The renewi reporter 15

Reporter The

WIN!

A FITBIT

BLAZE

… THE NEW NAME FOR YOUR MUNICIPAL DIVISION NEWSPAPER

WHAT’S INSIDE…

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BEN BAGS THE PRIZE The Renewi Reporter: new masthead revealed

THE POWER

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June 2018

PERFECT CIRCLE The team powering our Surrey launch

TO SAY NO

IT’S TIME TO EAT CLEVER A few tweaks to your shopping list could help us live more sustainably and make massive savings every week of the year.

That was the message from a dedicated team made up of council partners and Renewi colleagues who took the word on avoidable food waste to the streets.

Their determination led to some stunning statistics and the ongoing success of the awareness campaign will mean families being better off just by making a few changes to their meal habits.

But the message about food waste can’t end there – it’s something every one of us can take onboard and tell our friends to ensure our Waste No More philosophy is shared inside the business and beyond.

To see how we helped and discover our 15 simple steps to saving a fortune, turn to page 8

BE LIKE JOSH Find out how he’s making life safer on pages 6-7

ELECTRIC VAN FAN

The first lower-cost electric van will soon be up and running around our Wakefield contract.

A charging point was installed at Denby Dale Road in May ready for Renewi’s first electric van to roll on to the site, as The Renewi Reporter went to press.

The team there have been trying out a loan van identical to the one on order, which will be fully branded, and the results have been impressive.

Find out more about the trial and why cutting our carbon footprint is so important on page 3

02 ❙ June 2018

CHECK OUT YOUR CHAMPIONS! We’re always looking for stories about the people who make Renewi Municipal what it is, so our panel of Communications Champions are here to make it easier. Got a story about a hobby, fundraiser or best practice?

Contact your Communications Champion and we’ll do the rest.

ARGYLL & BUTE

BDR

Gail Orr, gail.orr@renewi.com

Abi Cox, abigail.cox@renewi.com

CANADA

CUMBRIA

Ann-marie Cooper, amcooper@orgaworld.ca

Joanne Crone, joanne.crone@renewi.com

DERBY

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

Emma Ray, emma.ray@renewi.com

Dave Cheetham, david.cheetham@ renewi.com

ELWA

ENGINEERING

Gemma Barton, gemma.barton@ renewi.com

Steve Bullock, steve.bullock@ renewi.com

FINANCE

HR

Rachel Lindley, rachel.lindley@ renewi.com

Claire Stackpoole, claire.stackpoole@ renewi.com

ICT

LEGAL

Simon Betts, simon.betts@renewi.com

Sandra Dunsterville, sandra.dunsterville@ renewi.com

PROCUREMENT

MATERIALS

Heidi Brown, heidi.brown@renewi.com

Nigel Currie, nigel.currie@renewi.com

SHEQ

WAKEFIELD

Alan Rhodes, alan.rhodes@renewi.com

Sally Hurn, sally.hurn@renewi.com

BEN’S BIN’S A WINNER Youngster’s art scoops top prize Our new The Renewi Reporter newspaper has been brought to life thanks to the imagination of one of its youngest readers.

When we asked you to create a logo for the newly named paper, Ben Stoddard wasted no time in putting pencil to paper to come up with the winning design.

RECYCLABLE Ben’s creation, which comprises some of the key elements of Renewi’s recycling and waste messages, will appear in the paper’s masthead from the next edition onwards.

He drew a washing machine dropped off at one of our Household

He’s always been into art and knows a great deal about what we do at Renewi

Waste Recycling Centres and a green wheelie bin used to collect domestic waste, but the 12-year-old Derby County season ticket holder, whose dad Wayne is maintenance manager at our Sinfin Lane, Derby, facility, was stuck for the head.

“He wanted something that’s recyclable but couldn’t think of anything, so I suggested a video cassette. He’s only 12, so he didn’t have a clue what one was,” Wayne joked.

“I told him they’re like Netflix and ‘on demand TV’ and people are throwing them out because they no longer have the machines to play them.”

INGENUITY Father-of-three Wayne, whose team of 14 help him ensure the smooth running of the new site’s machinery, was delighted by Ben’s ingenuity: “He’s always been into art and knows

Proud dad Wayne is delighted at Ben’s passion for recycling a great deal about what we do at Renewi, so it was good to see him sit still, especially as he’s usually rushing around playing football.”

Generous Ben has agreed to share his prize – a Samsung Galaxy tablet – with his little brother George.

NEW VALUES WILL CREATE STRONG BOND They will put greater emphasis on what we do and how we act to ensure a safe, strong, sustainable future for the Municipal division SAFETY Keeping each other safe every day is our number-one priority and I am pleased to say that our greater than three day accident rate reduced again last year and is the lowest since our records began in 2011. I would like to thank you all for your focus and attention in delivering this and continued efforts to keep improving everyone’s safety as we go forward. As part of this we have launched a new Permit to Work scheme designed to get you ‘Home Safe’ whatever your role. You can read more about that on pages 6 and 7.

VALUES After the formation of Renewi, we reflected with you to determine the core attributes of what it is that makes us at Renewi such a strong team. At our first birthday we launched our Renewi values of Safe,

Sustainable, Innovative, Accountable, Customerfocused and Together.

Many of you will recognise these in yourselves and your colleagues already – you’ll see the special stamps elsewhere in the paper – but we wanted to set them in stone so that we can all strive to live by them in every part of whatever job or activity outside work that we do. The reason for that is simple: because how we act is just as important as what we do.

