Graeme Coombs, a former chairman of the Independent Waste Paper Processors Association, told letsrecycle.com that in his own business, Charlton-based TGM Environmental, he had recognised the need to look beyond existing paper contracts.
” I do not believe we can only collect clean white office papers from London businesses. “
– Graeme Coombs, TGM Environmental
“We are fortunate in having our roots clearly in the newsprint sector,” he said. “We have worked very successfully for News International at Wapping and for the Daily Mail General Trust at Surrey Quays. The business has developed over the years and we are delighted to have recently renewed these contracts. But, we are aware of the need to develop expanded services for our smaller and medium-sized customers as well.”
TGM
The development of TGM comes after Mr Coombs left SITA UK last year, where he was heavily involved in the paper recycling division. He joined the business when it was known as Salter Paper, a long-established London paper recycling firm. Earlier this year Mr Coombs in partnership with Terry Mills, former owner of the A&J; Bull Group bought the Salter business outright – in April 1999 A&J; Bull had bought Mr Coomb's former businesses, waste paper merchant AW Lawson and fore-runners in shredding, Capital Security Shredding.
Mr Coombs said: “We were delighted to buy the business and I was able to merge this with Surrey Waste Recycling, a small business that I had acquired, where I learnt that businesses would increasingly be willing to pay a viable charge for having their waste paper and other recyclables collected.”
Now the aim is to develop beyond the newsprint contracts and this will include the launch of a security shredding operation, Thoroughshred in October this year.
Opportunity
This forward move, he said, mirrors the opportunity and challenges facing many recovered paper businesses. “I do not believe we can only collect clean white office papers from London businesses. Most companies want all waste paper collected and are keen to also have cans taken too.
“There is a growing awareness even in small and medium-sized businesses that they cannot go on just throwing their waste away without a second thought. So, I believe it is important to offer innovation in terms of equipment and so we provide source segregated facilities on site,” Mr Coombs explained.
Recovered paper merchants have traditionally kept well away from handling general waste but Mr Coombs noted that he considered dealing with waste, if it tied in with recycling services, could be an option.
He said: “At TGM if we are asked for waste services then we will provide this and subcontract it out, although our wide range of trucks has the capability to collect general waste as well as recyclables. We are also actively looking for a waste transfer station and this will see the development of a general waste side of our business which is close to Terry Mills' heart.”
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