Episode 21 of Rubbish Talk is here and it’s a good one! Join Alasdair and a surprise new co-host in this episode as we delve into the world of environmental & sustainability news, discussing £400 one-wear Adidas trainers, the astonishing Lego beach in Cornwall, and the electrifying E-Waste Day campaign taking place in Albion office! But that’s not all – we’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with David Balmer, ERS Remediation Manager.
Click here to listen now
David is an experienced waste, resource, and materials manager with nearly 30 years track record in the private sector running contaminated land remediation projects, waste management, quarrying, construction, multi-modal logistics and recently a life changing and highly demanding challenging clinical waste project for NHS Scotland.
During his 26 year tenure at W H Malcolm Limited, he has overseen the movement of circa 30 million tonnes of a variety of materials through the extensive fleet that he one had access to but has moved on to a smaller, more challenging role, at ERS (Environmental Reclamation Services Limited) trying to bring blighted contaminated land back into beneficial use through specialist chemical, biological or physical treatments as part of an experience contaminated land management team and the management of the ever present non-native invasive species situations.
ERS is a truly multi-disciplinary contractor with a mix of scientific and engineering expertise, including geology, hydrogeology, engineering (civil, agricultural, electrical, mechanical), geochemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology.
He brings a passion and enthusiasm to the management of waste soils and aggregates and with his campervan, partner, 2 dogs and diabetic cat works around Scotland and is essentially a “closet geologist” and over-qualified bin-man!
Dogs Bella & Tilly, Cat Milly
News Items:
In Episode 21 of Rubbish Talk Alasdair and his guest co-host Elleisha discuss some interesting topics you can find links to everything below
- An introduction to our Marketing Coordinator, Elleisha shares her background, education, and current role.
- The £400 Adidas trainers which have made the headlines after being worn by Tigsit Assefa as she smashed the woman’s marathon record in Berlin, but how do we feel about advocating a single-use shoe.
- Further to this Kelvin Kiptum from Kenya shattered the men’s marathon world record in Chicago as he beat compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s previous mark by more than 30 seconds.
- ESS is an independent body set up to ensure the effectiveness of environmental law and prevent enforcement gaps arising from the UK leaving the European Union. ESS are currently considering whether to investigate SEPA for consideration of SEPA’s duty to maintain a public register for PPC information, click here to read more on the investigation.
- Zero Waste Scotland Limited has been classified as a central government subsector with effect from 16 November 2017.
- Read more on the 7 bins policy that Rishi Sunak has scrapped! Councils say their plans for collecting recycling are in flux after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak decided not to move forward with a proposal to introduce “seven bins”.
- Summary of cost savings from using recycling system properly – blog by Alasdair Meldrum.
- Lego kills its plans for an oil-free plastic alternative, it’s still pumping out billions of non-biodegradable bricks a year. Can Lego ever be sustainable?
- The Cornish beach that pieces of Lego are still washing up on from 1997 serves as a compelling example of the remarkable resilience of the microplastics used in Lego manufacturing.
- An image of the roundabout discussed in the episode for its famous shape.
Keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram stories and LinkedIn for E-waste Day updates.