.uk (QR code attached).

Taking on a route which encompasses Medway and Swale, hundreds of cyclists will get together to raise money for the vital work of the Wisdom Hospice.  Starting from the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, there is a choice of three routes: 10, 25 or 45 miles to cater for everyone from a family with young children to the experienced cycling enthusiast.  

Fundraising Co-ordinator, Emma Dengate said: “We are really looking forward to our first Cycling Challenge. The interest that we have received so far from our supporters is very encouraging. We are also very grateful for the support of local companies who have made donations of equipment to help us with the smooth running of the event on the day. We are hoping to raise at least £8000 to enable us to help to make a difference to the lives of people, throughout Medway and Swale, who are suffering from life limiting conditions.  In the current economic climate, when our financial resources are feeling the strain and the pressure for savings within the NHS leads to requests for increased funding from the Friends for the work of the Hospice, every penny counts.”

The Wisdom Hospice in Rochester is the only adult hospice serving the Medway and Swale area. The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice makes an annual grant of £580,000 to Medway Community Healthcare, towards the running costs of the Hospice, as well as providing extra equipment and facilities that lie outside the NHS budget.

For further information contact: 

Caroline Ford – Administrator/Fundraising Manager, FOWH

– 01634  823584 or – 07976 306449

Emma Dengate, Fundraising Co-ordinator, FOWH    - 01634 831163

Kingsnorth waste management are looking to buy plastics

for further information fill in your details below.

Are you ready for the waste exemption changes?

 New regulations changing waste exemptions were introduced on 6 April 2010. They affect the types of waste operation that are exempt and the rules which control them.

The information below will help you find out about the regulations that control waste exemptions and what types of waste operation are listed as exempt.

Registration of all but one of the exemptions is free and lasts for three years. To continue operating for longer than this you will need to renew your registration

How do I find out if my waste operation is exempt?

Step 1 – Decide, using the guide below, what category your waste operation falls into. Make sure you have also read and understood the important information under ‘Before you register’.

Step 2 – Use the links under  waste exemption categories to find a list of operations which fall under each category. These are all listed by number and have a one line description.

Step 3 – If the short description matches what you want to do, click on that exemption to find a full description and our guidance.

Step 4 – Use the guidance and description to help you decide if the exemption covers what you want to do. Check the details carefully. You need to be sure that you can always work within the limits and conditions and you will not cause pollution, nuisance or harm to human health.

Step 5 -  Follow the steps to Register your new waste exemption. We will provide confirmation of your registration after which you may start straight away. You can register several different exemptions at one place. Make sure you read the guidance on ‘place’ below.

Click here for the exemption table and when the changes are going to happen.

 There are four  main Waste exemption categories

• Treatment
• Disposal
• Storage

See net Regs for full details:

 http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/business/topics/permitting/115492.aspx

Waste Management: BSI to look into reducing recycling and waste regulatory burdens

Mon, 22 Aug 2011

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is leading a project to see if a standardisation roadmap can be created that will reduce the regulatory burden on recycling and waste companies.

BSI will work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, the Environment Agency, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and Waste Watch as the first step to producing the roadmap.

This project team, will look to answer the following questions to work out what role standards should play in helping industry demonstrate compliance with the current permitting regime, such as Environmental Permitting Regulations, in an efficient manner:

• What standards exist that do and/or could support compliance with waste regulation and waste permits?
• What schemes already exist to support compliance with waste regulations and waste permits?
• What are the standards gaps?
• What standards could be developed to assist industry in demonstrating compliance with waste regulations and waste permits?
• How can standards further support waste regulation and enable industry to comply with it effectively and efficiently?
• How effective are the existing tools and mechanisms with regards to advising waste management permitting?
• What specific compliance issues faced by the industry can be resolved with the aid of standards?
• What cost savings and other benefits can be achieved according to industry?

BSI will undertake research to try to find out the answer s to these questions. This research will then be used to interact with individual industries across the wider waste management sector selected on the basis of agreed selection criteria such as amount of waste produced, amount of regulation in the sector and current usage of standards and certification.

The idea behind it is to see whether waste regulatory burdens can be reduced, identify which operations may be suitable for lighter touch regulation, promote adherence to standards as a means of providing a high degree of assurance of compliance with waste regulations and help the Environment Agency to focus on poor performance and illegal activity rather than on managed businesses.

Reported by scrap-ex.com

 Export Market: Chinese government publishes English statement on waste import restrictions

Tue, 9 Aug 2011

The government of China has outlined some details of its further waste import restrictions that came into force from 1 August 2011.