THANK YOU I’d like to thank the hundreds of you who took the time to complete our employee engagement survey, Pulse. The results saw an improvement on the last survey and have provided us with some valuable feedback. We take all your comments seriously and they help us shape the business going forward.

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Editor: Jim Levack; Assistant Editor: James Ball; Sub Editor: Kate Feasey; Senior Art Editor: Natasha Lipinski Cox; Production Manager: Julia Fulford.

MADE BY SONDER LTD, VICTORIA COURT, 8 DORMER PLACE, LEAMINGTON SPA, WARWICKSHIRE CV32 5AE. MADEBYSONDER.COM

This newspaper is produced by

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June 2018 ❙ 03

WALKING FOR HEROES

CHRIS FEELS THE BYRNE

Lest we forget: one of the British War Grave cemeteries and the Menin Gate

Tough training to ensure no drama on the Western Front In the four years to 1918, hundreds of thousands of British servicemen marched through the Menin Gate on their way to the battlefields and almost certain tragedy.

The Ypres Memorial commemorating those who gave their lives but have no known grave is a reminder of the human sacrifice and futility of war.

So when our UK Plant and Vehicles Manager Chris Byrne arrives there after a gruelling 100km trek through the same battlefields where soldiers fell, it will be an emotional finale.

EMOTIONAL The former royal electrical mechanical engineer is one of 100 people joining The Frontline Walk, a poignant three-day yomp along a stretch of the Western Front, to support soldiers and veterans.

So far Chris has raised almost £2,500 for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the army’s national charity, which has helped thousands of exservicemen and women and their families since its launch in 1944.

The three-day October walk with hefty backpacks will see the fundraisers visit key memorials and cemeteries in France, including the Thiepval Memorial, Neuville-SaintVaast and Notre Dame de Lorette.

“People at the office in Milton Keynes probably don’t see me at 5.30am walking the dog around town, but I’ve definitely been putting the preparation in,” said Chris.

“As a former army man myself,

CHANGE A LIFE When he’s not yomping around Milton Keynes, Chris is surrounding himself with other people’s rubbish.

He’s spent months collecting unwanted clothes, DVDs and other unusual items to raise money for the cause and has forged links with a Birmingham charity that will turn the bric-a-brac into hard cash.

“I’ve been asking anyone who’ll listen to have a root through their cupboards and wardrobes to see if there’s anything they no longer need,” he said.

“It’s good to declutter and if that can be combined with raising cash to change people’s lives for the better, it’s a double win.”

The auction, or boot sale bounty, includes post-war Meccano and 55 copies of The Aeroplane Spotter from 1945. Chris said: “Our mission statement is Waste No More, so it’s important we live by that.”

I know how important it is that soldiers and their families are looked after when they’ve finished serving their country.”

He added: “I got a lot out of the army that’s helped me in my job at Renewi in terms of discipline and organisation, so it’s important to put something back. It’s also vital that we reflect the values of the business in what we do at work and outside.”

Chris could be one of the top three fundraisers who will have the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate to remember the fallen.

He said: “It will be an incredibly emotional experience when they play the Last Post. I’m so grateful to the people in Renewi who have supported me with pledges so far.”

GIVE CHRIS A LEG UP

DONATE

at fundraising.soldierscharity. org/Yomper_Chris or to the charity direct on 020 7811 3960

IT’S ELECTRIFYING! HWRC Supervisor Chris Bradley with the first Renewi electric van

Electricity generated by our Wakefield operation is running a new van that has taken to the streets around our Wakefield sites.

Four diesel vehicles that supervisors have used to cover the Recycling Centres around Wakefield have been made redundant by the new all-electric van.

The van, which is fully liveried with the new Renewi branding, will be used by supervisors to transport equipment and PPE to our Denby Dale Road, South Kirkby and Glasshoughton sites.

John Lawson, Wakefield’s Transport and Operations Manager, said: “The new

van means we can very much practice what we preach in terms of Waste No More and that’s got to be good.

“The new van has a range of 67 miles, which is perfect to get us where we need to go to. We’ll use it as a pool vehicle and it will be cheaper to run as well as significantly reducing carbon emissions.”

The Denby Dale Road charging point will be offset by electricity generated from the waste we treat and process at at our South Kirkby site, as we move to replace diesel with electric.

John said: “It will take a bit of getting used to, largely because it’s very quiet and

you have to be careful near pedestrians because they can’t hear it. We trialled it for a few weeks and everybody thought it was great and a perfect fit for a company like ours.”

The renewable energy revolution isn’t stopping there either. Plans are also in the pipeline to investigate installing some charging points at our Head Office in Milton Keynes.

We can very much practice what we preach in terms of Waste No More and that’s got to be good

04 ❙ June 2018

Jade, second from the right and below, with the Eduet women’s community

SUSTAINABILITY DOESN’T HAVE TO END AT HOME Jade’s mercy mission is ending pain and misery for Kenyan girls

Last Christmas, as most of us were tucking into our turkey dinners, Education Officer Jade Wilkes was halfway across the world on a sustainability mission.

Our Wakefield colleague was helping a group of women who rescue young girls from forced early marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), a serious problem among rural Masai people. It is not only painful but also poses a high risk of infection.

INSPIRING The Eduet women’s community are providing an immediate emergency

It makes perfect Senseo…

Next time you’re sipping an espresso or cappuccino, stop and ask yourself: has this coffee got the R Factor?

