ReNews Issue 02

ReNEWS

®

®

FOR ALL YOUR SHANKS UK NEWS AND VIEWS

STEVE’S IDEA SAVES THE COUNTRYSIDE

Airfield tie-up keeps recycling alive: P6

MAGIC OF THE MILONGA

WIN!

A BOSE SOUNDLINK MINI WIRELESS MOBILE SPEAKER

September 2014

MEET OUR TEAM OF WAKEFIELD WONDERS

Project stars shine: P10

SAFETY MATTERS Supervisor’s plea after bid to save time backfires painfully A supervisor who broke his foot while climbing over a security fence in a moment of madness has urged Shanks colleagues: ‘Don’t put yourself in danger’.

Steven Young, an Operational Supervisor at our Westcott AD facility, has bravely come forward to warn colleagues about the dangers of cutting corners.

His ordeal began when he arrived at work early on a Sunday, only to realise he had picked up the wrong keys from the office the previous night.

GLYN’S HOT SECRET…

How a love of Latin music sparked an amazing double life – see page 3

CONSEQUENCES “Not having any tools to force the lock, I thought I could jump the fence, get the keys and let everyone on to site,” he said.

“I climbed the fence and as I jumped into the site I fell backwards. When I got up, I couldn’t put any weight on my left

foot. I collected the keys and opened the site and asked one of the staff to take me to A&E.” It was only when doctors told him he had broken his heel bone that the full consequences of his decision to save a few minutes began to hit home.

RED-FACED He said: “On the way back from the hospital, I ran lots of different scenarios through my head. If I’d broken the lock, the site would not have been secure overnight and doing that could have damaged the fence as well causing an expensive repair.

“I foolishly thought that jumping the fence would be the quickest and easiest option. How wrong I was.”

Continued on page 5

NEW FACILITY SET TO BRING GREEN BOOST An exciting partnership will take Shanks into new territory, after a long-running planning saga finally came to an end.

By reaching financial close on a Mechanical Bio­ l ogical Treatment (MBT) and gasific­ation facility in Derby, delayed since 2009, we will be up and running in early 2017. It will allow us to treat 190,000 tonnes of waste a year and

divert 96.5% of it from landfill.

Bid Director Kieron Parker said: “It’s been a lengthy process, but we’re confident the legal and planning hurdles have been jumped. We’re optimistic we can move forward with a scheme that represents a new direction for Shanks and one that will place us at the forefront of green energy creation.”

Full story: page 2

2 ❙ September 2014 An artist’s impression of the new 190,000 tonnes a year MBT and gasification facility

PETER’S BLOG A BIG THANK YOU

If you managed to take a summer break, I hope you enjoyed being with friends or family either for a rest or a slightly more active holiday.

I would like to thank you all for your hard work this year. We have achieved a lot and I am pleased to let you know we are performing well and are currently slightly ahead of our targets.

Our diversion levels from landfill are also very high, which is great for our customers, our business and the environment.

FINGER ON THE PULSE

More than 90% of you completed our Pulse survey, which is great news because it ensures that the results we get back from the independent assessors will be representative of the majority of our teams.

Once we get the feedback, we will share it with you and give you the tools to create action plans to make Shanks a better place to work.

PROGRESS ON SITE Our two new sites currently under construction in Rotherham and Wakefield are coming on well, and we are now planning the commissioning of these sites.

We are also progressing well with the Derby contract, as you will see elsewhere on this page.

NEW SITE MEANS HISTORIC CHANGE Countdown is under way for new energy source The new £950 million contract with Derby and Derbyshire Councils will open up a new field of renewable energy creation for the business.

That’s the view of Bid Director Kieron Parker, who believes the landmark approval for the scheme will be seen as a historic event in years to come.

STRONGER TOGETHER

Just as we went to print we had a serious fire at our Frog Island facility in East London. I want to thank all those who have supported the business over the last few weeks, especially the team at Frog Island.

