BCB Environmental Management Limited

At appropriate times we will post news items to give customers updates on BCB Environmental Management Limited and to keep you informed of any important developments in the hazardous waste Industry that might impact upon you our customers.

Latest News:

Environment Agency crackdown on waste producers:

4th April 2008

The recent focus of the Environment Agency’s auditing team has flagged up concerns about poor adherence to the Waste Characterisation requirements imposed on all waste producers by the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. In particular, there have been identified concerns where waste brokers are involved in transactions. The EA has issued a guidance document (available here) that we urge all our clients to study; indeed we have been specifically asked to distribute this as widely as possible.

It is BCB policy to provide as much assistance as we feasibly can to ensure compliance with these specific issues but we must remind all our clients that they cannot derogate the ultimate legal responsibility for compliance with the legislation.

For the full EA guidance document, click HERE [pdf format].

Further endorsement for the BCB Efw project:

28th Feb 2008

The following endorsement was received from Natural England:

Protected species
We are pleased to note that a survey for bats was carried out (Appendix 9.3 of Environmental Statement). We note that the existing hangar building has no potential for bat roosts, and that although bats were recorded flying inside the building, this was opportunistic and not a critical feeding habitat. We therefore concur with the conclusion of the survey that the proposal is not likely to have any significant impact on local bat populations, and there is no requirement to seek a licence in this instance.

The ecological assessment noted breeding birds in the area around the building. As breeding birds, their nests and eggs are afforded general protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), we support the mitigation measures set out in Appendix 9.2 regarding provision of alternative habitat, and removal of trees and shrubs outside of the bird breeding sason (March to August).

Designated sites
Only one statutory nature conservation site, Aubert Ings Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), lies close to the application site. However, we note that the modelling for nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions shows concentrations of both compounds on the SSSI well below 1% of National Air Quality Strategy standards for semi-natural ecosystems. This also is the case for the various non-statutory wildlife sites in the vicinity of Tockwith. We concur with the view expressed in the Environmental Statement that stack emissions from the proposed waste facility will not have a significant effect on the SSSI and non-statutory sites.

Landscape
The propsal is for the re-use of an existing building on an established industrial site, and does not lie within any designated landscapes. We are of the opinion that there are no significant landscape issues associated with this development.

In conclusion, Natural England raises no objection to the proposal as set out in the application and supporting documents.

Critical endorsement for the BCB Efw project:

27th Feb 2008

The Yorkshire and Humber Assembly has delivered a ringing endorsement for the BCB gasification project. In a five page written response in the capacity of statutory consultee, the Assembly concluded:-

• The Assembly SUPPORTS (sic) the application in principle on the basis that it will assist in the implementation of both current and draft RSS (regional strategies), in terms of environmental and economic considerations
• The development is supported in principle by the Assembly as helping to implement both current and draft RSS waste policy
• This development is supported in principle by the Assembly as helping to implement the RSS by providing renewable energy generation

The report further recorded its pleasure that the project developed a brownfield (currently derelict) site, offered positive economic benefit and demonstrated no significant traffic impact.

Normally publicly reticent on the subject, we chanced our luck and approached Phil Boardman for a comment. His response:

“Am I surprised that the Regional Assembly has endorsed the Project? Absolutely not. But I am delighted to see a formal authority recognising the positive benefits that underpin this initiative. I have a problem with community leaders – locally, regionally and nationally – who shy away from association with a politically sensitive development like this.

Whilst this is politically understandable, where I fall out with them is when they fail to communicate both the regional and national imperatives that are driving developments like this (across the country). That, and the fact, they are happy to let poor Mrs Watts of Prince Rupert Drive fear for her health knowing full well that the country has very stringent legislative safeguards that make any such notion inconceivable.”

For the full report, click HERE pdf format.

BCB passes detailed Environment Agency audit with flying colours

26th Feb 2008

BCB was recently subjected to a detailed audit by a three man Environment Agency team. The results of the audit are available in a two part report

Part One download HERE pdf format

Part Two download HERE pdf format

Welcome to the re-vamped BCB web site

10th Feb 2008

Welcome to the re-vamped BCB web site – a new site for a new chapter. The company is currently in the throes of a major IT re-jig and inevitably there are teething problems. Apologies to anyone who has had difficulties accessing information on this site – everything should be working normally in the next day or two.

Look out for new content – the Project now has its own dedicated space and content will be appearing shortly, together with a rush of exciting news as the development picks up serious momentum.

BCB announces structural change to attract investment

4th January 2008

BCB has been restructured to create a new holding company, AWP Environmental Ltd (“AWP”).

At the same time, two new shareholders – Robert Goddard and Stephen McLeod – have joined the board of AWP as chairman and finance director respectively. Phil Boardman, managing director of BCB, becomes managing director of AWP.

Mr Boardman commented: “The new structure is simply a special purpose vehicle to facilitate attracting investment in the company’s proposed £18m energy from waste (EfW) facility, that will process and make safe approximately 60,000 tonnes per year of mixed non hazardous and hazardous waste.

An application for planning consent for the EfW plant, which will use advanced thermal treatment technology, has already been submitted to North Yorkshire County Council.

Official artist's impressions of the proposed BCB Gasification plant

14th September 2007

please click here

BCB ANNOUNCES £18M GASIFICATION PROJECT

20th August 2007

please click here

BCB announces record interim profits

6th February 2007

BCB is pleased to announce record returns to the end of Quarter two (December 2006). The company issued the following statement:

The financial years 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 were blighted financially - initially by the move to the Green Hangar and the implementation of the UK’s first (and still only 100% compliant) IPPC regulated hazardous waste facility. Those initial infrastructure costs were then compounded by the difficulties of managing our business under the new quality and environmental management systems that IPPC imposes. It’s a tough business environment trailblazing at the cutting edge. July 2006 saw the company post a significant trading loss for the first time in its history – a direct result of being unable to compete with competitors still operating to much lower standards under Waste Management Licenses.

However, since July of last year, the company has seen a strong consolidation of its position as market leader in the sector and has begun to realise a sensible pre-tax return on trading. This is based on a restrained sales picture and is expected to improve further as the company invests in sales and marketing resources. This comes as no surprise – the IPPC regime has finally extended its reach to our competitors and the difficulties are transparent across the sector as Transfer Stations face closure demands from the Environment Agency in order to reach the initial targets of the published compliance agenda. It is the Company’s official position that the transition agenda from IPPC is far too lenient in timescale – our competitors have another 30 months before addressing their pollution issues whilst BCB has been a zero emissions operation since April 2005.

Commenting on the results, Phil Boardman added: “These results are immensely encouraging and restore the faith I had in the IPPC agenda which I dared to espouse 2 ½ years before the sector as a whole. That said, it will take another 6 to 18 months of sustained progress to recover the company’s balance sheet. Nonetheless, the future of BCB could not be brighter this morning and my heart goes out to my fellow operators who are suddenly discovering that kick, sniff, stack and rack are no longer acceptable standards in this modern, environmentally conscious world.”

For 2006 News

for previous articles please click here