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Waste management

What Makes a Home a Green Home?

What Makes a Home a Green House?

One of the main  topics today is about being environmentally friendly. There are many ways to become environmentally friendly about the home including water preservation and energy reduction. This not only helps with a positive action by reducing your impact on the environment, but will also save you money!

Lets take a look at what makes a home environmentally friendly.

Reduced Energy Use

Energy comes in many forms such as electricity, natural gas, oil, etc. The creation or use of this energy results in greenhouse gas emissions that affect our planet in a negative way.

Methods of Reducing Energy Usage

Insulation,  One of the best things that you can do to make a green home is to ensure that the walls, windows, attic, and floors are all well insulated and draft free. The majority of the energy used in a home goes towards heating  the house. Good insulation will prevent the air temperature from escaping the home and save you money on your utilities.

Energy Star Appliances When one of your appliances has reached it’s end of life, or when you are  building a new home, consider installing an appliance that meets energy star requirements. This will ensure that it will use over 30 percent less electricity or fuel than a typical appliance of that type.

Other options include advanced mechanical Systems On demand tankless water heaters, geothermal HVAC equipment, and even solar power is a great way to reduce the amount of energy that is wasted to run the plumbing, heat and air, and electrical systems in the home. While they can have a higher upfront cost than a typical unit of its kind, tax incentives from the government can offset a good deal of the extra cost and allow you to make the money back within a few years time.

Reduced Water Use

Water is another essential resource that can be preserved in our day to day use around the house.

Low Flow Fixtures Many low flow shower heads and toilets developed a bad reputation in the past because they could not live up to their less efficient counterparts. Fortunately, todays better engineered models and aerators allow you to experience the luxury and ease of use that you prefer, while additionally using a significantly lower amount of water.

Efficient Clothes Washers Many of the newer front loading clothes washers use as little as half of the water of a typical top loading washer. For families who are constantly putting in a new load of dirty clothes, this can lead to a significant savings in cost and water usage over time.

Use Rain Water For Irrigation For those who want to really cut down on water usage, storage tanks that collect rain water during a storm for latter use to water the garden and lawn can save thousands of gallons over the span of a summer.

These are just a few of the many ideas out there that will help ensure that your home is green. Environmentally friendly decisions in the home can lead to wallet friendly results over time and allow for the satisfaction of knowing you are reducing your negative impact on the planet.

 

At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.

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WEEE Recycling: Data Destruction is Essential

Your business data may no longer be of value to you once you have done what you need to do with it, but it is gold dust to your competitors. That is why any media, from paper to Flash memory cards, that contains business data must be thoroughly destroyed before disposal.

The risks of disposal of disks containing data that you may believe has been destroyed but has really just been lightly erased include putting yourself or your customers at risk for identity theft as well as making data available to unscrupulous competitors. Even recycling a computer to comply with WEEE recycling regulations does not include proper data destruction techniques.

These techniques include degaussing, in which magnetic patterns that conform to actual data are realigned so that the data is inaccessible and unrecoverable, shredding, which entails shredding media into very fine bits that cannot be reassembled, and software wiping, in which all HEX values on the entire volume of a disk are overwritten using special software. In the United kingdom, such software must meet Data protection Act standards to be considered effective for data destruction.

Laptops, including internal hard disk drives and other internal media storage devices, must be recycled according to WEEE regulations (EU). However, if data remains available on any part of the device before, during or after WEEE recycling procedures, it still poses a threat to your organisations security. Therefore, devices that hold data and are subject to WEEE recycling regulations must undergo a thorough process of data destruction before recycling should take place.

Hard drive destruction is absolutely imperative before WEEE recycling can start. This is because even when a disk drive is seemingly erased, the information on it can be recovered and made available without your knowledge. Ensuring that an expert with security cleared personnel destroys the hard drive by methods such as degaussing and shredding is the only way you can be sure that any data that was ever available on a drive that is slated for disposal can never be accessed again. Software wiping is recommended only for hard disk drives that will be reused after the data stored on them is fully destroyed.

Media tape drives are also easily accessible if they are not fully and professionally destroyed prior to disposal. Degaussing and shredding are the most recommended techniques for destruction of media tape drives.

Even CD’s and DVD’s which contain sensitive and confidential data should never be disposed of without making the data completely inaccessible. Complete physical destruction of the media through precision shredding that is offered by professional media disposal firms is the only way to ensure that data on a CD or DVD is fully inaccessible.

Flash memory cards, external memory sticks, and similar devices must also be subject to data destruction measures if they have ever held sensitive data. A specialist firm which handles data destruction should be consulted regarding such memory devices as their small size makes it very easy for them to end up in the wrong hands.