In business you are bound to have setbacks and we will show our strength in the way we respond.

PETER EGLINTON

GO-AHEAD Shanks, through our subsidiary Resources Recovery Solutions (RRS), got the go-ahead last month for the site in Derby’s Sinfin Lane, after a drawn-out planning process that has lasted more than five years.

It means we can, with construction partners Interserve, begin building the MBT and gasification facility that will serve families in both Derby City and Derbyshire County Council areas.

“It’s been a long road, but now we have reached financial close, we can begin building the facility,” said Kieron.

The contract will see investment in the facilities to extract recyclable materials from residual waste and produce solid

recovered fuel.

This can then be used by the gasification facility to generate enough electricity, via the National Grid, to power 14,000 homes, bringing in additional revenue for the councils.

SUSTAINABLE Kieron said: “The scheme is sustainable and cost-effective, will increase the region’s recycling and recovery rates, and generate a significant amount of energy.

“Equally importantly, it will be a very

powerful message to other councils around the country that when it comes to renewable green energy, we are the perfect partners.”

Shanks have begun preparatory work, ready for the facility’s opening in early 2017.

Kieron added: “It’s very exciting because gasification is a whole new territory for us.

“It will mean we can extend our green technology offering, while making more from waste.”

HAVE IT’S ALL IN THE NAME YOUR SAY When we asked you to come up with a name for your Shanks newspaper, you didn’t disappoint.

We were inundated with entries from around the business, with many of the suggestions giving the judging panel serious food for thought.

And it was Operations Manager Colin Walker who scooped the prize of an Apple TV box with his title, ReNEWS. Colin, who covers our Dumfries and Galloway, Carlisle and Barrow sites, said: “I wanted a name that summed up what Shanks is all about.

“It had to tell the story that we reduce, reuse and recycle – so we

Text or email your story to us on:

07860 021367

shanks@summersault.co.uk

This newspaper is produced by

renew – as well as being a name we all know across the business as being the Shanks newspaper.”

GOOD NEWS But Colin’s winning entry, which came at a good time for the father-of-two, has split the household, he revealed.

“The kids were delighted because of the prize, but my wife works in marketing, so we’ve had a bit of banter as I’ve shown how easy it is,” he said.

“The win came at a good time because I’d had a bump in the car, so I rang home with the good news, bad news routine. The children weren’t bothered by the bad news!”

Editor: Jim Levack, Sub Editor: Kate Feasey, Senior Art Editor: Emma Bramwell, Production Manager: Jo Malby.

23-25 WATERLOO PLACE, WARWICK STREET, LEAMINGTON SPA, WARWICKSHIRE CV32 5LA. WWW.SUMMERSAULT.CO.UK

September 2014 ❙ 3

SHARESAVE IS BACK… AND IT’S EVEN BETTER The annual Sharesave scheme, giving Shanks people the chance to save and invest launches this month, so don’t miss out.

Colleagues can save a fixed amount – between £5 to £500 a month over three years – directly from their salary, before

Safeguarding the future Michael Harvey juggled a day job, evening classes and a part-time lifesaving role to learn new skills.

The Technical Assistant in Argyll and Bute is part of a coastguard team on the west coast of Scotland near the Mull of Kintyre, but it didn’t stop him asking for extra training at his Performance Development Review.

having the option of buying Shanks Group plc shares at a discount to today’s price. This year the scheme is even better because the government has doubled the amount you can save, so look out for more details and a personalised invitation to your home address.

He spent six hours a week on the European Computer Driving Licence spreadsheet course, two in evening classes and the rest at home.

He said: “It was hard work but it’s a great to get new skills to be more efficient at work. I’m 53, so it proves you can teach an oldish dog new tricks, but I’ll probably still ask the girls in the office for help.”