Although the statement does not give a huge amount of information, it does outline that the measures are “applicable to the import of solid waste in any form”.

As previously reported by scrap-ex news, these import restrictions apply to waste imported from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

From 1 August 2011, shippers are required to provide the following information:

• Related import license for solid waste
• Certificate for registration of domestic consignee of imported solid waste that may be used for raw materials
• Certificate of registration of overseas supplier of imported waste that may be used for raw materials
• Pre-shipment inspection certificate of imported solid waste that may be used for raw materials.

Full details click link below.

http://english.mep.gov.cn/standards_reports/standards/Catalogue_Standards/201108/t20110804_215759.htm

published by: http://www.scrap-ex.com

fill in the form below to receive a brochure on how KWM can help you recycle your unwanted plastics and cardboard

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS (IMPORT)
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU CUSTOM HOUSE, NHAVA SHEVA,
TALUKA – URAN, DIST.- RAIGAD, PIN – 400 707.
F. No. : S/26-Misc-144/2010 Gr. IIB            Dated:- 10/11/2010

PUBLIC  NOTICE NO. 113  / 2010

       Attention of all the Importers, CHA, Trade and all others concerned, is invited to Office Memorandum dated 11.05.2010 issued by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) vide F. No. 13-1/2004 HSMD, in supersession of the earlier O.M. of dated 10.02.2006.
2. The O.M dated 10.02.2006, issued by MOEF allows maximum of 8% of recyclable material in the consignment of imported waste paper.
3.  Hazardous Waste Management Rule,2008 and subsequent amendments vide dated 21.07.2009 and 23.09.2009 prescribed for following requirements for import of waste paper:
a. Shipment Movement Documents i.e. Form-9
b. Registration of the importer with SPCB(State Pollution Control Board)
c. Pre-shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) by Inspection and Certification Agency approved by the DGFT. Such PSIC certifies the content of recyclable material in terms of O.M. date 10.02.2006.
   
4. The above provisions were given effect by Public Notice No. 37/2009 dated 19.06.2009 and Public Notice No. 75/2009 dated 07.10.2009, both issued by this Custom House .
5. The O.M. dated 11.05.2010, issued by MOEF revises the permissible limit of recyclable material for different types of waste paper as per which the revised limit of recyclable material in waste paper is as follows:

Sr. No.                     Grade                                                                                               Limit(in percent)
1.                               Residential mixed paper                                                                           2
2.                              Soft mixed paper                                                                                           1
3.                              Hard mixed paper                                                                                       ½
4.                              Boxboard cuttings                                                                                      ½
5.                              Mill wrappers                                                                                               1/2
6.                              News                                                                                                                  1
7.                              New, De-ink quality                                                                    None permitted
8.                              Special News, De-ink quality                                                  None permitted
9.                              Over-issue news                                                                           None permitted
10.                            Magzines                                                                                                          1
11                             Corrugated containers                                                                                1
12                             Double sorted corrugated                                                                         ½
13                             New Double-Lined Kraft Corrugated Cuttings                 None Permitted
14                            Fibre Cores                                                                                                       1
15                            Used brawn Kraft                                                                          None Permitted
16                            Mixed Kraft Cuttings                                                                   None Permitted
17                           Carrier Stock                                                                                   None Permitted
18                            New Colored Kraft                                                                        None Permitted
19                            Grocery Bag Scrap                                                                        None Permitted
20                           Kraft Multi-Wall Bag Scrap                                                        None Permitted
21                            New Brown Kraft Envelope Cuttings                                     None Permitted
22                           Mixed Ground Wood Shavings                                                 None Permitted
23                           Telephone Directories                                                                 None Permitted
24                           White Blank News                                                                          None Permitted
26                           Ground Wood Computer Printout                                          None Permitted
27                           Flyleaf Shavings                                                                             None Permitted
28                            Coated Soft White                                                                         None Permitted
29                           Hard White Shavings                                                                    None Permitted
30                           Hard White Envelope Cuttings                                                 None Permitted
31                           New Colored Envelop Cutting                                                   None Permitted
32                           Semi Bleached Cuttings                                                                None Permitted
33                           Unsorted Office Paper                                                                                    2
34                           Sorted Office Paper                                                                                          1
35                           Manifold Colored Ledger                                                                              ½
36                           Sorted White Ledger                                                                                       ½
37                          Manifold White Ledger                                                                                   ½
38                           Computer Printout                                                                        None Permitted
39                           Coated Book Stock                                                                         None Permitted
40                          Coated Ground Wood Section                                                    None Permitted
41                          Printed Bleached Board Cuttings                                                                ½
42                          Misprinted Bleached Board                                                                          1
43                          Unprinted Bleached Board                                                           None Permitted
44                          Bleached Cup Stock                                                                         None Permitted
45                         Printed Bleached Cup Stock                                                          None Permitted
46                         Unprinted Bleached Plate Stock                                                  None Permitted
47                        Printed Bleached Plate Stock Kinds                                            None Permitted

