UK Business Briefs: WEEE, water treatment, landfill, and swimming lessons

Recycling solutions company DARP Environmental is developing new technology that will be able to recycle all waste electrical goods. By 2004, when the European directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) comes into effect, the company says it will be able to demonstrate a full-scale commercial plant to manufacturers who will be responsible for end-of-life disposal of their products.

In East Yorkshire, the new contract from Yorkshire Water for the Melton Wastewater treatment Works facility and associated pump stations in the region has been awarded to Californian company Earth Tech and Morrison Construction. The contract is valued at more than US$6.4 million (£4.1 million), and work is expected to be completed by February 2004.

Also in the north of England, waste management company Biffa has opened its all-weather landfill site at Skelton Grange on the site of a former open cast coal mine at Gamblethorpe, near Leeds. The site is one of 33 operated by Biffa, and is designed to provide continuous service in wet and windy weather conditions when other sites may be closed, says Biffa.

The final case in the north of England trilogy is that of Yorkshire Water, who has announced its latest SwimCare programme, providing more than 250 Sheffield school children with £1,500 worth of extra swimming lessons. The Yorkshire Water grant matches funding from the South East Sheffield Education Action Zone.