Glyn will dance anywhere, including on site with Natalie Anderson, Office Manager for Kier

Glyn enjoys the social side of the Latin dance scene

IT TAKES TWO…

Tango takes Glyn and his wife to places all around the world

A chance encounter with a piece of music led Glyn to another world Tango titbits When Glyn Webster listened to a piece of Latin music more than a decade ago, he had no idea the experience would change his life.

The Project Engineering Manager at our South Kirkby site was swept away on a tidal wave of emotion by the rhythm of the South American tango.

The father-of-one was so captivated by how the music made him feel that he decided to investigate further.

Twelve years on and he and wife Susan have travelled the world to take part in dance festivals, with the highlight being a trip to the birthplace of the tango, Buenos Aires.

Now the 65-year-old manager, overseeing the South Kirkby installation phase of our private finance initiative with Wakefield council, admits he has as many friends in the Argentine capital as he does here.

“My job with Shanks is all about attention to detail during the installation of the equipment as part of the new South Kirkby project, so

of tango, a dance where single people visit crowded milongas, dance their cares away with strangers, often until dawn, then head straight to work.

Glyn said: “The dance floor is packed, which is why you are constantly improvising so that you avoid stepping on other people. That is the joy of tango, that no dance is ever the same.

“If you have seen Strictly Come Dancing and think that’s what tango is about, you couldn’t be more wrong.

You don’t compete. It’s all about expression and allowing the music to move you.”

The couple dance their cares away until dawn it’s very much governed by regulation and legislation. Tango allows me to express myself and lose myself. When I start to dance, I have no idea what I’m going to do,” he said.

The reason for that is in the history

POWERFUL The strong social side of the scene has changed Glyn’s life, but he warned: “If you don’t like the music, then my advice would be not to bother.

“The roots of the music are in poverty, loss and love. It is passionate and stirring and can be either slow or quick, but it is always very powerful.”

Glyn, whose maestro (tutor) is the world’s top teacher Andres Cejas, is planning a trip to a milonga in Sicily later this year, with visits to Greece and Turkey also in the pipeline.

The social side of it is brilliant. You’ll have a dance, have a chat, have a drink and forget everything.

“Tango has completely changed our lives,” Glyn said. “We went to Buenos Aires for a month and danced at lots of little clubs from 11pm to 5am. It is a way of life, but it’s difficult when you get home.

“The social side of it is brilliant.

You’ll have a dance, have a chat, have a drink and forget everything. It is the ultimate release and the perfect balance from my work with Shanks.”

● The tango started in the early 1900s and reached its peak during the 1920s to 1940s.

●D uring the times of the generals and the junta, it was declared illegal and went underground. ● T he ban led to people going to a milonga on their own, as they still do, but it is now a major tourist attraction. ● T here are three types of tango: the tango, a slow passionate music and dance; Vals, quick and based upon the Viennese waltz; and the milonga, a very fast, rhythmical dance. ● P eople usually go to a milonga around midnight, which is when it starts, and leave around 6am and go straight to work (Glyn insists age means he can’t do the last part).

4 ❙ September 2014

BY NUMBERS WE AVOIDED

1.26 MILLION TONNES

OF CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE LAST YEAR – THE EQUIVALENT OF 1.6 MILLION TRANSATLANTIC PASSENGER FLIGHTS

82%

OVERALL RECYCLING AND RECOVERY RATE

1 tonne

RECYCLING

OF PAPER SAVES CUTTING DOWN 17 TREES

A new baler has been installed at our Jenkins Lane facility

Baler booster An extra 30,000 tonnes of waste a year will be diverted from landfill and turned into fuel thanks to a new piece of equipment.

The upgrade at our Jenkins Lane facility means we can now create baled refuse derived fuel (RDF) there for the first time.

The new addition of a baler coincides with the integration of a waste shredding unit to refine the quality of RDF produced, as part of the East London Waste Authority (ELWA) contract.

ELWA manages more than 530,000 tonnes of waste per year from the London boroughs of Barking, Dagenham, Newham and Redbridge, with landfill diversion rates set to rise to 80% by the end of this year.

