Closed Loop Recycling employs ex-offenders

Plastic bottle recycling company Closed Loop Recycling has partnered with social enterprise Blue Sky to offer ex-offenders jobs at its recycling facility in Dagenham.

Having recently linked up with Blue Sky, the Dagenham plant now employs four ex-offenders full-time on its production line.

One-time warehouse mechanic Christopher Nelson (pictured, far right) is set to become the first Blue Sky worker to be given a full-time contract with Closed Loop, checking the production line to make sure all bottles are correctly washed.

He said: “I’m really enjoying the work and learning new things. Every day I regret what I’ve done, so I’m really grateful to Blue Sky and Closed Loop for giving me this opportunity.”

Speaking of the decision to work with ex-offenders, Closed Loop Recycling’s Head of Operations Gerry Martin commented: “We help them reintegrate into society and get their chins off their chests. We encourage and don’t discriminate. It can actually be quite a harsh environment to work in, but a lot of these guys have been looking for a job for a while. Even in this day and age we still need humans to make sure only the correct materials go through the process.”

Head of Fundraising at Blue Sky Carwyn Gravell added: “We expect a lot from [the ex-offenders], just like any other company would, but we offer them a lot of support and help in moving on.”

Find out more about Closed Loop Recycling's Dagenham facility and Blue Sky.

Design-for-recycling guidelines for PET trays

New guidelines for designing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays with recyclability in mind have been released by Plastics Recyclers Europe.

The guidelines, one for clear thermoforms and another for coloured thermoforms, set the basic principles to create PET trays that could be treated by future plastics recycling plants dedicated to this stream. It highlights the tray designs that have ‘high compatibility’, ‘limited compatibility’ and ‘low compatibility’ with recycling processes. For example, trays containing any multilayer film or carbon black colouring are deemed to interfere with PET recycling.

According to the body that represents plastic recyclers in Europe, the eco-design of PET trays is ‘a first compulsory step to start the development of PET trays recycling’.

It added that this waste stream of 800,000 tonnes must be collected and sorted accordingly to help reach European recycling targets, and called on all PET handlers and producers (such as designers, retailers, brand owners, and raw material producers), to build up a PET trays platform to start a path to a value chain approach for PET trays similar to the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP).

Read the PET tray design guidelines, or find out more about Plastics Recyclers Europe.

Countrystyle wins Kent schools contract

Kent-based resource management and recycling company Countrystyle Recycling, part of the Countrystyle Group, has been appointed as the waste collection, treatment and disposal service provider for 76 schools across Ashford and Shepway districts in Kent.

The two-year contract commenced last month and is part of a framework agreement with Kent County Council.

All collected general waste and mixed recyclables will be collected by Countrystyle’s fleet and taken to its materials recovery facility in Ridham where they will be sorted, baled and transported for onwards reprocessing.

Countrystyle’s Operations Director, Jamie Houston, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to provide services for local schools in Kent. This win demonstrates Countrystyle’s continued ability to provide professional, reliable and cost-effective solutions across the spectrum of collection and treatment services. We are excited about the prospect of working with Kent schools for many years to come.”

Kent County Council said it was “looking forward to developing this partnership with Countrystyle Recycling to encourage greater recycling through education and positive marketing”.

Find out more about the Countrystyle Group.

Resource event set for 3-5 March

The second annual Resource event will be held at the ExCeL centre in London on 3-5 March 2015, showcasing the latest recycling, anaerobic digestion (AD) and technology solutions bridging the gap between current linear business models and the UK’s move towards a more circular economy.

In 2015, Resource is renewing its focus on ‘first steps for business’ by having two show sections that present recycling solutions, and food waste/AD solutions.

Stephen Gee, Event Director, stated: “The circular economy requires a gamut of technological solutions, combined with a big rethink of business models to take account for consumer habits and attitudes. Resource will grow and grow to include all of the solutions that businesses can adopt to aim towards eliminating the waste within their businesses, and as a result of consumption of their products. We see it as vital to present the pathway to change, from recycling through to full circularity.”

The show will host speakers from different sectors to share their approaches and experiences. Supporters and exhibitors at the show include resource recovery technology firm Tetronics, aluminium recycling company Novelis, and the Association for Sustainable Building Products – which will pilot demountable structures and methods to reduce construction waste.

Find out more about the Resource event.