Waste Transfer Notes to go digital

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More than two thirds of medium and large sized waste companies support a new online system where the current paper Waste Transfer Notes* would become online documents. The data, collected by the environment agency, shows a positive step towards the 'edoc' system. 

Due to go live in January 2014, this administrative overhaul will rid the process of unnecessary paper notes by providing firms with a free portal through which WTN's can be submitted. Currently, more than 20 million WTN's are created each year and 50 million are kept on record. The benefits of the edoc system include reduced storage costs; a decrease in the time it takes to find a specific WTN and reduced administrative costs currently incurred due to filing and processing time. 

*Under UK law, businesses must complete a WTN for every load of waste transported from one party to another. 

The August Green Achiever Newsletter 2013

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Our Green Achiever Newsletter is out for this month!

We focus on water (water saving devices - water shortages - water legislation - The Water Label) http://conta.cc/1erCHDx

Our poll...

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Can you please answer our poll? 

http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=51ffacbbe4b0cd118fd18bae

It would be very helpful indeed. 

Tickets.com - Gold Green Achievers

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Milton Keynes based Tickets.com, which specialises in providing integrated ticketing solutions designed to enable entertainment and sports organisations to sell tickets to consumers using their own brands, has attained gold standard status for the second year running. Having originally signed up to Green Achiever in May 2009, Tickets.com, which also has offices in Europe, the US, Asia Pacific and Africa, initially gained silver status in March 2011 and its first gold in June last year.

Daniel Burrows, internet services specialist at Tickets.com, said: “Despite many organisational changes, we have constantly maintained our level of environmental friendly commitment and will be implementing new ideas and plans for the future. For example, to better manage energy consumption, all employees and clients are now encouraged to reduce business travel by use of WebEx, training facilities are hired in a central location rather than have everyone travel long distances and the company has reduced its car pool from six to two.

“In the office, employees use energy efficient laptops and take them home with the power cable so as not to create residual energy draw happening while they are switched off. All the kettles have been replaced with a Burco to reduce the constant re-heating of water and all the chairs are now repaired and recycled rather than scrapped. We are currently engaging with our new landlord about us having more control over energy costs and consumption such as the lighting, ventilation and heating systems.”

www.tickets.com/uk

Trashed tents, waterlogged wellies and pricey parking - A British Festival

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Britain should be proud of its festival tradition. 

From Glastonbury to the saggy marquees in our back gardens, there’s something going on most summers to cater for a wide range of interests, however holding festivals in the great outdoors can be bad news for the environment. 

With the season about to start, we thought it would be helpful to provide some ways in which you can be as environmentally friendly as possible while enjoying some great live performances...and maybe one or two beers or an £8 burger. 

1. Make use of public transport.

Many major festivals will provide information on how you can reach the site, but few actively promote car sharing or public transport. If you are driving, why not register on GoCarShare.com where you can rent out your free seats! http://gocarshare.com/ We speak from experience when we say getting a coach with all our clobber is actually easier, and cheaper, than you may think. Plus, National Express does some great deals with major UK festivals where you are dropped off and picked up at the site. For more information on this, visit the National Express website. http://www.nationalexpress.com/wherewego/events/index.aspx

2. Two bin bags…

…is all it takes to separate your cans and plastic bottles. You would do it at home, so why should a festival change your wonderful good habits? Bottled water and those cans you smuggled in aren’t going to decompose, so take two large bin bags and put your plastic bottles in one and your empty cans in the other then tie the tops and take them with you when you leave. Many festivals now have recycling systems on site. Check out Every Can Counts to find out how you can contribute and which festivals have signed up to the scheme. http://www.everycancounts.co.uk/events

3. Get creative.

Festivals, in our humble opinion, are the best time to go all out and wear whatever you want. This is a great opportunity to dig those old jeans out of your cupboard and cut them into shorts and to tie dye those t-shirts. Getting muddy at a British festival means that it’s no place for shiny new fashion buys, so why not emulate the seasons distinctly hippy trend by taking a trip to your local charity shop? Check out Kate Benton’s designs using old tent fabric http://www.ecouterre.com/withintent-transforms-abandoned-tents-into-recycled-festival-fashion/withintent-recycled-tent-fashion-2/ One thing we won’t tolerate however: socks with sandals. 

4. Speaking of tents

Recently, the head of Glastonbury went nuts because shards of metal tent pegs were getting into his silage and subsequently killing his cows. We’d be pretty upset too. If you’re going to a festival held on farmland this summer, get your hands on some biodegradable tent pegs from the Mountain Warehouse (99p for 4). Glastonbury give them out for free. Also, we hate to rabbit on, but please take your tent home – have a look here for ideas on what to do with it http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20070702/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-bits-of-an-old-tent

5. Enjoy yourself!

Although you will undoubtedly feel great for leaving a carbon footprint the size of a tiny Hunter wellie, it’s important that you throw yourself in and take advantage of the fact that you are supporting many festivals that will have been hit by the recession. Green festivals like London Green Fair held in Regents Park have been postponed as it become more and more expensive to hold an environmentally friendly, sustainable event. http://www.londongreenfair.org/

For more information on Green Festivals and the initiatives being followed by major UK events, please visit the WasteConnect website: http://www.wasteconnect.co.uk/page.aspx?ID=2197c32e-cb45-49a3-9fb8-41a24b650548

Green Achiever has it's benefits -

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We hope you've all had a lovely weekend! This post is all about the Green Achiever Scheme and how it can help you and your business show off your green side. Let us know if you have an requests for future blog posts; what you want to see from us and what we can do for you...

A scheme for Green Business
If you are, or aspire to be, a Green Business with Green Credentials, why not show your customers, suppliers, shareholders and anyone that’s interested in your business, what you’re doing for the environment?

Totally FREE – Register Now

FREE Registration with the following benefits :-
1) Environmental Health Check of applicable legislation and suggested areas for action
2) Inclusion in public Business Directory
3) Fortnightly newsletters
4) Use of Green Achiever logo
5) Reduced rate access to E4e-manager

Go Self Assessed - £120 + VAT

All the benefits from Registration PLUS :-
1) Review of in-depth self-assessment to produce star-rating and develop bespoke Environmental Declaration of Commitment to include recognition of current good practice and identification of areas for action for next 12 months
2) Free access to E4e-manager on-line information bank
3) Higher level listing in public Business Directory

Go Silver –

Less than 20 employees £330.00 + vat & expenses
More than 20 employees £660.00 + vat & expenses

All benefits from Registration and Self-Assessment PLUS :-
1) Full on-site environmental audit conducted by Principal Consultant. Establishes the legislative compliance and a baseline carbon footprint.
2) Provide detailed guidance for a 12 month action plan to reduce environmental impacts.
3) Support for Local trade press articles

4) Use of Silver Green Achiever logo

Go Gold –

Less than 20 employees £330.00 + vat & expenses
More than 20 employees £660.00 + vat & expenses

All benefits from Registration, Self-Assessment and the Silver Award PLUS :-

1) Full on-site environmental audit conducted by Principal Consultant. Review of progress in committed silver award actions. Establishes continued legislative compliance
2) Re-calculates carbon footprint and looks for improvements
3) Considers targets and actions for the next 12 months, including off-setting at least 25% of carbon emissions
4) Use of Gold Green Achiever logo