As Renewi touches more and more lives, it’s inevitable we’ll play a part in contributing to the things that are part of the daily routine.

VALUABLE Our subsidiary Coolrec business, part of our Monostreams division, is a specialist in recycling electrical and electronic products. We are taking old Philips vacuum cleaners and recycling them to provide the technology giant with plastics that are finding a new life as the base plates on Philips SENSEO ®

coffee machines that end up in kitchens.

Old appliances contain valuable materials and by using innovative techniques, we can recycle them so they can be used again in new products, reducing waste and achieving sustainability goals.

response for these young girls and can sometimes have dozens of girls living with them.

Jade said: “I met the women when I was on another volunteering project in Kenya in 2015.

They were so inspiring; I knew straightaway that I wanted to help them in a bigger way.

“They told me about how they had a huge water storage problem. Without clean water there

was only so much they could do for the girls.”

FANTASTIC With the help of the local Red Cross manager, Jade arranged to go back with her partner for three weeks to build two 10,000-litre water storage tanks with money they had raised by running charity events here at Renewi and at home.

“The Eduet women are fantastic role models who want to

bring about real change in their community, just as we do at Renewi.

“We were deeply involved with the community throughout the project.

The women who ran the work, and their families, friends and neighbours, all got stuck into the physical work involved in installing the tanks. Before we even arrived, the group had made the concrete base for one of the tanks.”

Jade now plans to raise a further £9,000 so she can go back and build a borehole. “I know this will be a challenge, but they’re so deserving of the hard work.”

GRIT IS GREAT Leaves, grit and dust from the road are brightening up our countryside… thanks to a pioneering Renewi trial.

Road sweepings that were once collected and bulked up with other waste destined for landfill sites have a new lease of life with the innovative scheme.

A three-way partnership between us, Agriorganics and Cumbria County Council launched last November has led to road debris being put to good use.

After collection by the local authority’s road sweepers, the sweepings are bulked up at the Distington Transfer Station and then delivered to Agriorganics.

There the material is screened to between 14 and 16mm and left to stabilise before being screened for a second time to 8mm. The material is then stored outside and left to further compost and stabilise.

An impressive 1,818 tonnes of road sweepings from roads in the Copeland and Allerdale Borough Council area have been sent to Cumbria-based Agriorganics to be treated in the last 12 months.

PERFECT FIT Joanne Crone, Community Education Liaison Officer at Hespin Wood, said: “The road sweepings used to be collected and mixed in with other waste and taken straight to landfill, but this has ended all that and it fits perfectly with our Waste No More approach.”

She added: “Once it’s been through the process, it is a PAS100-accredited compost-like product, which can be used as restoration material on former landfills and on other reclamation projects so the land can be restored by

planting grassland, trees and shrubs.”

Agriorganics is currently using the road sweepings’ end product at Knapton Quarry Landfill site in Yorkshire and at Manchester’s Trafford Park Landfill sites.

Joanne said: “It’s good to know when you look at the leaves and dust on the road that they will end up creating something new in the future thanks to us and our partners.”

Sweepings used to go to landfill but this has changed that… and fits our Waste No More approach

June 2018 ❙ 05

PULSE BITES

YOU SAID WHAT? Your at-a-glance guide to some of the Pulse headlines

Many thanks to the hundreds of you who completed our employee engagement survey, Pulse, which helps us celebrate what we do well and identifies what we need to focus on to make Municipal an even better place to work.

The survey results are localised and this will allow you to take ownership at a team level and take action on those things that are important to you and your team, or continue doing the great things that you do well.

Focusing on the Municipal division as a whole, we’ve generated valuable feedback that will help us focus on what we need to do in the months ahead to improve the working environment for all of our employees.

Mark Cowan, Municipal Head of HR, said: “There are plenty of positives from the survey, with many improved scores compared to those from 2016. There are also a couple of key themes that show we have some things to address and improve upon.”

CANADA

I work alongside a supportive and innovative team, always looking for better ways to do things. There are opportunities for growth and change and you are able to see the impact of your work.

SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY 8.2 current compared to 7.8 across Renewi I CAN RAISE CONCERNS 8.2 feel free and comfortable to discuss safety with colleagues and their manager (7.9 last time)

WORKING CONDITIONS

Only 6.5 feel they can share opinions and ideas openly without fear of consequences

MARK SAID “Innovation is one of the company values. Our people should be able to bring their ideas forward and be heard because no idea is a bad idea.”

My most positive days at work are covering other colleagues’ tasks where I feel that I can make a difference and see my efforts having a real positive effect.

LET’S TALK MARK SAID “Our results show that we have been communicating well with our teams and this is great news.

There has been a lot of work recently in improving our internal communications and it looks like this has paid off. The survey suggests you have a good working relationship with your boss, which scored 8.1, but that you’d like to see an improvement in their approach to giving you positive feedback and discussing your personal development with you, which score 7.0 and 6.2 respectively.”

SAFETY MARK SAID “When asked if safety was our number-one priority, you responded positively and we scored 8.2 out of 10. This is a good result but not as good as it needs to be. Our continuing focus is on making safety our top priority and to continually strive to ensure our people are safe above everything else. We are aiming to have a higher score next time.

We also have some work to do in terms of acting on suggestions to improve safety in the right way, which only scored 7.2.”