 

At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.

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Glasgow WEEE Recycling

What is WEEE?

The WEEE Directive requires countries to maximise separate collection and environmentally friendly processing of these items.  In the UK, distributors (including retailers) must provide a system which allows all customers buying new electrical equipment the ability to recycle their old items free of charge. Those distributors must either join or set up their own take back scheme and must as a minimum offer all customers buying new electrical equipment free take back of their old electricals on a like-for-like basis.

Look for  the “You can now recycle your old electricals with us” If you can’t see this take your business elsewhere.

There is so much talk these days about WEEE Recycling. But what is it exactly?

Why recycle?

Discarded electrical equipment is the UKs fastest growing type of waste.

Many electrical items can be repaired or recycled, saving resources and the environment.  If you do not recycle, WEEE will end up in landfill where hazardous substances does leak out and cause soil and water contamination – harming wildlife and also human health.

To remind you that old electrical equipment can be recycled, it is now marked with a crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. Please do not throw any electrical equipment (including those marked with this symbol) in your bin

Types of WEEE

1.  Large household appliances

Large cooling appliances, Refrigerators, Freezers, Other large appliances used for refrigeration, conservation and storage of food, Washing machines, Clothes dryers, Dish washing machines, Cooking, Electric stoves, Electric hot plates, Microwaves, Other large appliances used for cooking and other processing of food, Electric heating appliances, Electric radiators, Other large appliances for heating rooms, beds, seating furniture, Electric fans, Air conditioner appliances, Other fanning, exhaust ventilation and conditioning equipment

2.  Small household appliances

Vacuum cleaners, Carpet sweepers, Other appliances for cleaning, Appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles, Irons and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing, Toasters, Fryers, Grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages, Electric knives, Appliances for hair-cutting, hair drying, tooth brushing, shaving, massage and other body care appliances, Clocks, watches and equipment for the purpose of measuring, indicating or registering time, Scales

3.  IT and telecommunications equipment

Centralised data processing: Mainframes, Minicomputers, Printer units, Personal computing: Personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included), Laptop computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included), Notebook computers, Notepad computers, Printers, Copying equipment, Electrical and electronic typewriters, Pocket and desk calculators, Other products and equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation or communication of information by electronic means, User terminals and systems, Facsimile, Telex, Telephones, Pay telephones, Cordless telephones, Cellular telephones, Answering systems, Other products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by telecommunications

4.  Consumer equipment

Radio sets, Television sets, Video cameras, Video recorders, Hi-fi recorders, Audio amplifiers, Musical instruments, Other products or equipment for the purpose of recording or reproducing sound or images, including signals or other technologies for the distribution of sound and image than by telecommunications

5.  Lighting equipment

Luminaries for fluorescent lamps with the exception of luminaires in households, Straight fluorescent lamps, Compact fluorescent lamps, High intensity discharge lamps, including pressure sodium lamps and metal halide lamps, Low pressure sodium lamps, Other lighting or equipment for the purpose of spreading or controlling light with the exception of filament bulbs

6.  Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools)

Drills, Saws, Sewing machines, Equipment for turning, milling, sanding, grinding, sawing, cutting, shearing, drilling, making holes, punching, folding, bending or similar processing of wood, metal and other materials, Tools for riveting, nailing or screwing or removing rivets, nails, screws or similar uses, Tools for welding, soldering or similar use, Equipment for spraying, spreading, dispersing or other treatment of liquid or gaseous substances by other means, Tools for mowing or other gardening activities

7.  Toys, leisure and sports equipment

Electric trains or car racing sets, Hand-held video game consoles, Video games, Computers for biking, diving, running and rowing, Sports equipment with electric or electronic components, Coin slot machines,

8.  Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products)

Radiotherapy equipment, Cardiology, Dialysis, Pulmonary ventilators, Nuclear medicine, Laboratory equipment for in-vitro diagnosis, Analysers, Freezers, Fertilization tests, Other appliances for detecting, preventing, monitoring, treating, alleviating illness, injury or disability

9.  Monitoring and control instruments

Smoke detector, Heating regulators, Thermostats, Measuring, weighing or adjusting appliances for household or laboratory equipment, Other monitoring and control instruments used in industrial installations (for example, in control panels)

10.  Automatic dispensers

Automatic dispensers for hot drinks, Automatic dispensers for hot or cold bottles or cans, Automatic dispensers for solid products, Automatic dispensers for money, All appliances which deliver automatically all kind of products.

At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. To find out more on WEEE Please click on the following link to contact us.

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Taking Action on Waste

Glasgow recycling is all about how we need to be taking action on waste, which is essential for our continued sustainability.

