The recommencement of work means that eReco can continue to provide a service to major clients including imaging firm Canon UK and its group company Oce.
eReco operates from a number of units on the Hobbs Barracks industrial estate in Newchapel and it was in one of these, which is believed to have been used for the recycling of toner cartridges, that the explosion occurred on October 3 (see letsrecycle.com story). Work has restarted at the nearby units unaffected by the blaze.
Jane Taylor, managing director of eReco, explained to letsrecycle.com today (October 10) that the company had an obligation to start work again and highlighted the importance of a disaster recovery plan. “We do have a business continuation plan. We always have had one and it is unfortunate that the other companies round here havent all had one. This is important, not just for our clients but also for the people who rely on us for their livelihoods.”
eReco employs about 19 people in Newchapel. Eight were injured in the incident last week with one remaining in hospital and Ms Taylor said that counselling services and care following the accident were being offered to all staff.
In a separate statement, eReco said today that it is still working “with the authorities, experts, insurers and their representatives at the moment. At this stage it is too early to say what happened, how it happened or why it happened.
“There has been too much speculation by people who dont know any factual detail but please be assured that as soon as we are able to provide more information about the cause of the incident, we will.
“We would like to extend our deep gratitude to the efficiency and professionalism of the emergency services and to those individuals who were outstanding in their assistance at the scene. Our thoughts are with those who have been injured and of course their families, friends and work colleagues. We wish them all a very speedy recovery.”
Ms Taylor explained that the company operates from a number of locations. “We have several separate sites on the Hobbs industrial estate and only one was affected by the toner fire. The site next door was inspected and can be used.”
The managing director could not comment on where toner cartridges would be recycled going forward the company holds a number of national agreements including a significant one with Canon.
Northern England
letsrecycle.com was advised last week by a spokesman for eReco that from a clients’ perspective there would be no change at all.
The spokesman also said that for about 18 months secondary overflows of material and bulk loads had been processed at a facility in northern England.
Ms Taylor noted today that agreements were being set in place for toner recycling and that the use of a facility in northern England could have been the case last week, but it was in fact processed material which was sent to northern England.
Exemptions
eReco operates under three exemptions, a T4, a T11 and a T16, registered with the Environment Agency.
A spokeswoman for the Agency explained: “The treatment, recovery or disposal of controlled waste needs to be authorised by either a permit from the Environmental Permitting Regulations or a waste exemption. Environmental Permits regulate the higher risk activities relating to waste recycling, storage and disposal, whereas the Waste Exemptions are for very specific, low risk waste handling operations.”
She added: “Ereco is also registered as a hazardous waste producer. This is because the T11 allows for certain Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to be treated, so that it can be reused and some of this waste is classed as hazardous waste as it has hazardous components.”
Environmental monitoring continued over the weekend around the industrial estate and in particular at the Eden Brook. The Agency said that officers had reoxygenated the river after oxygen levels in the water dropped and were no longer sufficient for fish and wildlife. Some dead fish have been seen upstream of Wiremill Lake and we are in contact with the local fishing and water skiing clubs.
Investigation
The Health and Safety Executive are investigating the incident now that Surrey Fire and Rescue have finished their work on site in the wake of the fire which followed the explosion on October 3.
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