SUSTAINABILITY
ON A MISSION TO IMPROVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Mission is supporting metal component manufacturer Drurys Engineering in improving its waste management strategy, in order to achieve ISO 14001 Certification
production growth, but the team recognised that their waste management system would not keep pace. The waste streams being generated by engineering processes, especially scrap metal, were complex and challenging to segregate. So, the Drurys team sat down with their
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longstanding partner, sustainable waste management experts Waste Mission, to devise a total waste management strategy that would help them revolutionise their waste streams, increase recycling rates, cut costs and prepare for growth. Drurys manufacture components for the aerospace, defence, and other industrial sectors, and has partnered with Waste Mission for its scrap metal recycling since 2014. One of Drurys’ main concerns was that its
previous system required a large security skip for aluminium swarf and smaller containers for non-ferrous swarf, all of which took up valuable space on site. Scaling up production would require more waste-storage capacity, and its recycling systems did not allow for contaminants such as coolant to be filtered out, meaning that any metal it could recycle was of poor quality. The company were also facing a question
of how to dispose of various waste that had been stored on site, including WEEE waste, which was taking up valuable space. Solving the challenge of how to recycle metal scraps such as aluminium swarf (chips or filings) is central to the sustainability of metal sourcing and the manufacturing economy. Finding ways to recycle more metal and
reduce contamination could save significant costs in producing raw material and energy, cutting emissions and boosting profitability. The need to recycle more metals is growing ever more pressing, driven by factors such as price volatility and supply chain disruptions. After dealing with their scrap metal
1 SEPTEMBER 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL 6
ertfordshire-based Drurys Engineering was preparing for ISO 14001 accreditation and significant
Above: Aluminium swarf is compacted into ‘pucks’
efficiently for years, Drurys asked the Waste Mission team if they could support them with other waste streams, helping the company to work towards their ISO 14001 status. Through a thorough waste review process
on site, it was revealed that waste management would be enhanced through further segregation on site. Waste Mission provided additional containers to facilitate this. The efficiency of space use on site was also identified as an area for improvement. After a backlog of aluminium swarf and oil containers was recycled, extra containers were introduced for an ongoing and efficient waste segregation and collection schedule. Mike Danson, Operations Manager of Drurys
said: “Over the past year, Waste Mission has played a critical and integral role in our ISO 14001 implementation journey. Their expertise and support ensured our waste streams are not only managed efficiently and in line with legislative requirements but also optimised through the implementation of new waste management technology on-site. This collaboration has even allowed us to increase the value of some of our recyclable waste streams. “The integrated team support from Waste
Mission has been indispensable. Their service has made our waste management significantly more efficient and effective, directly contributing to Drurys' ongoing business growth and development.” The solution included: 1 - Processing swarf: Acting on Waste Mission’s advice, Drurys
installed a pucking machine which not only compacts aluminium swarf into ‘pucks’ (briquettes) but also separates fluids and oils associated with the cutting process, such as coolants. The new machine has helped improve
efficiency and safety. The machine compacts scrap metal directly into briquettes, reducing
the volume and eliminating the need for a large skip in favour of smaller, more manageable stillages. This process not only increases the scrap's value but also allows for the recovery and reuse of extracted coolant, creating a new revenue stream. Additionally, its integrated wheelie-bin tipper minimises manual handling, removing the need to tip swarf from height and greatly enhancing health and safety on site. 2 - Waste segregation: Another key step forward was segregating
different types of waste to make them easier to dispose of and recycle. A new internal bin system now segregates aerosols, coolant spill kits, oily rags, electrical and electronic waste, plastic swarf and hazardous waste. 3 - Streamlining collections: In keeping with its strong focus on
sustainability, Waste Mission now collects some of Drurys’ other waste streams alongside its scrap metal to reduce vehicle movements and collections’ carbon footprint. For example, oily rags and waste coolant are also collected on Waste Mission vehicles that gather scrap metal. 4 - Increasing transparency and visibility: Drurys is now utilising the Waste Mission
customer portal, which provides the team with full visibility across all their recycling metrics, helping them pass waste management audits and demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations. Danson said: “Drurys Engineering Ltd is
delighted to announce its successful implementation of ISO 14001 certification, achieved on the first attempt with no non- conformances. This significant accomplishment was made possible through our longstanding and exceptional partnership with Waste Mission.”
Waste Mission
www.wastemission.com
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