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NOVEMBER 2021 21
FMJ.CO.UK
WASTE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE’S VIEW
RAY PARMENTER, HEAD OF TECHNICAL AND
POLICY AT CIWM (CHARTERED INSTITUTION OF
WASTES MANAGEMENT)
CIWM recently
launched a
new strategy
to support
the global
transition to a
world beyond
waste. A key
element of
this strategy,
‘nurturing
innovation,’
recognises the
vital role that
digitisation
and technology will continue to play in optimising the
environmental and economic value of the waste we
produce. Only by doing this, will we be able to reduce
the unstainable pressure we are placing on the Earth’s
natural resources, reduce our carbon impact and build
a more circular economy.
In recent times, a combination of political, social
and economic factors has supported the waste and
resources sector in developing a wide range of new and
exciting technologies:
Digitisation: Enterprise Resource Platforms (ERP),
such as the one developed by AMCS, are now designed
specifically for the waste and resource management
sector and help users to automate and standardise
the full range of waste management processes. In
doing so, operators can realise significant cost savings
whilst generating accurate and timely data which are
now demanded by their customers and are vital in
developing more e† icient recycling systems.
Operational e iciency: The use of mobile and
on-vehicle technologies, coupled with transport
management and route optimisation systems, is
now enabling operators to run their fleets far more
e† iciently, reducing mileage, fuel consumption and
emissions. In many cases, they also help fully utilise
the capacity of their vehicles, meaning more can be
done with less. Mobile and onboard technologies
also improve communication and the availability
of information, enabling customer enquiries to be
proactively managed or resolved more quickly.
Harder to manage materials: Huge strides have been
made in material recovery technologies in recent
years, improving both the quantity and quality of
materials made available for recycling. A lot of focus
and investment is now on harder to manage waste
streams. These include the opening of the UK’s first full
scale household battery recycling facility by WasteCare
and Enva’s exciting new Air Pollution Control residues
(APCr) recycling plant in Paisley which treats fly ash
from biomass plants and produces a fine aggregate
type of material for use in concrete production.
Automation, Robotics and AI: Huge advances are
also being made in waste processing through the use
of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Companies
such as Greyparrot are deploying AI-powered computer
vision so¡ ware on moving conveyor belts in recycling
facilities to provide a complete waste composition
analysis and automate the manual process of sampling
and auditing material. In doing so, recyclers can
determine the overall performance of their facilities
and use the data to inform operational changes as well
as commissioning and investment decisions.
It’s important to remember, however, that while
technology is a key enabler to creating a more circular
economy and limiting pressure on the Earth’s natural
resources, the level of change required is only going to
be met through meaningful cross sector collaboration
and an accelerated shi¡ away from the still all too
common ‘use and dispose’ mindset.
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
EXPERT’S VIEW
DR STEPHEN WISE, CHIEF STRATEGIC
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANY, ADVETEC
We cannot
fix climate
change until
we transform
the global
economy,
so it’s
unsurprising
that the
circular
economy is
set to top the
agenda of the
upcoming
COP26. To help
put the world
on a trajectory to deliver a net zero future, we must
accelerate the move to a more sustainable, resourcee
† icient circular economy. The benefits are undeniable
and far-reaching; lower emissions, reduced waste, a
more competitive economy, opportunities for new
industries – the list goes on.
The circular economy forms a key part of the solution
to tackle climate change and to fulfil the objectives set
out in the Paris Agreement. However, the reality is that
there’s no silver bullet to achieving net zero carbon
emissions. Instead, we must take a holistic approach to
how we manage waste.
FM CLINIC
Ray Parmenter
Dr Stephen Wise Technology for
a smarter world
@ConceptCAFM
FSI (FM Solutions) Limited
@fsifm
link
/www.fsifm.com
