Since achieving ISO14001 environmental certification we have been inspired to look for even more new ways to reduce our environmental impact.

A fantastic example of this is our landfill waste achievement down from 34 skips in 2002 to just 10 in 2006. In real terms that means of the 1852 tonnes of waste we produced last year, we recycled 94% (or 1737 tonnes!).

One of our aims for the future is to minimise landfill waste further still by finding new recycling markets, but for now we thought the environmentally minded among you might like to know . . .

WHERE OUR WASTE GOES . . .

Wood
Broken but repairable pallets are refurbished for reuse. Un-repairable pallets and other 'clean wood' is chipped and used for fuel, animal bedding and in the horticultural industry, and also made into chipboard and MDF.

Oil
Used oil is taken by a contractor to an Environment Agency registered unit where it is processed into an alternative fuel for industry e.g. power stations, foundries, cement works.

Blanket wash and plate processor waste
After the blanket wash has been collected it is sent to a treatment plant where the solvent is separated. The solvent (around 30%) is then used as fuel at cement kilns. The hazardous components in the remaining 70% are converted using a biological treatment into an inert sludge and non-hazardous liquid. The liquid is then further processed before being discharged to a waterworks and reused for industrial water. A similar process is applied to plate processor waste.

Waste electrical and electronic equipment
Computers, monitors, printers, cables and plugs, keyboards, heaters, fans and phones are collected by an expert contractor for processing. Redundant IT equipment if reusable is refurbished for reuse in the community. Equipment that cannot be reused is stripped back to its base components and each material type is recycled separately. Gold and other precious metals from circuit boards as well as copper, aluminium and steel from casings are reclaimed and reused, monitor glass is processed into aggregate for the construction industry and plastic casings/mouldings are granulated ready to be reused. Hazardous components such as batteries and leaded glass are sent to specialist sites for safe disposal.

Aluminium
Aluminium is light, durable and can be recycled over and over again without loss of quality. Used aluminium printing plates are removed by a specialist waste contractor and then melted down and reused in the manufacturing of various products e.g. engine blocks, car parts. Our drinks cans are bought by an aluminium recycling charity, Alupro (we donate the money to a local cancer hospice). The cans are cleaned, remelted and recycled into new drinks cans.

Tissue paper
We donate the protective tissue paper that our printing arrive in to a local removals business who use it to pack and wrap valuable and breakable items.

Stamps
Used stamps are donated to Guide Dogs for the Blind. The charity sells the stamps on, mainly to dealers and collectors abroad, to raise funds.

Aerosols and metals
Used aerosols are crushed to remove surplus liquid, the solvent residue is sent for further processing and flammable gases are used to fuel industrial incinerators. The steel cassings are taken to a metal recycling plant and remelted for reuse, as are other metals collected from our site.

Plastics
Plastic is taken to a processing unit where it is sorted, cleaned, chipped and melted down. Depending on the type of plastic, it will be formed into 'pellets' or woven into a fine candy floss like fibre, before being remanufactured into products such as drainage pipes, outdoor furniture, roadside kerbs, carpets and stuffing for quilts, soft toys and jackets.

CD’s and cases
CD’s and cases are taken to a recycling unit and separated before being granulated and washed in a caustic solution to remove aluminium foil and inks. The clean plastic is then sold to injection moulding for reuse.

Ink
Waste flammable inks are removed from our site and used as fuel in blast furnaces and industrial incinerators. Water based inks are treated and made ready for safe disposal to landfill as they cannot be reused or recycled.

Toner/ink cartridges
Used toner and ink cartridges are donated to ActionAid Recycling, who remanufacture the cartridges and sell them to raise funds for the charity.

Fluorescent tubes
A specialist contractor recovers the glass, metal and mercury from used fluorescent tubes for reprocessing and reuse. The glass is often used in the manufacture of loft insulation.Mobile phones Old mobile phones are donated to the National Blind Children’s Society who then sell them to a green phone recycling company to raise funds for the charity.

Paper and cardboard
Paper and cardboard are taken to a specialist recycling plant. The paper is soaked in water, agitated to release the wood fibres, metal and ink contaminants are also removed.
Sometimes the resulting pulp is bleached before finishing, chemicals are added, and it is pressed into sheets and dried, or mixed with virgin pulp (varying proportions, depending on the quality required). Cardboard is recycled using the same process, excluding bleaching.
Paper and cardboard cannot be recycled indefinitely as wood fibres get shorter with every pulping, however, paper fibres can be recycled between 4 to 6 times and cardboard 4 to 5 times.
Recycled paper fibres are not only used to make new paper but also other products from confetti to furniture. Recycled cardboard is primarily used to make boxes and packaging, but is also used for stationery, animal bedding and coffins.

If you have any questions about our environmental policies and procedures, please contact Sue Gray, Environmental Co-ordinator on 01233 623131 or email sue.gray@headley.co.uk