UK

FEEL-GOOD FACTOR MARK SAID “People want to continue working for Renewi, have a genuine satisfaction with Municipal and feel part of the company.”

7.4 know and understand objectives of Renewi (up from 7.0 last year) 7.4 feel part of Renewi (5.6 across Renewi)

WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BOSS 8.1 have a good one and their line manager tells them when they’re doing a good job

CONFIDENCE

Following the recent announcement around the challenges in the UK, the survey suggests our people are a little concerned about the future. Because of this, we have been taking extra steps to reiterate that the Municipal division is here to stay.

Mark Cowan

7.8 feel Renewi is a good organisation to work for

8.3

MY TEAM

enjoy working with colleagues (up from 8.0)

7.5

are committed to quality at work (7.0)

MARK SAID ”The results show you feel positive in your work and really enjoy working with your colleagues, which has improved from 8.0 to 8.3. You have highlighted though that collaboration between departments could be better, as this only scored 6.5.”

7.3

my team focuses on the right things (7.1)

Check the date of your local action planning session to make improvements

06 ❙ June 2018

PERMIT TO WORK MEANS

A LINE IN THE SAND New safety system is giving our teams the power to control high-risk work and say ‘no’ to unsafe conditions ‘A new way of dealing with potentially hazardous work will mean a major change in the way we do things but will bring rewards once the teething problems are ironed out.’

That’s the view of Adam King, our Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, who is streamlining our site processes with one simple goal in mind: to ensure every Renewi colleague gets home safe every day.

“The safety of our people has to be our number-one priority, so tied in with that is the need for us to ensure they are not doing work that they shouldn’t be doing,” he said.

FEEDBACK The new Permit to Work system means only a Single Point of Issue at every site, giving our teams tighter control when carrying out ‘lowfrequency but high-risk work’.

Every permit will only be issued by one person in charge of the process, who will be aware of all permits that are live and issued onsite.

Job sheets are displayed on a Permit Control board to ensure no crossover

They will be responsible for ensuring all the requirements of the permit are met. If they’re not, they won’t issue a permit and work stops.

The scheme and one-day training programme to support it was created for Renewi by Adam and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), who listened to feedback from more than 130 people in our Municipal teams before

Lee Knights says the new safety controls are winning hearts and minds designing the permit format.

“This is a line in the sand. It means that if something isn’t right, then we don’t go forward with the work because the safety of our people is paramount,” said Adam.

SAFE SOLUTION “We are empowering our teams to say no, so if people don’t have the right tools, documentation, supervision or adequate training, then the permit won’t be issued and we have to look at the job and come up with a safe working solution. Equally, the issue of a permit doesn’t by itself make a job safe.”

A Single Permit Office is now the sole point of issue at control rooms, or their equivalent at all our sites, with trained operatives issuing a ‘permit pack’ containing all the required information for every job.

The scheme ensures that: • the site is in full control of the process • our operatives are confident they are working under a safe system

CONTRACTOR ROB SHERIDAN “The location of the Permit Control Room is quite a way from where it should be, but I understand that is something that has been fed back and might change. It’s a good idea though because, ultimately, we all want to get back to see our families at the end of each day.” tailored to the specific risks • someone other than the direct line supervisor has checked the work and agreed it.

Adam said: “This is a new way of working. Understanding the process, why we issue permits and the responsibilities has been challenging for the site teams, but they have been fully supported by my team and the senior management team, who all completed the one-day course.”

The Permit to Work system will establish safe parameters

June 2018 ❙ 07

ANS GETTING HOME SAFE O: T T I M R E P DA E E N I

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Renewi’s core values of Safe, Sustainable, Innovative, Accountable, Customer-focused and Together

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JOSH PLUMB, MAINTENANCE ENGINEER, ELWA LEE KNIGHTS, REGIONAL SHEQ ADVISOR FOR ELWA “The engagement of the workforce has been fantastic and the working group’s feedback has helped give the management a view of how it’s working on the ground. Most importantly, they have listened to requests for changes wherever possible.

“There have been revisions to the original document, which have helped us overcome a few minor teething problems, but the vital thing is that everyone here understands the need to get home safe each day.

Josh (right) and Rob Sheridan talk through the safety checklist

and a framework to control activity where our teams are working on large machinery or in confined spaces.

“It is effectively an agreement between the person issuing the permit and the person doing the work that all boxes have been ticked,” Adam said. “If the permit isn’t issued, then we can ask the question, ‘what do you need to get the job done?’. This will lead on to doing focused work in other areas,

“No one is keen on change when they’ve been used to doing something a certain way, but the key point is that this system replaces multiple documents, streamlines the process and gives us more control when it comes to doing things safely.

“We are winning the hearts and minds of the people who work here.

In the month this has been running, we’ve seen an 80% increase in reported near misses because the mindset of everyone is now even more focused on doing jobs safely.” such as rescue plans or checking the suitability of risk assessment and method statements (RAMS).

“This may lead to enhanced support, individual training or supervision, which will mean we’re developing people within the business. Above all, safety is our top priority and getting our people ‘Home Safe’ each day is at the heart of our values.”

“I’m a Senior Authorised Person, which means I issue the permits and have control over isolation of electrical equipment. Permit to Work is a good idea and once everyone is used to it, it’s clear it is going

to make things safer and, potentially, save lives.

“It means that across the site there is much better communication between our people, contractors and the central point of contact, who has an overview of what is happening and where.

