Potter Group backed by Resource Efficiency Yorkshire to support Selby Council surplus paper management
With the help of a £54,000 grant from Resource Efficiency Yorkshire (REY), The Potter Group has purchased a new state-of-the-art baler for its rail-connected Selby centre. The machine is being used to process sorted household paper and card from roadside collection into compact bales. They are then loaded into standard 40ft 26 tonne containers and onto freight trains for export.
The collection agent has round the clock, 24-hour access to the facility which ensures collections never need to be delayed through a lack of empty vehicles.
Nick Brightey, Selby general manager, explained: "The new baler has tripled our baling capacity, improved productivity - and by producing bigger bales increased the maximum capacity we can load into containers. It also means we can now take a variety of other surplus materials including plastic bottles and aluminium cans."
"Working under cover with clean, dry and easily handled materials ensures we can maintain the highest standards of housekeeping consistent with other Group operations. With our baling and rail facilities we can offer other companies and organisations an effective and productive processing and shipping service that helps the environment. Loading full containers directly onto freight trains is environmentally sound as it reduces the volume of road transport."
Mark Gregory, paper project manager at REY commented: "REY is supporting The Potter Group because it is committed to reducing its carbon footprint throughout the organisation and improving resource efficiencies. Their belief in rail freight is a fine example as a typical rail freight train is the equivalent of taking 50 HGVs off the road."
"The investment in a new baler is helping to reduce the tonnage of material taken to landfill and is equipping the company to offer a new service to businesses in Yorkshire and Humber. Their recycling initiative has the potential to improve the region's economic and environmental performance."
Resource Efficiency Yorkshire (REY) - case study
Resource Efficiency Yorkshire (REY)
