SOUTH WESSEX WASTE MINIMISATION GROUP: 17th June 2015, Merley House, near Wimborne
MINUTES OF MEETING
- Present
(see attached)
Judith Ward was introduced to the group – she is the new Chair of the SWWMG. Thanks were given to Alan McInnes from BV Dairy who has been the Chair for the last few months. Alan is now taking a step back from the work environment and all wished him well. Judith is the Centre Manager of Wastewise and has many years experience in the waste and resource sector.
- Circular Business Model Advantage (Mark Hodgson – QSA Partners LLP)
QSA help businesses to transition from traditional linear models, towards re-manufacturing, circular or closed loop models, to deliver increased resource efficiency and financial benefits. They focus on supporting the commercial aspects of the businesses from the outset: building a strong proposition, researching the market, creating robust financial models and engaging with multiple contacts to achieve outcomes. QSA are currently working with; WRAP REBus and Electrical retailers projects; B&Q and other smaller B2B projects. Through these projects they help companies develop and implement innovative business models that drive sales and customer loyalty, reduce material and energy consumption and increase commercial resilience.
Mark is a partner at QSA Partners LLP and is currently delivering circular business commercial solutions with over 20 companies such as Panasonic, Samsung, Argos and SMEs. Mark provided further details in regard to the circular business model. This involves working with retailers and manufacturers in regard to closed loop systems. This involves various facets – to be legal, efficient, the product, innovation and circular. This also encompasses the customer and commercial.
Closed loop encompasses:
-Recycling
-Long Life
-Incentivised return and re-use/repair
-Hire and Leasing
-Service System
Mark provided various examples of these in action providing case studies of companies who utilise the various philosophies.
Some examples are:
Long Life: Miele – products are built to last
Hire/Leasing: B&Q: tool rental, Viessmann: boilers
Service System: Phillips sell light, Rolls Royce sell thrust
Leasing also creates an on- going relationship with the customer.
Mark then provided some details in regard to the REBus project which is led by WRAP working with a range of partners from the UK and the Netherlands.
The REBus project aims to:
Develop an evidence base of existing circular economy models
Provide innovation support to businesses
Asses the commercial feasibility of alternate, resource efficient business models
Deliver pilots of more resource efficient business models
Currently through WRAP businesses can get 20 days free help in the electrical and textile sectors.
For further details go to:
- Developments at Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd. (Mark Troughton)
Mark Troughton is the Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Eco Sustainable Solutions Ltd.
He provided an overview of operations.
•Main site based in Parley (Christchurch);
•Parley Operations:
-Composting of green waste (certified to PAS 100);
-Storage & transfer of wood waste;
-Storage, sorting & cleaning of soils/aggregates (soils tested to BS 3882:2015);
-Storage of food waste;
-Storage & treatment (via composting – Compost Like Output: CLO) of street sweepings & gulley waste.
•Southampton Docks
-Sorting, shredding & export of wood waste.
•Weymouth – Preston Beach Road
-Storage & shredding of wood waste;
-Storage of green waste & street sweepings.
•Piddlehinton (Dorchester)
-Treatment of food waste via the AD plant (working to PAS 110).
Mark discussed the issues in regard to the end disposal of street sweepings.
The previous treatment method – IV composting (spread as CLO to land under deployment);
Analysis of leaf litter by EA in 2011 identified heavy metals (chromium, copper, nickel & zinc);
Further analysis by the EA in 2012/13 had lower metals but high on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons;
EA prohibited leaf litter from being mixed with compost and being spread on land;
Impact on customer – increase gate fee as street sweepings being disposed via landfill.
This resulted in:
Brainstorming exercise by Eco executive team to find a solution;
How can the street sweeping waste be treated so the contaminants are removed?
Investigated what technology could provide this solution;
Researched technology manufactured by Siltbusters Group and CD Enviro;
Selected CD Enviro to construct a purpose built street sweeping plant.
Plan:
•The construction of the plant took 4 months;
•Construction finished in March 2014;
•Variation to Parley Permit was granted in November 2014;
•Investment of £1 million from Eco;
•Has a capacity to treat 30,000 tpa;
•Current load is 300 tonnes per week.
How it works:
•Waste input – street sweepings, gulley waste and fresh water drilling mud;
•The plant cleans and separates the waste streams into the following fractions:
-Organic fraction: further treated through composting (spread as CLO);
-Solid ‘cake’ (dried sludge): further treated through composting (spread as CLO);
-Stones/grit: sold as a product.
•Wash water is treated and recycled within the plant.
Customers tip street sweepings & gulley waste into separate concrete bays at Parley;Eco WLS move the waste from the bays into the hopper;Screw conveyor moves the material onto a conveyor belt.