“The scheme has definitely made me think about safety a lot more because the responsibility sits with me for every piece of work that I’ve issued the permit for. It’s a big responsibility, but if there’s any doubts over safety, then we have to say no.”

It’s effectively an agreement… that all boxes have been ticked. If the permit isn’t issued, then we can ask the question, ‘what do you need to get the job done?’

Josh says the permit system has led to better communication

WANT TO THROW £15 A WEEK IN THE BIN?

08 ❙ June 2018

That’s what our Renewi team asked families to change habits A pilot project led by Renewi to encourage families to reduce their food waste has saved a staggering £300,000 in just a year.

Our team spoke to 2,277 people as part of an eight-week Love Food Hate Waste campaign at 22 events around Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham.

Connections made by the Renewi campaign led to 750,000 impressions across Facebook and Twitter and saw 610 people pledge to reduce their food waste.

The hard work has seen Renewi shortlisted for two national recycling awards, one for our partnership with the councils and community, and the other in the Campaign of the Year category for the Waste Less South Yorkshire campaign.

REDUCED Between 2016 and 2017, food waste in the residual waste bins across the three towns served by BDR reduced by around a quarter. Community Education Liaison Officer Abi Cox said: “Avoidable food waste – that’s food that had no reason for it to be wasted – was

cut by a third, which in turn reduced the tonnage that we dealt with, and reduced the cost of food waste disposal by the councils by nearly £300,000.

EXPERTS “The events were good fun and we had cookery experts giving away samples of food made from ingredients that are commonly wasted. We told people they could save by thinking twice about wasting food and it seems to have worked.”

The council-funded initiative, which included a representative from our partner councils, saw events in supermarket foyers, local markets and one-stop shops.

Abi said: “This year we’re taking a different approach and will try to spread awareness to food banks in the area by asking them to work with us on education events.

“Use of food banks has risen by 13%, but a few simple messages about awareness can make such a difference.”

Renewi is helping to spread the word on avoidable food waste

The Fab 15

£15 A WEEK WASTED WHEN WE THROW OUT EDIBLE FOOD

£300,000 SAVINGS MADE IN THE LAST YEAR

PAYBACK TIME Thanks to the hard work of almost 400 people, including 48 new permanent colleagues, our Derby site is celebrating after achieving Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) accreditation.

ROCs is a government-funded scheme that is designed to increase the amount of electricity supplied from renewable sources. For all the power we generate at Derby, we receive a government subsidy back in return.

SELF-SUFFICIENT Up to 98% of residual waste managed at Derby will be diverted from landfill, which generates enough green electricity to power 14,000 homes. As well as supplying power back to the national

grid, the electricity created powers the site itself, making it completely selfsufficient.

Derby is now in the final stages of commissioning and is expected to be at full service by mid 2018.

MILESTONE Will Spurr, Site Manager, said: “This is a great milestone for the project and one we are all very proud of.

“Every team at Derby has played their part in achieving ROCs and should be delighted with their efforts.”

He added: “This proves that the plant is recognised as being efficient in the way it handles the waste that comes to site and will also help to secure the financial future of the Derby project.”

£720

THE AMOUNT YOU COULD SAVE EACH YEAR BY CUTTING FOOD WASTE

2,332

FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS

1 Write a meal plan.

2 Check what you have in the fridge, freezer and cupboards, then write a shopping list.

3 Buy just what you need and stick to your list.

4 Best-before dates are a guide to when food is at its best.

5 Use-by dates are a clear rule.

6 Most foods can be frozen right up to their use-by date.

7 Keep dried goods airtight.

8 Freeze foods in handy portions.

9 Check the storage instructions on your food.

10 Measure portions carefully and just cook what you need.

11 Store leftovers in the portions you are likely to want them.

12 Freeze foods in the portions you are likely to want them.

13 Love your leftovers – they make another great, tasty meal in a flash and are fabulous for an easy tea.

14 Store them in the right portions for you and your family.

15 Leftovers can be easily used to make tasty new dishes – if you need inspiration visit lovefoodhatewaste. com for great recipe ideas.

DERBY ROCKS!

CHRIS COOK, PRE-TREATMENT SUPERVISOR

It’s great to know we are all working for a company that is trying to improve the environment we all live in

JAMES HOLLAND, E&M MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

We’re getting closer to the site being handed over to us and we’re all looking forward to the challenges that is going to bring

STEVE PARRY, SHIFT PLANT OPERATOR

This shows we’re efficient and helps secure the financial future of Derby and sets us up for a successful career operating the plant

June 2018 ❙ 09

BEHIND THE SCENES AT SURREY

IN THE LOOP

Meet some of the team: many hands make light work of Surrey opening

Food and green waste give fuel for thought in Canada Team members at the front line of one of the world’s most innovative waste management sites are unanimous: “We’re thrilled to be global ground-breakers.”

The crew at our pioneering Surrey site all played their part in getting the award-winning facility – the first closed-loop, fully integrated organics waste management system in North America – up and running.

Now every time they see a waste disposal truck in the west-coast city collecting grass cuttings and food scraps, they take pride in the fact it’s powered by renewable natural gas produced by their own biofuel facility.

THRILLED The people of Surrey – population 500,000-plus – are delighted with their new site, which handles the 65,000 tonnes of organics left at the kerb by families in one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.

“It’s a great success story and one the team here is justifiably thrilled to be a part of,” said Mike Leopold, General Manager Canada. “Everyone here is engaged because they see the benefits of it every day as they walk around the streets.”

