Local authorities are bound by recycling targets which they must meet to avoid paying landfill tax and keeping waste away from landfill.
For manufacturers it has involved adding processes in the production phase designed to satisfy sustainable needs. Businesses in the industry are now very much part of the collective effort to become more green and take an active part in the recycling process.
For example, some local councils are now stipulating a percentage of recycled content in tenders. This has resulted in many businesses that make and supply waste management products to take a closer look at how they manufacture and where they can add value.
Leaner production, cutting down on energy costs and sourcing more sustainable materials is now part of parcel of the daily effort by manufacturers to do their bit. One area which is another opportunity to contribute is how to make use of recycled products in the manufacturing process.
Many have always argued about the implications of using recycled versus virgin materials. But, as discussed earlier, with customers and clients demanding more recycled products it is an area which must be tackled. The effects of incorporating the need are necessary for a green supply chain structure, better supplier and customer relationships, as well as the broader effects on operations strategy in an evolving sustainable environment.
Manufacturers in all sectors must now observe changes in the make the best use of recycled materials in the production phase helping to meet the growing demand for products with higher recycled content.
For manufacturers in the waste management industry, this area of the market is gaining increasing importance and has strong economic as well as environmental benefits.
In the drive towards sustainability and to meet both consumer and legislative demands, it is imperative that manufacturers grasp the economic and environmental benefits of using resources that are recycled more efficiently.
There are many advantages for using recycled material, especially in the waste management industry which is desperately trying to keep rubbish away from landfill.
When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources. If used materials are not recycled, new products are made by extracting fresh, raw material leading to a bigger and bigger carbon footprint
A more discerning customer is also now asking for more recycled content in waste management products. Manufacturers therefore, have to be able to put in place processes to facilitate customer requests.
For example, MBG Plastics, the UK’s leading manufacturer of wheeled bins, won a contract to supply Hull City Council with over 300,000 new recycling products recently – one of the main conditions was the use of recycled content.
The local council stipulated that the old bins must be recycled to create new wheeled bins and kitchen caddies.
MGB Plastics ensured that it collected all the bins, recycled them and the material re-used in the production of new bins delivered to Hull City Council over the course of the contract.
As a result MGB Plastics has helped Hull achieve record recycling rates with the new delivery of bins with a 70 per cent recycling participation rate on its new blue bin scheme, a huge improvement on its 30-40 per cent average previously.
The recycling process provided by MGB Plastics involves the collection of old bins which are then transported to its factory in Rotherham. The recycling unit then remove the wheels and axles, deep cleans the bins before shredding and granulating them into small pieces of regrind. A percentage of this recycled material is then used to create new bins.
Over time, the use recycled materials has to increase if the UK is to make headway on its journey to sustainability. If UK is serious about tackling climate change, it must involve the co-operation across the complete supply chain from manufacturers, local authorities and households – from the factory floor to the front door.
MgbPlastics.com
Recycling and Waste Management, Waste Management