Ensure your firm's not a waste of space

Waste costs money. and Scottish businesses generate nine million tones of rubbish every year - most of which goes to landfill sites.

With Scotland now running out of space to bury its rubbish - and serious consideration being given to burning more waste one Hamilton based SME is playing its part in reducing the amount of rubbish produced by business.

Environmental Waste Systems (EWS) helps its commercial customers reduce the amount of rubbish they send to landfill and increase their levels of recycling all of which produces significant savings for firms.

Founded in 2002 by James McNulty, EWS is on a fast growth curve as waste disposal legislation becomes tighter. The business has recorded year on year growth of 40 per cent, with this year's turnover coming in at just over £2 million. The company is in the process of doubling its staff numbers from eight to 16 as it expands its operations into England.

The reductions in waste are made by providing businesses with compacting machines which allow waste to be crushed on-site. this reduces the number of uplifts to empty the skips, significantly lowering transport costs as well as reducing CO2 emissions from vehicles.

By providing additional facilities for recycling, waste is also reduced lowering landfill tax charges and generating a rebate which EWS refunds to the client.

McNulty says "While the main motivation which many businesses is often reducing the costs associated with waste disposal, such as uplift fees and landfill fees, the environmental aspect is a major benefit which enhances a firm’s corporate and social responsibility.

“the environment is increasingly moving up the political agenda as the threat of climate change becomes ever more apparent.”

McNulty adds that SMEs need to take note of fast-changing legislation. “Stricter regulations on waste management are inevitable, so more smaller operations should really be looking at how they dispose of their rubbish.” He says.

“Many SMEs mistakenly believe complying with stricter rules on the environment will cost their business money but our service demonstrates that it cab actually save money.”

The 145 bedroom Glynhill Hotel in paisley is one business that has benefited from reducing its waste since enlisting EWS’s services.

McNulty says: “The main goal for the hotel was an environmental one, to reduce transport emissions and costs, which we have achieved. Before using our services, Glynhill has its waste skips uplifted six days a week, regardless of how full they were. With extra uplifts over the Christmas period that equated to 354 uplifts a year.

“With a portable compactor on site, that figure was reduced to just 29 uplifts a year – a difference of 325 trips and a corresponding reduction of CO2 emissions in transport saving more that £30,000 in transport costs and landfill tax since 2003.”

Campbell Henderson of Glynhill Hotel says: “ Our waste transport costs have dropped dramatically since bringing EWS on board so we have been delighted with the results.”

McNulty concludes: “If all business operated facilities like this, the reduction in waste could be vast across the country, as would be the amount of money saved.”

Scotsman Sep 07