Dive into the captivating world of Waste Management with our latest episode of the Rubbish Talk podcast! We’re thrilled to welcome Craig Chandler, an esteemed professional with over 24 years of experience in the Waste/Resource Sector.
After completing a distinguished 16-year career as a Civil Engineer in the British Army, Craig unexpectedly transitioned into the Waste Management Industry. He made an immediate impact at Barr Environmental Ltd, where he transformed a struggling skip business into a model of efficiency and profitability. His exceptional leadership skills and dedication earned him recognition from the Institute for Supervision and Management, where he was selected as a finalist for Management Excellence.
Craig’s journey in Waste Management has been nothing short of remarkable. His innovative approach to Waste Management was particularly evident during the UK’s “Foot and Mouth” crisis, where his leadership and strategic thinking played a pivotal role in managing the disposal of ash from various burn sites. For our listeners who are too young to remember the “Foot and Mouth” Outbreak, click here to find out more.
We also chatted about Donut economics with Craig – if you want to find out a bit more, have a look at Kate Raworth site by clicking here.
Craig’s self-employment journey with C&M Training started with a focus on Waste Management, primarily for us at Albion Environmental, before expanding into other industries and topics. Despite not planning to work in the waste sector initially, Craig fell into it after leaving the military and soon realised he had found his passion. His extensive qualifications and certifications, including Certificates of Technical Competence and Chartered Membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health, underscore his dedication to professional development and mastery of his craft.
Craig’s impact extends beyond the borders of the UK, as he has led international projects in Healthcare Waste Management in the Republic of Serbia, making massive improvements to the system, which has still been his favourite job to date!
Craig’s perspective on Waste Management has evolved over the years, emphasizing the importance of acting locally while thinking globally and the need for education over strict legislation. When he’s not advocating for environmental sustainability, Craig enjoys relaxing through gardening and embarking on trips in his camper van.
Useful Link
Environmental News Updates
eBay cuts seller fees to promote “circular economy for fashion”
eBay UK has announced that, as of 8 April, it is free for individual sellers to list and sell pre-owned clothing items on its platform. This move aims to foster sustainable practices in fashion consumption. With the elimination of listing fees, individuals can now sell a wide range of pre-loved fashion items on eBay UK, including those they’ve worn once, multiple times, or even brand-new items with tags still intact.
Kirsty Keoghan posted on LinkedIn promoting the new and improved eBay UK
“Big news today…I’m super proud to announce that selling pre-owned clothes is free on eBay UK for individuals. With the average shopper hoarding over £400 worth of unworn clothes, it’s about time we get the nation selling.”
Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned from sale in UK
Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned from being sold in the UK, with legislation expected to be announced by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has said the move “builds on a raft of actions already taken to protect our waterways” – but the government has been criticised for not going far enough. The government is planning to introduce the legislation before parliament’s summer recess begins in July. The new law will make it illegal to sell wet wipes containing plastic in England, before being rolled out to cover the rest of the UK in autumn.
Discarded wet wipes frequently litter Britain’s beaches and eventually break down into microplastics, which contribute to water pollution and damage ecosystems.
The Big Plastic Count – Results Are In!
Schools, households, community groups and businesses up and down the country counted their plastic waste for a whole week in March to reveal the state of the UK’s plastic waste problem.
We had 225,000 participants join us for The Big Plastic Count 2024!
· 1.7 billion pieces of plastic thrown away every week (90 billion a year)
· Over half of the pieces of plastic we throw away is being incinerated –
58% Incinerated, 11%Landfilled, 14% Exported & 17% Recycled
· The UK tops the charts for plastic waste per person globally – this is second only to the US.
Thanks to The Big Plastic Count, governments have now started UN negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty which will set a global target to reduce plastic.
The Brutal Truth About Net Zero and How to Vanquish Climate Populists, with Dieter Helm
The Rest is Politics Podcast recently released Episode 69 – The Brutal Truth About Net Zero and How to Vanquish Climate Populists, with Dieter Helm.
Where they discuss if net zero 2030 is impossible to achieve – and is it a mistake to pursue it? Should governments be more brutal with climate investment? Are events like COP a waste of time? Rory and Alastair are joined by Britain’s leading energy economist, Professor Dieter Helm, to answer all these questions and more.
Albion News
here is still time to book onto our popular 1 Day Introduction to Waste Management Legislation REHIS Course on Thursday 16th May! The course will be held in our Training Room at:
Albion Environmental Ltd, 1 Damside, Ayr, KA8 8ER
For more information on the course please click here or contact us with any queries: kirstie@albion-environmental.co.uk/ 01292 610428
WISH have recently released new Safety Alerts on Automatic Bin Lifts as well as Hydraulically Operated Equipment and Rear Doors. Have a read if any of these Safety Alerts apply to you and/or your work.
We have a new member of staff who joined us last week, Susan Deakin who is our new Training Business Development Manager.
Susan has a passion for waste, recycling and general sustainability as well as a proven track record for creating and delivering training content on a variety of topics, we are very excited to have her as a part of our team!
Have you had a look at our TikTok account yet?
We have recently introduced a fortnightly video called “Meet the Team Monday” where we interview our staff and to find out their job roles, favourite part about their job, favourite/funny memory and a “which colleague is most likely to…” question to add some humour. Make sure to follow us and check out our videos.
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