Mick George gains Cambridgeshire fire service work
Mick George Ltd has been awarded a contract for the waste collection and disposal for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
After an extensive tender process, local supplier Mick George Ltd secured the contract.
According to the company, one of the factors for this decision was their ability to provide a sustainable and fully auditable zero to landfill waste management solution from the outset.
The agreement will see Mick George Ltd service each of the 28 fire stations, including the Huntingdon-based headquarters, for the next three years.
Abigail Johnson, commercial manager at Mick George Ltd commented: “Much like ourselves, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has a duty to provide the community with a service to the highest of standards. We are immensely proud to be connected with yet another reputable local authority.
“It shows just how much our commercial waste service has developed in a short space of time, viewed upon as a dependable and quality service that those within our operating areas are keen to utilise. As with all of our services, we are continually looking to improve and add value.’’
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Helistrat becomes ‘Living Wage’ employer
Environmental consultancy and contract manager, Helistrat, has been accredited as a ‘Living Wage’ employer.
The ‘Living Wage’ is a voluntary scheme designed to ensure that work pays and allows people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families.
In contrast to the government’s minimum wage, which is based on median earnings, the Living Wage Foundation rate is calculated according to the cost of living.
The accreditation means that all of Helistrat’s employees will earn at least £8.25 per hour – more than the current minimum wage, which is set at £7.20 for those over 25 and just £6.70 for those aged between 21 and 24.
Helistrat’s chief executive Harvey Laud, said: “We firmly believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that all our employees have the opportunity to provide for themselves and enjoy a certain quality of life. We also realise that this quality of life directly impacts on the attitude of our team and the quality of their work.
“Becoming a Living Wage employer is not only the right thing to do morally it also makes sounds business sense.”
Living Wage Foundation director, Katherine Chapman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Helistrat to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer. The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Young chemists inspired by Energy from Waste
Colnbrook’s Lakeside EfW facility has partnered with the Royal Society of Chemistry to help local youngsters explore how chemistry is connected to the everyday process of generating electricity.
In a pilot event in August, the budding scientists discovered how ordinary garden grass clippings can quickly create biogas, and looked at how different types of plastics behaved when they were heated up. If they melted they could be reshaped – and recycled.
The after lunch activity saw magnetism brought to life with steel and aluminium drinks cans and iron filings. The day concluded with a tour around the Energy from Waste facility, which opened in 2010 and is owned by Grundon and Viridor.
Danny Coulston, director of operations for Lakeside Energy from Waste, said: “Being able to show the next generation of engineers the importance of managing resources sustainably is vitally important.
“Working in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry meant our young visitors could get hands on with simple experiments – and then see them in practice inside our facility.”
Jane Essex, of the Chiltern & Middlesex Branch of the Royal Society of Chemistry, added: “This was a pilot exercise and we hope to work with Lakeside to develop an ongoing programme to introduce people of all ages to what goes on at this fascinating site.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Carrickfergus Mayor welcomes HRC upgrade
A major investment is being undertaken at a Household Recycling Centre (HRC) in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, to upgrade facilities and offer an improved service.
The centre at Sullatober Lane, off Marshallstown, will receive new equipment, including a loader vehicle, and works will be completed to create a new layout for a more efficient service.
The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Audrey Wales, said: “Almost £270,000 is funding an upgrade of facilities at Sullatober HRC in Carrickfergus.
“The council was previously awarded almost £234,000 from the Rethink Waste capital fund. It has already been put to good use in purchasing the equipment and is now being supplemented with £35,000 from the council to facilitate the commissioning.”
The upgrade already includes the purchase a new 32-tonne Hook loader vehicle; two static compactors for residual waste; one static compactor for cardboard; one static compactor with pre crush facility for wood and 15 roll-on containers in various sizes.
Closure is required for about five weeks to allow the council’s contractor to demolish the existing security hut, construct a new concrete base for the compactors and install new electrics and drainage.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
CountyClean Group rebrands
Eastbourne-based liquid waste company CountyClean Group has unveiled a refreshed visual identity to support its plans for growth in London and the South East.
According to the company, the new brand identity reflects CountyClean Group’s core values and commitment to providing the best quality services.
The Group adopted a new strapline— ‘effective liquid waste management solutions’— whilst subtle changes have been made to the firm’s logo to reflect the new image.
Mike Walker, managing director, said: “Based on customer feedback and through our commitment to quality services, this summer we are also starting a new chapter with a large scale waste management facility in Surrey as well as significant investment in brand new road sweeper trucks.
“We believe that the rebrand and launch of the new website represents our ambitions and demonstrates how CountyClean Group has evolved into the most progressive liquid waste management solution provider for London and the South East of England.”
Commenting on the CountyClean Group rebrand, business development manager, Louis Dimmock, said: “We are eager to let people know what we stand for and we believe that our new tagline ‘effective liquid waste management solutions’ signifies our commitment of quality to our clients.”
The new look for CountyClean Group is now live in time for the opening of the company’s new waste treatment and management facility in Felbridge, Surrey.
Subscribe for free