48                        Specialty Grades( White waxed cup cuttings, Plastic coated cups, Printed waxed cup cuttings, polycoated bleached kraft-unprinted, polycoated bleached kraft-printed, polycoated milk cartoon stock,  polycoated diaper stock, polycoated box board cuttings, waxed boxboard cuttings, Printed and/or unprinted bleached sulphate containing foil, Waxed corrugated cuttings, Wet strength corrugated cuttings, Asphalt laminated corrugated cuttings, Beer carton scrap, Contaminated bag scrap, Insoluable glued free sheet paper and/or board, White wet strength scarp, Brown wet strength scarp, Printed and/or coloured wet strength scarp, File stock, New Computer print out , Ruled white, Fly leaf shaving containing hot melt glue, Carbon mix, Book with covers, Unsorted Tabulating Cards, Carbonless treated ledger, Plastic windowed envelopes, Textile boxes, Printed TMP, Unprinted TMP, Manila Tabulating Cards, Sorted colored ledgers) 

  None Permitted
       Further, as per para (vii) of the O.M. dated 11.02.2010, there shall not be presence of putrefiable organic matter at all in the imported waste paper consignment.
 
6. Presently, Customs verifies the content of recyclable material by means of a Test Report or alternatively, pre-shipment inspection certificate issued by the inspection and Certification Agency approved by the DGFT in addition to Shipment Movement Documents i.e. Form-9 and Registration of the importer with SPCB(State Pollution Control Board).
7. Since, the MOEF has revised the  content of recyclable materials in the import consignment of various types of waste papers, such pre-shipment certificates or test report should mention declaration/certification of content of recyclable materials in accordance with Office Memorandum dated 11.05.2010 issued by Ministry of Environment and Forest vide F. No. 13-1/2004-HSMD.

8. Further, as the said O.M. of dated 11.05.2010 stipulates that the content of waste paper must be verified by the Customs Authority in respect of each consignment imported into the country, therefore depending upon the track record of the importer, Customs will draw samples of 5-20 % of the containers in each consignment for testing by the MOEF recognized labs notified by the MOEF vide Notification dated 18.07.2007 as per Annexure-“A” before the clearance of the goods.
 
9. The Trade and the concerned associations are requested to take note of the above for necessary compliance.

                                                                         (MALA SRIVASTAVA)
                                                        COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS,(IMPORT)
                                                                                  J.N.C.H. ZONE-II

Copy to:
1. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Zone – II, JNCH.
2. Commissioner of Customs(X), Zone – II, JNCH.
3. All Addl. Commissioner of Customs, Zone  II, JNCH.
4. All India Importers & Exporters Association, Churchgate House, 2nd floor, 32/34 Veer Nariman Road, Opp. Akabarrally, Flora fountain, Mumbai 400 023.
5. Bombay Custom House Agents Association (BCHAA), 73 Mittal Tower, “C” Wing, 7th floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 005.
6. All Deptt. of JNCH.

How to buy fire extinguishers without getting your fingers burnt!

For anyone with a business or organisation requiring fire extinguishers to ensure compliance with Fire Regulations the market can seem quite beweildering. Do i buy online, through a stationery catalogue or from a fire extinguisher maintenance company?

The starting point is to always buy extinguishers that comply to a third partyaccreditation, the most commonly recognised in the UK is the BSi kitemark, but there are others including Lloyds Register. Regrettably the CE mark alone is no guarantee of product quality.

Let’s look at the merits and drawbacks from the three different purchasing options;

The internet and catalogues.

On the face of it these channels appear to offer good value for money and are great when you are buying a ‘commodity’ e.g. book’s DVD’s music, etc. that require no after sales service. In certain situations the internet and catalogues approach will be fine, but beware the pitfalls when buying a fire extinguisher-in particular the hidden costs and compliance issues.

An extinguisher does not need a high level of service support at the point of sale, but to ensure compliance with Fire Regulations you will need help and advice during installation and the ongoing servicing throughout its life. As with any other product bought these channels you are only buying box, and usually an arms length service!

Advantages;

• Cheaper-if you know what you are doing.
• Convenience- quick delivery directly to site.

