P
PAINTS
Paints that do not give off harmful pollutants (like Volatile Organic Compounds) are usually mineral or organic based. However water-based paints are still better than solvent-based. See:
www.ecopaints.com - by Millenium Chemicals
www.auro.co.uk - Auro Organic Paints & stains
www.keimpaints.co.uk
PAPER, BOARD & OFFICE SUPPLIES
Producing paper from recycled pulp requires 50% of the energy used for virgin paper. In one year the UK uses a forest the size of Wales to make paper.
General information:
www.incpen.org - Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment
www.iwppa.co.uk -Independent Waste Paper Processors Association
www.instituteofpackaging.com
www.mpsonline.org.uk -Mailing preference service; can help in reducing the amount of unwanted mail.
Organisations and companies involved in recycling:
www.greenstat.co.uk
www.ancientfutures.com
www.paperplanet-recycling.co.uk
National recycled paper suppliers:
www.cornwallpaper.co.uk - Cornwall Paper, Redruth
www.paperback.coop - Paperback Ltd, Bow, London
www.forestsaver.com - Forest Saver, Bristol
PLASTICS
Plastics are by-products of oil, sulphur dioxide and vinyl chloride. All these have highly polluting manufacturing processes and are energy intensive. There are few actual biodegradable plastics: even those described as such give off toxins and often do not degrade fully. There are also many different types. Normally PET, HDPE, PVC can be recycled.
UPVC, while beloved of clients in the building industry, is highly damaging in terms of the toxins given off in the manufacturing process. No effective recycling processes have been identified for UPVC although there are efforts to manage disposal.
General: www.apme.org -Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe
www.bpf.co.uk - British Plastics Federation
www.eps.co.uk - Expanded Polystyrene Recycling
www.bpipoly.com - Info on plastics recycling
Companies: www.linpac-environmental.com - recycled plastics
www.linpac-recycling.co.uk - recycles polystyrene,polyethylene
www.save-a-cup.co.uk - recycles vending cups
POLLUTION
This is a vast subject but here is a brief list of world's most harmful pollutants: Aldrin (insecticide), Dieldrin (insecticide), Chlordane (insecticide), DDT (insecticide), Dioxins, Furans, Endrin (pesticide), HCB (fungicide), Heptachlor (insecticide), Mirex (insecticide), PCBs (plastics), Toxaphene (insecticide).
Pollutants related to car emissions: Benzene, Butadiene, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, PM10 particles, Sulphur dioxide.
Information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/pi
Noise Pollution: National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection
www.nsca.org.uk
RAINWATER RECYCLING
There are different methods but they all encompass the same principle; harnessing rainfall to provide water for flushdown or other needs. Rain is generally the cleanest freshwater available in much of the world; it is perfectly drinkable in most areas if captured without being contaminated en route to the end user. Basic filtering of run off from roofs is usually all that's needed but check your roof covering. It can at least be used for watering the garden.
Rain Harvesting: www.rainharvesting.co.uk
www.freerain.co.uk
Q
R
RECYCLING
Antique Salvage: www.talismanlondon.com
www.drummonds-arch.co.uk
Architectural Salvage: www.architecturalreclaim.com
www.salvoweb.com
Batteries: from cameras, calculators and watches can be mercury, lithium or silver oxide based and are recyclable in theory. Heavy-acid batteries should be recycled by Local Authorities.
Building materials: www.lassco.co.uk
www.recycledproducts.org.uk
Can crushing: www.lakelandlimited.co.uk
Computer recycling: www.cksplc.co.uk
General: www.wrap.org.uk
www.wastebusters.co.uk
www.wasteonline.org.uk
Photo fluids: Silver is used in fixers and needs to be extracted by electrolysis. It should not be flushed away. It can sometimes be returned to the trade. Check with individual photo labs.
Rooftiles: www.e-b-c-uk.com
Rubbish Bins: www.thebincompany.com
Tyres: www.easternwastedisposal.co.uk
REFURBISHMENT
Bringing existing buildings back into use means less energy is wasted than it would be with a new build. There are many societies that work with historic buildings and some are listed on this site under historic buildings. The first port of call if considering a project is your Local Authority but organizations like SPAB give advice and run courses:
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
www.spab.org.uk
Consultants: www.aabc-register.co.uk
www.buildingconservation.com
RESEARCH – ENERGY etc
www.bre.co.uk : Building Research Establishment
www.ciria.org.uk : Construction Industry Research & Info Association
www.oxfordenergy.org.uk : Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
www.cges.co.uk : Centre for Global Energy Studies
www.ciob.org.uk : Chartered Institute of Building
ROOFING
GREEN ROOFS
These are roofs that have a layer for growing plants especially sedum and drought resistant types. Companies that specialize in this building method:
www.greenroof.co.uk
SOLAR TILES & PV (PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS)
(See Solar below as well)
Solar Singles by Solar Century; rubberized and silicon composite shingles that once installed look like slates; can be used in conservation areas. Solar Century do a range of solar systems and seminars. See: www.solarcentury.co.uk
OTHER TYPES OF ROOFING:
Corrugated sheeting: Onduline is a 50% mix of cellulose and bitumen.
www.ondulinebuildingproducts.net
Timber Shingles: Can be sustainable if timber is sourced properly;
www.johnbrash.co.uk
Reusing old tiles and slates is also sustainable as energy use is minimized. See
Architectural Salvage in Recycling
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