WASTE RECYCLING
THE past twenty years have been quite a whirlwind for the waste and recycling industry, with recessions, regulations, landfi ll tax hikes and technological innovations notable talking points.
But the last two decades have also seen the growth of baler specialist Riverside Waste Machinery.
The company – originally founded by Chris Oldfi eld in 1997 – is now run by his son Jonathan Oldfi eld. And the managing director has some upcoming plans equally as exciting as the team’s previous achievements.
“We’ve installed more than 2,000 balers throughout the UK,” Jonathan commented. “But we’re not going to stop there. We’ve worked with clients from Hastings through to the Outer Hebrides, and our forward order book is strong.
“Our balers have proven they’re built to last too, which means that whilst we sometimes replace clients’ machines with newer models that off er greater capacity, we’re usually able to refurbish and re-sell the older kit.”
Yet despite their growth, it’s fair to say the 20-year journey has not always been straightforward for the Riverside team.
“We’ve seen price-driven markets erode margins, we’ve struggled in the face of skills shortages, and we’ve watched, at times, as the recycling industry has battled to have its voice heard at Government level,” Jonathan refl ected.
“Sometimes this has meant turbulent times for organisations like ours. But we’ve concentrated on maintaining our accreditations, delivering services as well as machinery, and price matching baler consumables so clients know they don’t ever need to look elsewhere.
“Twenty years is certainly an achievement to be proud of, but now it’s a case of what’s next!”.
RWM Ambassadors call for resource effi ciency to play more central role in Industrial Strategy
THE RWM Ambassadors, who champion economic growth through environmentally sound and sustainable methods, have issued a formal response to the government’s 'Building Our Industrial Strategy' Green Paper, and called for an open dialogue to further develop the strategy.
The Ambassadors are a group of leading industry fi gures from across business, public sector, academia and community groups, chaired by Barry Dennis, former director general of the Environmental Services Association.
In an open letter to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) submitted during the consultation period for the Green Paper, the RWM ambassadors presented three recommendations to inform the future direction of the Industrial Strategy.
1. Resource effi ciency – vital to delivering greater economic value. While the Green Paper highlights labour productivity as key to future competitiveness, the RWM Ambassadors believe this must be complemented by resource productivity for all industries, across the 10-pillar strategy.
56 SHM June, 2017
2. Green procurement is a central pillar to clean growth, able to deliver both environmental and business advantages, and this concept should be developed much more strongly in the strategy.
3. Within a supportive policy environment, resource productivity in the UK will depend on new technologies and infrastructure capable of supporting more circular resource fl ows to and through businesses, and such a network needs a new approach to planning.
RWM Chairman Barry Dennis (right) said, “The diverse group of leading industry fi gures that make up the RWM Ambassadors welcomes the opportunity to input into the 'Building Our Industrial Strategy' Green Paper, and we recognise its' importance and links to other policy initiatives. In fact, we see this as the most important current policy initiative from UK government.
“The 10-pillar approach is sound, but we call on the government to position resource effi ciency as a key cross-pillar component. It must be recognised that the way we manage our valuable energy, water, materials and land resources is
Onwards and upwards for Riverside Waste Machinery
integral our productivity goals, and to driving our One Planet Living agenda.
"Resource productivity should be aff orded the same priority under this strategy as labour productivity – without it, clean growth is unlikely.”
The RWM Ambassadors’ open letter to BEIS is intended to start a dialogue with the Industrial Strategy team for future input. The open letter also invites the Minister and the Industrial Strategy team to attend RWM from 12 to 14 September at the NEC in Birmingham, where the Strategy will be a key topic with infl uencers and innovators from the energy, water, recycling, renewables and waste management sectors.
www.skiphiremagazine.co.uk
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