Recycling. It's fundamental in today's world.
Here in the UK, we produce more than 30 million tonnes of waste each year. As our standard of living increases, so too does the amount of waste we produce. Recycling is the only sensible answer if we're to dispose of waste sensibly, safely and in an environmentally-acceptable way.
One company that's risen to the recycling challenge is H.W.Martin Waste Ltd.
Part of the Derbyshire-based Martin Group, the company specialises in delivering environmentally-responsive waste and recycling services to operators, private and public, nationwide.
Already, H.W.Martin's divert more than half a million tonnes of recyclable materials every year - an equivalent to the total waste generated by a city the size of Bradford! Recycled materials go back into the manufacturing process to be re-used safely and cost-effectively.
Yet today, only 60% of the rubbish that goes in our bins is being recycled. Re-using our raw materials remains a developing science - and like it or not, some cannot as yet be recycled. For that, landfill remains the only practical alternative.
'The Government's set practical, achievable targets for reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill', says H.W.Martin's Director, Mark Faulconbridge, 'and we've geared our operations to exceeding these.'
'But landfill remains an essential part of our operations today - and we're as professional in our approach to landfill as we are in our commitment to recycling.'
With that in mind, H.W.Martin's have recently taken delivery of two Iveco Trakker 340K36 chassis with Multilift hookloader bodies (fitted by the Martin Group) from Blackwell-based Sherwood Truck & Van.
'Trakkers are solid and strong products', says Mark. 'They're excellent on ground clearance and that's all-important on this kind of operation. And they're tough too - landfill sites can become quagmires at this time of year, and the Trakker gives excellent on-site driveability and performance. Most significantly, they were available when we needed them - in our business, that can make the difference between losing and winning a contract.'
'Best of all though, we like Sherwood. They're based close to us, their customer support is excellent, and we use a number of their facilities quite widely. We operate our own 24 hour workshops, so we look after our own vehicles - but we're very happy with the immediacy of response Sherwood give us on advice and parts support.'
'It's an old cliché - but to cap it all, they're nice people to do business with'
From their base at Blackwell, Derbyshire and with sites at Nottingham, Stoke and Sheffield, Sherwood Truck & Van are one of the East Midlands premier commercial vehicle dealers.