UK Business Briefs: water filtration, recycling, fat in sewers, energy efficiency, and movers and shakers

Water treatment company Bio-Claire International has developed a system of filtering water using SteriBac, a blend of naturally occurring minerals based on zeolite, which retains and kills 99.98% of harmful parasites and bacteria. Simply sprinkle SteriBac onto your drinking water, wait 30 minutes as it sinks to the bottom, and then drink.

UK firm Waste Recycling has announced that its eight household waste recycling centres in Norfolk have boosted their recycling rates to nearly 64% in the first six months of operation under the company’s management. Waste Recycling was awarded a three-year contract to run the centres by Norfolk County Council earlier this year. The sites are for members of the public can take their garden, bulky and recyclable household waste for disposal.

UK-based Environmental Biotech has found the solution to the thousands of fat, oil and grease related sewer spills every year. According to Biotech, it’s best to solve the problem before it occurs, by injecting live vegetative bacteria into a system twelve times a day. The bacteria digest hydrocarbon-based compounds, reducing them to carbon dioxide and water.

The Government’s Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme has published a guide for housing professionals outlining three fundamental standards for design and construction of new energy efficient dwellings. These are ‘good practice’, ‘best practice’ and ‘advanced’, the last producing dwellings that will have a minimum impact on the environment, says the Programme.

The Institute of Energy has announced its new Secretary and Chief Executive, John Ingham, a past president of the organisation. Ingham’s appointment follows the departure of Louise Kingham, now Director General of the Institute of Petroleum and Chief Executive designate of the proposed ‘Energy Institute’. Ingham served on the Midland’s branch of the institute for nine years, and spent three years as the Institute’s treasurer, before becoming president.