Waste
the background boys
Can you recycle end-of-life vehicle parts? Are people interested in buying them?
Geraldine Faulkner visits a company in Wiltshire to find out.
J
onathan taylor is a self- that second-hand vehicle parts should not be a recycled alternator (approx cost £20 + Vat)
confessed former eco-idealist discounted out of hand. which, including fitting, can be installed for
who has successfully become part "We've managed to save cars for people £100.
of the mainstream environment that would otherwise have been a write-off," "once it affects your pocket, that is going
lobby. Interestingly, the two sectors he has says the environment manager. "let's say to change attitudes," says taylor. "however,
so far infiltrated have historically been an old couple has had a car for 12 years and it's a shame that it's the market that is bringing
hardcore sceptics about all things to do with someone drives into them. normally, the cost about the change rather than a moral attitude,
the environment; namely construction and of repairing such a vehicle would be as much but as long as it has the desired effect and
now waste management. after spending 12 as the car is worth, but by using recycled people are making a saving, you can't argue
years with a major multi-national construction motor parts, you can have it back on the road." with that."
company ("things were just starting to bubble taylor poses a rhetorical question. redmond says he has noticed a change in
away on recycling issues"), he's been working "What is it about the term 'second-hand' people's buying habits. Where once upon a
for Wiltshire-based Devizes reclamation as that puts people off? after all, someone will time, he would be buying mostly old Citroen
their environment manager for just over a year. quite happily buy a second-hand car, but not aXs and Vauxhall Corsas, he is now buying
the waste management company was consider that the tyres that come with it are in big cars like 2.3 litre 5-door automatic
started 36 years ago by nigel Grist when at also second-hand (or part-worn). yet when it people carriers.
the age of 17 he borrowed £100 to get the comes to replacing the tyres, many people will "People are keeping the little car instead,"
company off the ground. ("you could buy a turn their noses up at the thought of buying adds redmond.
house then with £600," says Grist). there are part-worn tyres." So which vehicle does taylor and
now seven companies within the group that he shrugs his shoulders before adding: "It's redmond drive?
boasts an annual turnover of between £10 a case of changing attitudes." Both say a Ford Focus. "the Ferrari is
million to 20 million pounds. and the factor that is playing a crucial role round the back," jokes redmond.
But one part of the Grist Group that in bringing people around to this school of as well as changing customers' attitudes,
demonstrates its 'greenness' is Devizes thought is the current financial crisis. taylor stresses the importance of ensuring the
reclamation. Selling recycled vehicle parts according to Steve redmond who company has its employees 100% behind
from the cars it dismantles, it works with the manages the spare parts counter, in the its ethos.
Wiltshire accident repair Centre and offers last month, garages which used to phone the Grist Group employs 121 people, of
clients the option of repairing vehicles with up wanting a quote on, say, a brand new which 30 members of staff are Polish.
recycled spare parts. alternator for which they would normally "along with nigel, who is a very 're-
according to taylor, the Grist Group is on charge a customer £200 (including the fitting), user' kind of person, the Polish think along
a mission to persuade the great British public are now phoning redmond up and asking for similar lines as they don't throw things away
40 SuStAinAble SolutionS April 2009
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