Green News - PEL Recycling Equipment - Recycling Mayo, West of Ireland

New measures to encourage companies to invest in environmentally friendly equipment have been announced in the Finance Bill. Minister for Finance Brian Cowen published the bill today, which gives effect to measures announced in the Budget. This year's bill also includes a number of green initiatives. Among them is a capital allowance to allow companies claim the full cost of energy efficient equipment.

Finalists Announced in the “SFA National Small Business Awards 2008" - 07/01/2008

PEL has been selected as a finalist for the Irish SFA Awards for Innovation, winners will be annonced on the 12th of March.

The short-list of finalists in the “SFA National Small Business Awards 2008”, partnered by O2 Ireland and Bank of Ireland Business Banking, were officially announced today by Pat Crotty, SFA Chairman and Chair of the Awards Judging Panel. The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of small business in Ireland, and to recognise the vital contribution of the small business sector to the Irish economy.
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS,
EasyFix Rubber Products – Michael Earls, Athenry, Co Galway
PEL Recycling Equipment – Tommy Griffith, Balla, Co Mayo
Ecocem Ireland – Donal O’Riain, Dublin
eXpd8 – Declan Branagan, Dublin
Atomic Sports - Thomas O’Connell, Lusk, Co Dublin
Clinical Conduct Associates – David Hall, Tivoli, Cork

PEL Winner of Best New Business and finalist for Innovation in Business, PEL received the Award at the Downhill Hotel in Ballina, 07.12.07. PEL recognised for business practises and it's promising future.

PEL win the prestigious Shell Live Wire Award for the innovative Bottle Crusher, Tommy Griffiths new product launch was recognised for it's unique design and revolutionary method of reducing disposal costs for the Hospitality Industry or industries with high glass waste.

The majority of Ireland’s waste legislation originates from the Waste Management Acts 1996 and 2001, as well as the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003. These primary pieces of national waste legislation allow for the enactment of statutory instruments (also referred to as regulations) to give effect to specific sections of the Acts.

In 2003 the government enacted what are commonly referred to as the Packaging Regulations, which give effect to Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste. These regulations replaced the Packaging Regulations of 1997.

The Packaging Regulations place particular obligations on major producers of packaging, i.e. businesses with an annual turnover in excess of €1.27 million and placing more than 25 tonnes of packaging onto the Irish market. Major producers must either register with a packaging compliance scheme, i.e. Repak, and pay an annual material specific fee for packaging placed onto the Irish market, or self-comply through registering with their local authority and accepting packaging waste back from the public similar to that which is supplied onto the market.

In addition, the Packaging Regulations require all commercial premises to segregate 7 specified packaging wastes and send for recycling with an authorised waste collector. Those specified packaging wastes are aluminium, fibreboard, glass, paper, plastic sheeting, steel and wood.

The Packaging Regulations also specify what is known as the Essential Requirements of packaging. These requirements are designed to minimise the environmental impact of packaging.

In late 2004 the government enacted the Packaging (Amendment) Regulations. They amend the Packaging Regulations of 2003. As far as Repak members are concerned, the main change is the requirement that compliance notices must now be clearly displayed at each entrance to each premise, whereas in the past they only had to be displayed at each entrance to which the public had access. Self-compliers must now also clearly display signs at each entrance to each premise indicating their packaging take back obligations.

Other amendments include a requirement on self compliers to advertise twice annually in local newspapers their take back obligations, to accept packaging waste back from the public during normal working hours, and an increase in the maximum annual self-compliance registration fee from €5,000 to €15,000 per premises.

Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste and Amendments is the basis for Irish packaging legislation. The Directive broadly defines packaging and requires that packaging recovery systems be put in place. The Directive requires that a hierarchical approach be adopted to manage packaging waste, with the emphasis on waste reduction, reuse and recycling initiatives.

In the case of Ireland, the Directive set a packaging recovery target of 25% to be met by 2001 (has been met), with a target of 50% set for the end of 2005, with a minimum of 15% recovery for specified materials. As a country we must meet a recovery target of 60% by 2011 and material specific targets that range from 15% (wood) to 60% (paper and glass).