As a result, fuel placed to market is also projected to exceed 200,000 tonnes a year.

Recycled plastic pop bottles can be used to make a massive range of things, including fleece jumpers and jackets

25 =

1

It takes around 25 plastic pop bottles to make an adult-size fleece

WE HANDLED 1.23 MILLION TONNES OF WASTE, JUST 0.27 MILLION TONNES OF WHICH WENT TO LANDFILL

THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS ACROSS THE GROUP DROPPED

19% 9,500 mwh

Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to power a TV for

3hrs

ENERGY GENERATED

1.23m

0.27m

DAVID’S A DOUBLE MARATHON MAN

Quartet completes gruelling 100km Gurkha trek for Oxfam charity Shanks employee David Leatham got a taste of the Gurkha lifestyle when he and three friends raised a staggering £1,400 for Oxfam.

The quartet marched a gruelling 100km in a fantastic 28 hours and 12 minutes to complete the Trailtrekker challenge, originally devised as a military training exercise for Nepalese soldiers.

CHALLENGING The QHSE Adviser and his team were among 145 other groups to take part in the challenge, which began in Skipton and stretched around the Yorkshire Dales National Park, passing Malham and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, as well as other scenic villages.

David (far right) tackled the Trailtrekker challenge with his fellow walkers

The hikers got a chance to see some iconic landmarks too, including Devil’s Dyke and Chanctonbury Ring.

Oxfam has transformed the event into a major fundraiser, last year raising more than £1 million to help beat poverty around the globe.

David and his teammates finished the challenge – the equivalent of walking 2½ marathons back to back – in 17th place, proud to be one of the 35 teams that completed the entire 100km.

He said: “As a group, we usually do a long walk every year. Following last year’s Yorkshire Three Peaks, we wanted something a bit more challenging, and we wanted to be part of a big event to motivate us to train.”

Continued from page 1 When Steven (above) arrived red-faced back at the site, he had to break the news to his manager – and the full extent of his actions became apparent.

“Knowing he would have to investigate the incident, I started to realise that my actions had put extra workload on to my colleagues and also put my job, home life and everything else in jeopardy,” he said.

After an investigation, Steven was interviewed by HR over his actions and given a final written warning, which will stay on his personnel file.

COURAGE He said: “Due to family and friends giving me lifts to work, I didn’t have to take any time off and my current position allowed me to focus on completing the site’s operating procedures and paperwork while restricted to the office.”

Mike Turner, UK Operations Director, said: “I applaud Steven for having the courage to come forward and share his story. Hopefully, it will encourage colleagues to stop, take a step back and think where safety is concerned.

“Taking shortcuts is dangerous. I’d much rather our people took a little longer, did the job right and got home safely.”

Steven added: “While recuperating, I had time to reflect on my foolish behaviour and I hope everyone who reads this thinks about all the possible options and doesn’t put themselves or anyone else in any danger. A broken lock is better than a broken foot.”

PASSPORT TO SAFETY

September 2014 ❙ 5

Kez wants all colleagues to stop and think before taking action

New guides designed to make sure every one of us stays safe on site… all the time

Two new safety initiatives have been launched with a single, powerful aim in mind – to get you home safely at the end of the day.

Accident rates are down across the business, but one slip, trip or fall is one too many and could leave our people – that’s you – unable to work.

That’s why we’ve launched the pocket-size Key Safety Essentials and the Safety Passport initiative, so you can keep safety close to your heart… literally.

Kez Grimley, Head of Systems Compliance, said: “We want to change the old-fashioned approach to safety with something new and relevant to Shanks’ people.

“The cards are at-a-glance guides or reminders for all of us that sometimes the things we do, that make sense at the time, can be dangerous.”

EXPECT THE WORST Kez said many accidents she has dealt with have been caused by people thinking they were doing the right thing, but not stopping to think.

“It’s all too easy to do something with the best intentions without analysing the implications. It’s always best to expect the worst where health and safety is concerned,” she said.

