UK Business Briefs: recycling, stormwater control, water acquisitions and success in Japan

An East Sussex printing company is planning to do its bit to reduce Britain’s growing CD mountain. The Beacon Press, which was recently voted one of the greenest companies in the country, has launched its ‘Box it, Don’t Bin it’ campaign. Beacon has undertaken to collect CDs from neighbouring companies and send them to a specialist firm which is able to recycle 100% of the discs and their packaging.

Building research organisation CIRIA has announced the publication of a new guide that discusses the critical issues that should be considered when designing and constructing pervious pavements that are to be used for stormwater control. The first chapter of the book can be downloaded from CIRIA’s website for free.

Wavin Plastics Limited has announced that its TwinWall surface water drainage system has been selected for the stormwater system for the new M6 toll road. Positive drainage systems, including miles of pipe work and pollution interceptors that control the flow of water into the watercourses, will run along the entire length of the M6 toll road. To complete this system the developers are using the full range of Wavin TwinWall from 150mm to 600mm and to date, over 31 million worth of the product has been supplied.

In the water sector, it has been revealed that Vivendi Environment is considering a bid for Anglian Water International, according to WaterTechOnline. The bulk of the assets of Anglian Water are in South America, the largest of which is in Chile, valued at around £140 million. Other potential bidders include Malaysian conglomerate YTL, owner of Wessex Water, French utility Suez and the German-based RWE AG.

And finally, manufacturer of flat sheet membrane bioreactors, the Aquator Group Ltd has announced that it recently played host to senior executives from the major Japanese heavy industry company, the Kubota Corporation. “This is another significant landmark in the growth of Aquator; our Japanese partners have again underlined their commitment to the company and the area,” said Keith Willett, CEO of Aquator. “They have recently purchased an equity stake in the company which reinforces their commitment to the technology and to the group.”