 We consume natural resources at an unsustainable rate and contribute unnecessarily to climate change. there are many facilities in and around Glasgow which can help you recycle your waste.

Failing to recycle means that most of our waste ends up in landfill, where biodegradable waste generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. And much valuable energy is used up in making new products which are later disposed of, also contributing to climate change.

That people produce waste is a fact of life we cannot change. However, we can change how much we produce, how we manage it and what we do with it. Indeed, managing waste in a sustainable way, optimising recycling and re-use, as well as limiting production, forms a core part of Government policy to protect the environment.

Recycling is a way every individual can help the environment every day – and it is easier to do than it has ever been. Indeed, the latest figures show that in general we have not only met, but exceeded, our targets for recycling and composting household waste.

Moving to more sustainable waste management requires enormous changes: new facilities, new skills, new investment and new attitudes. As such, there are immense challenges ahead for Government, local authorities, and the public.

Although waste awareness initiatives are not a new concept, engaging the public remains a high priority; only then can we hope to encourage more householders to use more recycling facilities, more of the time.

At Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.

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Waste Management| Made simple

Mention waste management to most men and women and they either do not have a clue what you might be talking about, or they really are not interested! It just sounds a load of rubbish, what do you care what other men and women do with stuff they do not want? Nevertheless, once you commence delving into what waste management is all about, then you realise there’s a entire cycle of events going on and it is quite an fascinating topic to find out about.

Waste management is essentially how rubbish and trash is disposed of with out causing any harm to other people or the environment. You'll find different aspects to waste management; these consist of monitoring, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal or recycling. When carried out properly, waste management is efficient and very environmentally friendly, and in today’s world is some thing every single conscientious business should take responsibility for.

You'll find specialized environmental organizations that supply guidance and services for waste collection, not just for householders, but also for industries and businesses. They're experienced in all areas of waste management solutions and will remove all your waste efficiently and rapidly, transporting it to be disposed of inside the correct manner, or recycled.

Some of the waste services provided to industrial clients consist of waste collection, recycling and disposal, hazardous waste management, emergency response, laboratory services, asbestos removal and re-Insulation.

In the 1st instance the environment service is concerned with monitoring, this would be to identify the sort of waste produced and in what quantity; they can then evaluate the processes they have to put into place to reduce the amount of waste produced. Records are kept to see if approaches put into place are working and, if not, techniques might be changed and re-examined to make their implementation far more efficient.

Once the waste has been monitored and assessed it is time for the collection process. Skip bins and containers have to be emptied before they become too full and prevention of overspill or produce to rot is very important. Depending on the amount of waste produced will dictate the size and number of containers required, and how often collections is going to be needed. You'll find diverse containers for each sort of waste, some of these consist of drums for hazardous liquid waste, tanks for acid or caustic waste, collection bins for e-waste and bulk bins and skip bins for construction site waste.

Next inside the cycle is organizing the transportation of all waste items collected.Specially created waste vehicles make scheduled collections and are responsible for safely transporting it to the landfill, or treatment site where it'll be treated and then processed for Recycling. Vehicles have to meet safety standards and be licensed for this purpose, as waste might be a health hazard and even harmful if not handled properly, drivers and personnel connected with the transportation are required to have the essential training and experience to deal with any possible danger.

Once the waste has all been collected it needs to be processed. This involves separating the waste collected, treating and then packaging the raw materials and sending the parts that can be recycled to the different factories that are all part of the recycling process. Materials that can’t be recycled is going to be transported to a landfill, and liquid and hazardous wastes is going to be disposed of safely.

Improvements and new practices in waste management and environmental solutions are inside the news all of the time, thanks to research and development projects that are committed to discovering far more efficient and secure methods of disposing of waste. There are several things that are recyclable now that just a few years ago would have been thrown into a rising landfill, everyday items for example paper, glass, newspapers and plastic bags to printer cartridges, corks, mobile phones, even fluorescent lamps might be treated and re-used.

Society has experienced a massive learning curve inside the reality that if we do not take action now to make certain our waste is processed properly; nature will gladly do it for us, and in methods which might be detrimental to our environment.

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Increased fine for Company Charged with breaching waste regulations

A FIRM who broke waste dumping laws had their fine increased more than 11 times to £90,000 recently.

The Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh upheld a challenge brought by the Crown over the level of the sentence imposed on Doonin Plant.

They were originally fined just £8000 for breaking environmental laws as they dumped waste at Bardykes bing between Blantyre and Cambuslang, Lanarkshire.

Lord Clarke said the conduct of the company had involved “a blatant and complacent disregard” of its responsibilities.