The project has picked up a Sustainable Infrastructure award for its environmental, social and economic impact and can process up to 115,000 tonnes of organic waste every year, converting it to renewable biomethane gas, and 45,000 tonnes of compost for landscaping.

It’s estimated the site will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49,000 tonnes a year… that’s the equivalent of taking more than 10,000 cars off the road every 365 days.

To cap it all, Mayor of Surrey Linda Hepner, donned a Renewi hat on the opening day

DARRYL WEBER, MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN Fixes and repairs equipment and machinery at the facility.

What’s the most impressive piece of technology at the site?

The odour abatement and ventilation system made up of many large industrial fans, sophisticated aluminium ductwork feeding into an ammonia scrubber, two humidifiers, four biofilters and a 70-metre stack, with an advanced odour monitoring and weather station to ensure we don’t smell. We must monitor carefully to make sure it is always working. We have a weekly, biweekly and monthly preventative maintenance programme including visual checks, greasing, and temperature and vibration analysis, just for the fans alone.

Do you operate a Permit to Work safety scheme?

Yes, we have had a Permit to Work safety system since we started at the beginning of 2018. We only use it for work performed by thirdparty contractors and when we do more controlled work, such as confined space entries, hot work and working at heights.

By only using the Permit to Work system when required, it is treated more seriously. Those involved review the hazards, controls and contingency plans carefully before getting started, keeping everyone safe and prepared.

SCOTT BRUNDETT, PROCESS LEADER

KIM JONES, PROJECT MANAGER

RYAN SISSON, LOADER OPERATOR

Oversees the composting process.

Looks after coordination and completion of construction and certification.

Responsible for correct handling of incoming waste.

Tell us about your job.

I oversee the composting process by monitoring and adjusting our SCADA control systems, ensuring our material maintains an aerobic state throughout the compost process to reduce odour and increase the composting yield. I also oversee the anaerobic digestion processes.

How long does the process take?

Green waste is shredded and loaded in the anaerobic digestion tunnels where it stays in an environment without oxygen for nearly four weeks until all the valuable gas is produced. The solid digestate material left in the tunnel is moved to compost tunnels where it must stay for at least two weeks at a minimum temperature of 40˚C and an average of at least 45˚C for vector attraction reduction.

What equipment/technology does Surrey have that makes the process more efficient?

Fans force air through holes in the bottom of the tunnel and through the compost, making the process more efficient. They make sure microorganisms have a lot of oxygen so that they can break down the waste quickly. To make the process even more efficient, the exhaust air from the tunnel can be recirculated back into the tunnel to heat it up faster.

Explain your role.

I look after the coordination and completion of construction and certification at the Surrey biofuel facility. I managed the design and construction of the facility, including coordinating various engineers and contractors here and in the Netherlands. I’m also the main point of contact with the City of Surrey and my role involves managing all of the contract requirements to gain Service Commencement and start our 25-year service contract with the City.

How does it feel to have got it over the line?

It feels great to hear all of the positive press the facility has generated. We’ve had many requests for tours, so it’s definitely generated a lot of interest and has got people thinking about what is possible in organic waste management.

What are the next priorities for you?

To ensure we get our Certificate of Service Commencement, which is the contractual start of our contract with the City.

How does the system differ from other sites?

In this industry, this system is like no other. The fact everything is done indoors and that odour abatement is taken so seriously shows the community that it is what matters the most.

How does it feel working at a brand-new site making such a difference in the community?

In a word, proud. This facility is a huge step in the right direction to keeping this province, my home, as beautiful as it has been my entire life.

What does correct handling of oncoming waste look like?

Being organised and prepared.

Organised so that my team and I keep ourselves informed about what needs to be prioritised, based on us being prepared for our daily incoming volume.

10 ❙ June 2018

EMPLOYEE OF THE

QUARTER COURT CALM IN A CRISIS

Brendan Court is Employee of the Quarter after working around the clock to keep one of our facilities running.

The process engineer, who develops our systems and carried out data analytics on the plant to ensure it’s working to agreed standards, picked up the award for his work in Wakefield.

The site’s Residual Waste Treatment Facility was the subject of rigorous performance testing late last year, meaning Brendan was at the sharp end of weeks and weeks of analysis.

PAUL TAKES PLASTIC PERIL IN HIS STRIDE

Customer’s freak injury no bother for trained first aider

A freak accident that left one of our customers in agony ended with a ‘thank you’ letter to our quick-thinking team.

When a pensioner arrived at one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) with a few plastic bags full of rubbish, he thought it was a routine visit.

But after emptying the waste he dropped one of the bags and slipped on it as he got back in his car, snapping the tendon above his right knee and leaving him shouting for help.

RIGHT FIRST TIME Ray Nattrass, Head of Process Engineering and Design, said: “He went above and beyond. If the machinery had failed, the testing would have gone back to the start, which would have had serious consequences for the business. It was vital we got it right first time.”

Brendan, whose weeks of results were signed off by an independent certifier, said: “I’m thrilled to have my work appreciated but have to thank the amazing South Kirkby team whose support, engagement and dedication made passing these tests possible.”

Going Dutch for the future Thousands of families are powering their homes with fuel created at one of our facilities, just years after it was hit by disaster.

Three years after one of the processing lines at Frog Island reopened, our ELWA team have earned a long-term contract with a leading continental waste incineration plant.