Disadvantages;

• Likelihood of damage in transit (our suppliers will only ship extinguishers on pallets to reduce the risk of damage). You will have the inconvenience of packaging and returning damaged extinguishers often at your own cost.

• Extinguishers are often supplied with a completed servce label, but this does not constitute the ‘commissioning service’ recommended in BS5306 part 3: 2009 whereby the technician ensures that it is safe, fully functional, appropriately placed and appropriate for the fire risks at hand. Beware the supplier’s who attempt to get around the requirement by supply a self commissioning tick box label meaning you take responsibility for the commissioning and the inherent risk if something goes wrong when you fill it in.

• The hidden cost of the ‘commissioning service’ by a COMPETENT PERSON as required by BS5306 part 3: when installing the equipment. This will need to be arranged with a local extinguisher servicing company at extra cost. If the extinguisher comes with a DIY tick box maintenance label you take responsibility for it compliance if you complete and apply it to the extinguisher.

• No survey, so the provider cannot be 100% certain that you have enough extinguishers that are appropriate to the fire risks you are facing.

• The warranty may only be for 12 months from the date of purchase.

• Its expensive and time consuming to return extinguishers to the supplier if you order the wrong equipment!

• You need to have the knowledge to be sure that what you are buying complies with British and European standards.

• The suppliers usually cannot provide future extingisher maintenance other than putting you in contact with one of their preferred suppliers who will inevitably charge you a commissioning service negating any saving you originally made!

A professional extinguisher Maintenance Company

Prices will vary from company to company – obviously the larger ones with sales teams and large offices will have greater overheads and will be more expensive than a small operator working from home. Unless you need nationwide coverage than this may be the only difference between them, but to be sure ask to see the following documentation before awarding them the work and signing the contract;

•  QUALIFICATIONS – the Technicians needs to have a BAFE recognised examination certificate either BAFE, FETA, British Fire Consortium or IFEDA and if over 3 years old then this should be supplemented with a Technicians Refresher Certificate from a recognised body.

• TRADE ASSOCIATION – you have some come back if the firm that you are dealing with are bone-fide members of a genuine fire trade association which in the UK will be the UK Fire Association, FIA, IFEDA or the BFC. These can sometimes be falsely added to service paperwork or membership may have lapsed – so if you are in any doubt call the trade association for verification.

• INSURANCE – employers, public liability and efficacy (failure to perform) – is the level of cover realistic for the risks they pose to your business?

• REFERENCES – similar organisation to yourselves in terms of size and industry sector and follow them up!

• ESTIMATE – the nature of extinguisher servicing makes it impossible to accurately quote for without doing a full survey first, this is rarely practicable. Do at least get a quote for attendance and basic extinguisher servicing.

Advantages;

• It their duty to recommend adequate extinguisher cover to protect you from fire and keep you compliant with fire legislation. Hence they take on the liability should things go wrong!

• Convenience – supply, installation, commissioning and ongoing servicing all taken care of.

• Normally a warranty on new fire extinguisher of 5 years – subject to unbroken servicing during the 5 years by the original provider.

• Fast response when you need refills or other work.

• Extinguisher servicing companies can often provide a comprehensive range of fire protection services as you need them, e.g. fire awareness and wardens training, fire alarm servicing, fire risk assessment, sprinklers/hydrants/risers testing, etc.

Disadvantages;

• Perceived higher cost – often not the case when you include all the hidden costs.

• It is quite easy to set up in business and sell extinguishers from the boot of a car so every area seems to have its own ‘rogue trader’ using high pressure or underhand sales/servicing techniques.

If you use common sense and follow our guidance notes above you should be fairly secure. There is no right or wrong way of sourcing fire extinguishers and the guidance we have provided should help you decide which route is best for you avoiding the unexpected pitfalls and potential extra costs along the way. The bottom line is if your fire equipment does not comply you are not just flouting fire regulations you are putting your facilities and employees at risk. Four out of five fires are extinguished using a fire extinguisher – so you want it to work instantly the moment you need it!

When buying equipment from a UK Fire Association Member you are assured of receiving quality service by a committed company that’s first interest is looking after your best interests to ensure your continued custom, go to http://www.uk-fa.org to find your nearest member. Members have to be qualified, adequately insured and work to our unique Code of Practice, that sets out exactly what you can expect from using a UK Fire Association Member and the process to take if things should go wrong. If you need further information visit the Consumers section on our website http://www.uk-fa.org or contact Alan Palmer, Secretary at the UK Fire Association on 01932 252306 or email admin@uk-fa.org