The judges said they were satisfied that the original fine was unduly lenient.

(source Daily Record)

Could this be just the start of increased fines for companies flouting the environmental regulations?

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New Plastic Recycling Discovery!

A new technique has been devised to recycle plastic which would normally end up in landfill.

Currently approximately 12% of plastic found in household plastic and packaging is currently processed.

Now, however, a process has been developbed by Warwick University which could mean 100% of this type is waste can be recycled.

Municipal plastic solid waste is often too time-consuming and labour intensive to separate and clean and ends up going straight to landfill rather than being recycled. 

Engineers at the University have invented a process that can cope with every piece of plastic waste and can even break some polymers, such as polystyrene, back down to its original monomers.

The researchers have devised a unit which uses pyrolysis (using heat in the absence of oxygen to decompose of materials) in a ‘fluidised bed’ reactor.

Tests have shown that the researchers have been able to literally shovel in to such a reactor a wide range of mixed plastics, which can then be reduced down to useful products. Many of these products can then be retrieved by simple distillation.

The products the Warwick team have been able to reclaim from the plastic mix include: wax that can be then used a lubricant; original monomers such as styrene that can be used to make new polystyrene; terephthalic acid which can be reused in PET plastic products, methylmetacrylate that can be used to make acrylic sheets, carbon which can be used as Carbon Black in paint pigments and tyres, and even the char left at the end of some of the reactions can be sold to use as activated carbon at a value of at least £400 a tonne.

This research could have a significant impact on the budgets of local authorities and produce considerable environmental benefits.

The lead researcher on the project, University of Warwick Engineering Professor Jan Baeyens, said:
“We envisage a typical large scale plant having an average capacity of 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year.

“In a year tankers would take away from each plant over £5 million worth of recycled chemicals and each plant would save £500,000 a year in land fill taxes alone.

“As the expected energy costs for each large plant would only be in the region of £50,000 a year the system will be commercially very attractive and give a rapid payback on capital and running costs.”

The work will be of great interest to local authorities and waste disposal companies who could use the technology to create large scale reactor units at municipal tips which would produce tanker loads of reusable material.

At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.

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5 Steps to Effective Waste Management

5 Steps to Efficient Waste Management

What is effective waste management?

There is more to waste management than collecting rubbish and dumping it at landfill. Although this is a vital step in the process, there is a lot more to it!

Efficient Waste Management is a system : Monitoring, Collection, Transportation, Processing, Disposal / Recycle. Through these steps a company can effectively and responsibly manage waste output and their positive effect they have on the environment. Not to mention the potential to save/make money from waste sources.

Monitoring is identifying the waste management needs, identifying recycling opportunities and ways to minimize waste output, and reviewing how waste minimization is progressing. Through keeping records of the different waste streams, a customer can see the results of their efforts in becoming more environmentally friendly, and a more efficient business.

Collection involves the logistical organization to guarantee that bin containers will not overfill and waste sit time does not become too long. The correct bin container size and service frequency is a must to prevent overspill or excessive smell. The correct bins for different wastes must be available with sticker and bin colour identification. Locks, chains, lids and bars prevent public access and non-trained personnel putting rubbish in the incorrect bins.

Cooperation between the waste company and customer is vital. Bins must be accessible to the truck driver at the agreed times. Access to work premises outside work hours will cause an issue if unaddressed. Bin wheels can allow customers to move bins from convenient areas to serviceable locations.

Transportation is the organizing of waste transport vehicles with the authorization and ability to transport the specified wastes from a customer’s work residence to landfill or processing plant. A waste must be transported by the vehicle designed for it. For example, general waste requires a vehicle with thicker compacter walls, to that of a cardboard and paper waste transporting vehicle. Therefore, a customer may require a series of vehicles to meet their waste management needs.

Vehicles, drivers, and companies need licenses and approval to transport waste. EPA standards need to be upheld as well as General Public Safety. Safety standards are vital to the transportation of clinical and hazardous wastes. Drivers must undergo training for emergency circumstances that may arise.

Processing involves the separation of recyclables for treatment, and then after treatment are packaged as raw materials. These raw materials are sent to factories for production. Non-recyclable wastes by-pass this step and are delivered straight to landfill or processing plants. Liquid and hazardous wastes are delivered to treatment plants to become less hazardous to the public and environment.

Disposal / Recycling is the disposal of non recyclables into landfill. Landfill sites must be approved by legal authorities. Legal authorities guarantee that specific wastes are buried at the correct depth to avoid hazardous chemicals entering the soil, water tables, water systems, air, and pipe systems.

In this step the raw materials made from recyclables are produced and sold as products on the market. Companies can purchase such products to further sustain the environment and natural resources.