“Our aim is to ensure we all get home to our families at the end of each day. It is about you and your colleagues, and it’s a collective thing.”

A day in the life of…

Abi Cox, Waste Education Officer, Derby/BDR Ask Abi Cox about her average day and she’ll struggle to give you a definitive answer.

But one thing she never finds hard to explain is why she loves her job of talking to the recyclers of tomorrow about why waste matters.

“I don’t have a typical day because my job is so varied, but the common theme is explaining to people how they can make a difference,” she said.

MYTHBUSTER “The more informed people are about waste and the processes behind it, the more they are able to sustainably manage that waste.”

In fact, Abi sees herself as something of a mythbuster, visiting schools and county shows throughout Derbyshire – she’s soon on the move to Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) – and helping young people to understand what it is that Shanks and its engineers do.

She said: “I try to inspire them by talking about what we do with the rubbish in their bin bags and explaining the technical

USING OUR INITIATIVE WITH ALL-NEW SAFETY GUIDES

processes. Sometimes, when I go back to schools, the children run up to me in the playground, so I must be doing something right.”

SURPRISED “I work with youngsters aged four and upwards, getting information out there.

You’d be surprised what they go home and tell their parents about recycling,” she said.

“People are often amazed at the lengths we go to at Shanks to make sure waste is used in a valuable way to create energy and other important by-products.”

Abi and colleague check out the new BDR facility

Three big classroom lessons So, from the classrooms and shows that Abi has visited, what are the three main misconceptions about what we do? l ‘All the recycled material ends up in landfill anyway.’

Shanks has an average diversion rate of 75% at many of its sites.

l ‘No one else really recycles.’

Actually, 90% of people are actively involved in recycling. l ‘It doesn’t matter whether you are separating plastic tops from milk cartons.’

To compact milk bottles with the tops on takes 30 pounds of pressure compared to 3 without.

The Safety Passport will be issued to every employee and includes the new Close Call form.

Close Calls are a rebrand of the near-miss system and encourage all of us to report hazards to prevent them from turning into an accident.

The Safety Passport also includes Stop and Think forms, which are like a mini risk assessment for those unusual safety situations we face within the working day.

The second safety initiative, Key Safety Essentials, reminds employees of the crucial list

of things to remember on site.

The list includes the potentially deadly dozen of: l Traffic safety l Machinery and plant l Falls and height l Impacts and strikes l Fires and emergencies l Slips and trips l Manual handling l Hazardous substances and hygiene l Confined spaces l Personal protection (PPE) l Warnings and rules l Communication and competence.

It’s important to share information about even the smallest thing because that small thing could have knock-on effects and cost someone very dearly. It’s vital that we make our sites safer – not just for ourselves, but for everyone.

6 ❙ September 2014

PIONEERING RECYCLING PARTNERSH

G N I L E E F FINES A former RAF aircraft hangar once used to house Spitfires is maintaining its recycling tradition thanks to Shanks A former RAF aircraft hangar, where pilots once prepared for combat during World War II, has been given a new lease of life.

The metre-thick bombproof walls of the airfield building no longer echo to the thrum of the engines of the Hudson bombers that kept the north-west coast of England safe.

American and Canadian pilots used the RAF Silloth Airfield to hone their mastery of the

Then and now: The hangar in its heyday and the sad aftermath of those who lost their lives in the conflict

reconnaissance planes along the length of the Cumbrian coastline.

At the height of the hostilities, the arc-shaped Hangar 25 was used for hanging Spitfire fuselages vertically from the ceiling while maintenance work was carried out on the bullet holes.

But it is the post-war work that carries particular significance for a very special partnership that could radically change the way Shanks does business.

PIONEERING When the war ended, the concrete hangar was used to decommission the RAF’s workhorse Lancaster bombers for their aluminium content, which was then recycled.

Sixty years on and we are working closely with a small but enterprising organic treatment company to ensure that recycling heritage continues at the former base.