The 10-year partnership will see us supply high-quality Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to AEB’s facility in Amsterdam, where it’s burned to create energy for the Dutch city. “We’ll supply 65,000 tonnes a year to start with, going up to 100,000 in January. It’s a landmark for us because, previously, we have only had relatively short-term contracts,” said former Commercial Director Richard Tarrant.

OPTION ELWA produces around 230,000 tonnes of RDF every year – around 200,000 tonnes of it then goes to companies in Europe – so the new deal is good news for all parties.

Richard said: “We had a landfill diversion rate of 67% but in the year to March rising to 92%. AEB makes savings and we do the same as we don’t have to pay Landfill Tax, so although we have to ship it abroad, it’s still cost-effective.

“The agreement runs until 2027, with an option to extend, and adds to the 1.5m tonnes of waste burned at the plant just north of the Dutch capital.”

REFRESHER Fortunately, that came within seconds from Lincluden HWRC Operative Paul Kirkpatrick (pictured), who told the stricken customer to stay still while colleagues called an ambulance.

Paul, who had been on a day-long first aid course organised by Dumfries and Galloway HWRC Manager Kirk Telfer, knew what to do and kept

ice-cool in a crisis as he helped the man’s wife move his car.

It was only later that he realised his training had lapsed and he was signed on to a refresher course with some of his colleagues.

ASSURED Kirk said: “Paul’s calm approach helped save the day and the fact that he knew what he was doing was great. He was very assured and along with an off-duty policeman who was there at the time, turned a crisis into something far less daunting for the man and his wife.

“It’s always nice to get good feedback for our customer service. Paul managed to move the man out of the hut while they waited for the ambulance, which probably helped him feel less stressed.”

COULD YOU HELP…

IN A CRISIS?

Is your team first aid trained and are you up to date with yours?

Check with your line manager

FROM A MORRIS MINOR TO A BENTLEY

TO THIS

High fives all round as new kit rolls into town to boost morale Records are being broken every week at one of our transfer stations after a new piece of kit was unveiled.

The eight-strong team at our Ilford site in East London are ‘on cloud nine’ thanks to a new trommel – a cylindrical machine that sifts rubbish – that’s saving them time and improving product quality.

FROM THIS

BREAKDOWNS “Morale is up and where we were producing around 24 plastic bales a day, now we’re averaging 28. Last week we produced 33; the highest in the eight years I’ve been here,” said Site Supervisor Steve Roberts.

Key to the transformation is fewer breakdowns and less time spent moving the trommel to clean underneath – down from five times a week to just once.

Spurs fan Steve said the team were high fiving each other as the old trommel was taken away: “We’ve gone

from a Morris Minor to a Bentley. It’s like coming into work the day after we’ve beaten Arsenal.

“Vehicles tipping waste no longer tip their co-mingled stream on to our processed pile and that has meant no cross-contamination of the two streams.”

WEAR AND TEAR The new trommel runs towards the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), with the co-mingled stream going in one direction, so there’s now no need to pick up dropped rubbish, meaning less wear and tear and savings on JCB diesel.

Steve added: “Less glass goes into the MRF, which means we’re prolonging the life span of the infeed belt and producing more.

“It used to take me and the mobile

plant operators 45 minutes to move the trommel and clean underneath at least three times a week. Now there is less downtime as we only have to move it once a week and morale is booming.”

June 2018 ❙ 11

CHANGING LIVES ONE STEP AT A TIME

IT ALL ADDS UP

Medallion man: Roger Hobbs is a marathon veteran on a mission

Getting ahead of the game

Bake-off and blisters boost charity running total

Marathon man Roger Hobbs and his daughter are clocking up the miles and cupcakes to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.

The superfit dad, overheads accountant at Head Office, is joining Renewi colleagues and his 22-yearold daughter Constance in a mission to raise money for Parkinson’s UK. Constance lent her baking skills to push the funds raised from a cake sale, organised by head office-based Credit Controller Virginia Wyllie, past the £200 mark, but the Hobbs family aren’t stopping there.

To raise further funds, which will help with vital research, Constance

The effect Parkinson’s has had on her … has been huge

ran the Milton Keynes Marathon in May, they’ll both run a 35-mile Ultra Marathon in June around Dartmoor in Devon and in August, the couple will be part of a team walking 50km over the Seven Sisters and across the South Downs in Sussex.

HEARTENING Roger, just back from completing the Boston Marathon in the States, said: “We’ll join my brother on the South Coast Challenge walk. His wife has been suffering from this life-changing condition for eight years and the effect it’s had on her and the family has been huge.

“It’s been so heartening to see people within Renewi raising money for the same cause and, as a

Every time we set foot in a supermarket we influence the fate of the world our families live in, now and long into the future.

That was just one talking point when Renewi spearheaded a training session to raise awareness of the importance of recycling, as representatives from our local authority partners joined a workshop delivered by Recycle Now at our BDR Visitor Centre in early June.

They gained an exclusive insight into encouraging recycling and cutting waste to prevent global disasters, such as the ocean of plastic destroying marine life.

Sweet success: Virginia’s cake sale raised a mouth-watering £200 result, I’ve learned that some of my colleagues have also experienced the impact of this disease.”

Roger added: “I’ve run four London Marathons, raising £3,400 for Parkinson’s UK, but Boston was like nothing else. There were freezing temperatures, 25mph winds and torrential rain, so anything now, dare I say it, should be a breeze.”

