1 November saw the launch of WasteApp, described as a comprehensive web-based application that, for the first time in England and Wales, connects producers of waste to reprocessing facilities. The data located in WasteApp will allow, for example, waste management companies, to find treatment facilities by specific streams of waste, or by waste activity, as well as location. This will not only help accelerate the optimum treatment and reprocessing of waste but will also open up business growth opportunities for the waste industry, says the firm.
“The ability to search by waste type will save waste management companies and producers of waste a significant amount of time and money”, says Ben Maizey, owner of Recycle Link Wales, who has been helping to beta-test WasteApp.
“The real game-chamber, though, is that WasteApp will allow users to readily search for treatment plants by waste code which, up until now, has been extremely challenging and time consuming”, noted Ben.
WasteApp has been developed by Green Edge Applications; an online, environmental consultancy founded by Managing Director Jane Hall, who has over 20 years’ experience within the waste, industrial and environmental regulatory sectors.
“With greater restrictions on waste exports, it has never been a more critical time to promote and expand UK-based processing facilities and, therefore, we are encouraging all waste treatment facilities to sign-up and validate their site”, said Jane Hall.
“The feedback we received from the soft launch at RWM 2018 was extremely positive with many of the UK’s leading waste management companies commenting that this is the missing piece of the waste management jigsaw and asking ‘why doesn’t this exist already'”, added Jane.
Green Edge Applications already has a successful application for a Smart Cymru grant, from the Welsh Government, who are adminstrators of the European Regional Development Fund.
Waste reprocessors can now register to promote their site on WasteApp that will enable them to feature higher up the search results and will soon be able to receive direct enquiries from search tool users. Once they validate their site details, waste processes and waste types they will receive a preferential rating since WasteApp has more confidence in the information used in searches. If they also provide their current waste permit they will receive a further enhanced listing, once validated by the WasteApp team.
WasteApp has been launched as a ‘beta’ release to enable the developers to obtain feedback during the next phases of development. Further enhancements are already in the pipeline including lauching in Scotland and Northern Ireland, improving usability, as well as the introduction of valuable information on whether wastes are recycled, recovered or disposed of to assist waste producing companies address the waste hierarchy.
WasteApp is available immediately via mywasteapp.com.
