A major sustainability initiative by Europe’s largest provider of express palletised freight services has resulted in more than 1,400 tonnes of waste being recycled at its West Midlands base.
Palletways’ environmental project has seen mountains of waste material from its UK-wide delivery network collected and sorted at its headquarters in Fradley and recycled off site.
The initiative, a partnership with Burton-based waste management firm Willshee’s, has created two new jobs at Fradley and saved Palletways around £112,000 in landfill taxes.
The exercise has recycled enough wood, paper, cardboard and plastic to fill nearly 40 double decker trailers used to deliver freight across Palletways’ UK-wide operation.
Tim Bentley, Palletways’ Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager, said: “This initiative has been in operation since May 2013 and has been a big factor in helping to make our business more sustainable as part of our overriding commitment to be a highly responsible and resource efficient company.
“The process is complex and has required dedication and investment from the business and cooperation from employees.”
He added: “Importantly, it has helped our headquarters at Fradley become a zero landfill site, where all of the waste created by our operations is diverted from landfill which is costly and ultimately wasteful. It’s also helped us create two new permanent jobs on site and the Willshee’s team who work with us does an excellent job.”
He added: “Aesthetically the Palletways Fradley Distribution Park consistently looks clean and tidy. This is good for the environment and it improves staff morale and gives the right impression to our visitors, customers and suppliers.”
Dean Willshee, Wilshee’s Managing Director, added: “We provide two operatives who are dedicated to managing waste at the Palletways central hub site, who also provide advice on best practice to reduce the amount of waste material produced. We also supply and maintain all on site balers and compaction equipment. After successfully delivering a zero waste to landfill management solution at Fradley, we are in talks with Palletways to roll the same model nationally to their other owned operations sites.”