HELP FUND RESEARCH

DONATE

to Roger’s JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/ lindasallstars

KEEP ON RUNNING No one gets left behind – that’s the motto of a new Renewi running group that is tearing up the streets.

What began as a small colleague group sharing a quick jog around Head Office after work is growing fast, just six months after launch.

Run for your health: (left to right) Angela Banks, Kerry Guthrie, Gary Foote, Heidi Brown, Chris Byrne and Simon Betts

FAT AND LAZY Simon Betts, ICT Project Manager, said: “At first we had various ability levels from many departments, with mine being the worst… fat and lazy.

“We started running around our local lake, which is a 5km lap, on Mondays after work and we carried on with it every Monday, whatever the weather, temperature or light.”

As interest grew, the team contacted Jenna Göbel and Gilbert de Raad in our Eindhoven office to source some branded T-shirts and before long the team were spreading the Renewi word around

Milton Keynes.

“We work as a team and leave no one behind and that would be the case for any new runners joining us,” said Simon.

BRILLIANT The group completed the MK Festival of Running 10km in March and wants new members to join the fitness revolution. Simon added: “We’re entering more organised runs and if we could have running clubs at Renewi sites around the country, that would be brilliant. The more the merrier.”

FIND OUT MORE

GET FIT

To join or for advice on starting a club at your site email simon.betts@renewi.com

PACKAGING The workshop was supported by Abi Cox, Community Education Liaison Officer at BDR, who said: “No one who watched Blue Planet II on television could fail to have been moved by the crisis that’s about to engulf our world.

“But closer to home it’s us, the consumers, who drive this need for excessive plastic and packaging. How we view what we buy and how it’s packaged will undergo a big shift in the year ahead and this training will help us get ahead of the game.”

Representatives from councils in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Cumbria, Derby and Sheffield were at the events on 6 and 7 June, along with some of their other waste contractors.

Hosting people who communicate important messages will make Renewi a driving force in changing people’s behaviour Abi said: “We also had people from within the business and visitors from St Nicks Centre for Nature and Green Living in York. Hosting these people who can communicate important messages will make Renewi a driving force in changing people’s behaviour.”

FROWNED UPON Campaign advisors from Recycle Now, part of WRAP, advised on the campaigns and themed activities due to be rolled out around the UK later this year.

“We also looked at the psychology behind what makes people want to recycle so we can move towards a scenario where not doing so is almost frowned upon,” said Abi. “People want to brag about their green credentials, so after the workshop we’ll look at the power of social media to change things for the best.”

To find out more about how Renewi can help in your community, email Abi at abigail.cox@renewi.com

WIN! A FITBIT

12 ❙ June 2018

Y FANTAS LL FOOTBA Military attention to detail and a disciplined defence have earned Renewi’s former army man Chris Byrne (see page 3) the title of Shanks Shooters champion for season 2017/18.

The Head Office-based UK plant and vehicles manager’s Pheonix VI team pipped second-placed Andy Hart to the crown with a late surge in the final fortnight of the campaign.

The Liverpool fan scored a whopping 73 points on the final day to notch 2,199 points and beat Andy’s Staythorpe Judas side by just 10 points.

The main challenger for a top-three spot was Paul Fleming before a 68-point gap, with the league’s Stoke-supporting organiser Alistair Brookes having some consolation for his side’s Premier League relegation with a 10th place finish.

BLAZE

Focus on your fitness and monitor your movements with this prize The Renewi Reporter is giving away this super-slick Fitbit Blaze, which will help you to get fit in style.

The device measures steps taken, calories burned and sleeping patterns, and its high-res colour touchscreen can help you maximise every workout by tracking your activity level, monitoring your performance statistics and gauging your progress every day.

To enter the random prize draw, correctly answer the question below – it can be found in this edition – and send in your answer.

Q

What is the name of the new safety scheme that Adam King, Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, and RoSPA have created?

MANAGER’S NAME

PTS

1 Chris Byrne

2199

2 Andy Hart

2189

3 Paul Fleming

2184

4 Craig Owen

2116

5 Toby Woolrych

2105

6 Duncan Morris

2092

7 Barry Maughan

2091

8 Mike Byrne

2089

9 Tony Slade

2054

10 Alistair Brookes

1997

EMAIL YOUR ANSWER TO renewi@madebysonder.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS The winning entry will be chosen at random. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Renewi Reporter reserves the right to change the prize without prior notice. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash. The closing date is 26 July 2018.

SEND US YOUR STORIES…

Do you have a colleague with a hidden talent? Is there a superstar in your midst? Let us know at renewi@madebysonder.com

CARTOON LOGO WINNER

Congratulations to Ben, son of Maintenance Manager Wayne Stoddard, whose cartoon creation was chosen for The Renewi Reporter’s masthead.

JUST FOR FUN SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Take a look at these two pictures from the Permit to Work feature on pages 6-7. Is everything as it seems? No, it isn’t. We’ve tinkered with one of the images to make five differences between the two – look closely and see if you can spot them.

There’s no prize, just the satisfaction of finding them and it will, hopefully, entertain you for a while!

PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2

Answers: pale grey section missing (by the hand); colour of pin; missing yellow arrow; missing white line on road marking; word changed on give way sign

HAVE YOUR SAY

SEE P2 FOR YOUR

Communications Champion

This newspaper is printed on improved newsprint, which comes from sustainable forest growth. When you have finished with your copy, please pass it on to a colleague or recycle it. It is also available in the Municipal Communications Community on ConnectUs.