In conclusion, waste management is a science that addresses the logistics, environmental impact, social responsibility, and cost of an organization’s waste disposal. It is a detailed process that involves human resources, vehicles, government bodies, and natural resources.

Learn more about waste management by contacting Be Seen Go Green.

 
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Glasgow Weee Recycling | For a Brighter Future

Have you ever thought about electrical equipment waste?

As per the details available, we create around 20 kg per person of electrical waste each and every year, and this figure is growing.

We in the UK alone produces a massive  total of one million tonnes of electrical waste, and this makes the overall picture all the more frightening!

 People are demanding for more and more of these new electronic products with ground breaking technologies, while discarding throwing out the old ones. This situation seems to grow more and more complex with each passing month.

To make our planet a better place to live in, the European Economic Union came out with a directive called WEEE Recycling (WEEE stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) in a bid to deal with unnecessary electronic waste. As per the directive, all manufacturers, retailers , importers and distributors are required to recycle old technology. New responsibilities have been introduced for businesses, schools, hospitals, and government agencies and all these organizations are needed to ensure that all separately collected WEEE is treated and recycled.  Be Seen Go Green  Can help and advise you on your obligations under the WEEE directive

At present, there are n numbers of waste management companies around which offer a range of commercial waste management and WEEE recycling services. Not all however have the correct permits or can provide you with the necessary WTC (waste transfer certificate) Which is required to release you from your duty of care in relation to your obligation to ensure that your WEEE is properly disposed of.  A few moments of online search will help you come across numerous such companies which offer your waste management services at highly competitive prices. And with so many companies around, it is not that tough to find a good service provider. It is really easy. The Internet can be extremely helpful here. Please bear in mind that when you dispose of WEEE that the company you choose to carry out this service is indeed able to provide WTC to you, if you are unsure and need help in finding such companies contact BE SEEEN GO GREEN

There is no denying the fact that Weee Recycling is playing a vital role in dealing with harmful e-waste or electronic waste. However, a lot of thought and research should go in, before you point your finger on a particular electronic waste recycling service provider.

 

At Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.

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WEEE Compliance, there is no option

The objective of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive  is to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste. The WEEE directive protects landfills and regulates the disposal of discarded electrical or electronic equipment (EEE) also known as e-waste. The related RoHS Directive  strives to limit the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacture of electronic equipment.
The WEEE Directive provides a guide for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The “polluter pays” principle means collection and recovery is largely at the manufacturer’s expense. Specified products include such things as large and small household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, consumer equipment, IT and telecommunications equipment.
Reduction of hazardous material content in products at the manufacturing stage will reduce the content of such pollutants in electronic waste. This will enhance the economic feasibility of recycling. Hence RoHS compliance, which in any case is needed for doing business in the EU, is the first important element for any effective recycling. Increased efforts to design products that facilitate recycling of WEEE components and materials are extremely beneficial.
Recycling is one of several waste disposal options. Its effectiveness depends, to a large extent on the type of material to be recycled and the availability of appropriate technology. E-waste such as a computer can be discarded by the original users, but it may still be perfectly functional equipment. In this case material recovery and reuse is a better alternative than recycling. In fact the reuse of waste electrical and electronic equipment is the preferred economic option.
Recycling is technology and material specific. It is mandatory to collect electronic waste separately from municipal waste. While primary administrative responsibility lies with the state, manufacturers have an important role in educating customers on proper waste disposal. The WEEE directive mandates collection of electronic waste at the manufacturer’s cost. Manufacturers must not only ensure that convenient collection points are set up for consumers but must also make provisions for the transportation of the waste materials to the recycling plant.
The WEEE directive mandates that recycling sites should conform to certain minimum standards to prevent adverse environmental impact when treating waste EEE. In most cases, it will not be feasible for a single manufacturer to operate its own recycling center.
Throughout the WEEE recovery chain, producers are required to finance the cost of e-waste collection from consumers; transportation to the recycling center; treatment; recovery and disposal. Producers will generally need to collaborate with other manufacturers to collectively bear the cost for the recycling and waste disposal obligations.
The WEEE and the RoHS are here to stay and further strengthening of environmental regulations is inevitable. One such step is the impending Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), regulations which beacme effective from June 1, 2007  within the European Union. The REACH regulation will control the use of a very wide range of chemicals and is not limited only to the electronics sector.

With these legislations it is important to adopt a proactive approach, ensuring compliance by producers, distributors and end users alike,  of the WEEE electronic recycling directive.

This will surely provide the producers and distributors with increased competitiveness, within a competitive market, differentiating themselves from those who continue to break the law.

At Be Seen Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.

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