The water is separated and cleaned:
•The wash water is pumped into the aqua cycle;
•The wash water is mixed with a polymer which binds the particulates and sludge;
•The particulates & sludge sink to the bottom.
Treatment of the sludge/sediment
•The sludge from the aqua cycle and settlement tanks is pumped into a buffer tank;
•Using a centrifugal separation system, heavier solids are separated from the water;
•The water is pumped back into the settlement tanks;
•The dried ‘cake’ drops into the respective bay.
Management of the fractions
•The organic fractions are removed from the bays and placed into windrows;
•The windrows will go through screening to remove the litter and monitored for temperature;
•This process is separated from our PAS 100 compost route;
•All separated fractions are undergoing testing to ascertain if there is any contamination;
•Quality Protocols are being written for the fractions in order to obtain ‘end of waste’.
For further information contact Mark at
Marks’ presentation can be found at
- The Dorset Scrapstore (Vicky Laycock and Carolyn Corr)
Vicky and Carolyn provided an overview of the Dorset Scrapstore which takes clean materials donated by businesses to be used in arts and craft work. Many events and workshops are also put on by the scrapstore. Further details can be found at
Vicky and Carolyn then got members to make their own creations such as paper flowers, elephants made from milk bottles, pen tidies made from tins etc.
- Book, Swipe, Zoom – Co-cars the pay by the hour car club for Dorset (Mark Hodgson – Co-cars)
Mark provided details of the pay as you go car club.
Co-cars provide customers with the freedom from the cost of owning a car. They look after the car and the customer just drives it. You get car access when you want it and only pay when you use it.Co-Cars pay for the fuel, tax, the insurance, the maintenance, 24/7 emergency cover, and the customer just pay a simple hourly charge and mileage rate.
The cars are available 24/7 and based at dedicated bays in Exeter, Topsham, Barnstaple, Taunton, Dorchester, Weymouth and Blandford Forum. In 2015 Co-Cars will be starting car clubs at Exeter Science Park, Cranbrook and many new housing locations.
There are various pricing packages and you can join co-cars as an individual, a household or a business.
For further details go to:
- Training Update and Apprenticeships (Worldwide Waste Wise Ltd. – Judith Ward)
Judith explained that the South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWRAC) have a contract with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and do a lot of work with job centres and the unemployed. Wastewise is linked to SWRAC for the unfunded work. Both offer expert advice in regard to waste management and health and safety training.
Judith explained that employers provide training in response to a legal and moral duty.
The legal requirements come from the Health and Safety and Work Act (HASWA 1974):
The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees. Health and safety training must take place during work hours and must not be paid for by the employee.
In terms of the moral duties it often has the following benefits:
-Better performance
-Keep up with latest technology
-Better workforce morale
-Enhance company image
-Higher staff retention
-Good starting point (appraisal)
-Decrease need for supervision
-Improve risk management
So why do we spend so little on training?
Judith provided some details of the training Wastewise has to offer. She also discussed apprenticeships and explained they were made up of 3 areas:
-Technical certificate (taught)
-Competency – observation based
-English and maths skills
‘Soft skills’ re also built ion.
For apprentices age 16-18 these are fully funded (enrolment can be one week before 19th birthday)
Ages 19-24 and 25+ these are 50% co-funded.
For further information please contact Judith on 01202 848099 or at
- The Sustainability sector from a recruiter’s perspective (Paul Gosling – Allen and York Sustainable Recruitment)
Paul provided a bit of background about himself and then explained that Allen and York was established 1993, have 35 staff, recruit globally, are Wimborne based with Offices in Dubai and are specialists in the Sustainability sector with technical groups covering the following areas: waste and recycling, energy generation, health and safety, planning and built environment, corporate recruitment, environment and building and energy services.
Paul explained that skills are being sought, not the person.
In the recruitment sector:
•23,352 recruitment companies in the UK
•Employ a total of 96,397 people
•Very fragmented market: Average recruitment company employs 4.1
•Total Turnover of £28.7 bill
91% from temp / contract
9% from permanent placements
Paul explained that sustainability is now part of responsible business.
Innovations across the waste and recycling industry; waste mining, recycled manufacturing and biofuels; as well as corporate sustainability, social impact, community engagement and sustainable procurement, particularly across emerging global markets, enable us to have teams focused on sourcing the talent required to steer businesses towards a greener future
For further details contact Paul on 07818 553 636 and at
Paul’s presentation can also be found at
- Date and Venue of next meeting: Wednesday 23rd September 2015, Merley House near Wimborne