The hangar now houses an InVessel organic composting facility, which treats 25,000 tonnes of Shanks ‘fines’, the tiny grains that remain once we have treated the black bin bag waste.

It’s all part of a pioneering link-up with Agriorganics, a small business that was looking to expand its operation just as our Process Design Manager Steve Bullock was casting his net for a way of treating our fines.

“We had two sites in Hespin Wood, near Carlisle, and Barrow, which had no facility to treat the organic fines, so I started making a few calls,” explained Steve.

“I looked around and because the fines have to

September 2014 ❙ 7

HIP SET TO MAKE MORE FROM WASTE RD VERY SMALL IDEA WINS BIG REWA a whole new Steve’s hard work in opening up a prestigious him ed earn market for Shanks has rd from the awa ion gnit reco nd Above and Beyo ee. mitt Com utive Exec Group iously unusable His determination to deploy prev Steve’s mind as of t fron fore by-products was at the ing for look k boo e hon telep he trawled the ect. proj pilot the for a partner municipal After months of examining the way ght thou he , dled han waste by-products were ts plan e som at ed look “I ge: chan things had to we te that and saw that we had a lot of was up in landfill.” couldn’t get rid of that would end fries Dum at n ntai A 13,000-tonne mou solutions ut abo king thin him got and Galloway to the problem. a nuisance, “That material was regarded as process, the to ges chan but by making a few used be d coul that fines lity we created qua

in various environments,” he added. “It will help us change our mindset so we don’t get rid, we deploy.“ He put forward a minor change to the process – the fines drop from a sieve-like tube and Steve simply suggested making the holes smaller (see panel Steve, left, collects his Above and right for more details) – to Beyond award from Peter Eglinton ket. mar new le open up a who Steve, who was presented with : “I was his award by Peter Eglinton, said s that Shanks show it use delighted to win beca n. vatio recognises inno ly be rolled “This was a project that could easi , ada Can in out elsewhere in the UK and ular.” pop ly real is nt tme where this kind of trea

THE PROCESS IN FULL lB lack bin bag waste comes into the facility l I t is put through the shredder and then into bio-drying halls to reduce the moisture content to 20% l I t is moved into a trommel, like a Smarties tube, which has 20mm holes to remove the small metal and glass fragments

The trommel turns to sift the dried waste from the heavier metal content

l A giant magnet removes any remaining nuts, bolts and nails from the mix lW hat remains is sifted again, this time through smaller 8mm by 8mm holes, following Steve’s recommendation

It’s a great example of working with likeminded smaller suppliers to ensure we make the most of waste, but it’s also nice that we are maintaining a recycling tradition King George VI visiting the Silloth squadron, some of whom later sadly lost their lives

be treated under very strict animal by-product regulations, there was no one doing it.”

PARTNERSHIP After coming close to admitting defeat, he discovered the family landowner/farmer business that had just gained planning permission for organic composting at the hangar.

Steve moved the partnership forward, always working closely with Agriorganics until they passed exacting Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs tests and the link-up had lift-off.

Steve said: “They had capacity to take 15,000 tonnes from our Cumbria sites, so we decided to move the 10,000 tonnes from ELWA up to them as well.

“The transport is an issue, but there is

nowhere in London that handles this kind of municipal solid waste by-product because in the capital they are more interested in food and green waste.”

Once treated to be environmentally safe, the fines – rich in nutrients following their treatment – are sent to a working coal mine in Northumberland to aid the growth of grass and plant life.

Steve added: “It was a simple idea at the outset, but it took quite a lot of persistence and phone calls to find a company that had the same idea as us at the right time, and who wanted to take part in something innovative.

“It’s a great example of working with likeminded smaller suppliers to ensure we make the most of waste, but it’s also nice that we are maintaining a recycling tradition.”

The end product is an ultra fine dust extremely high in nutrient content

l The fines, now finer than Shanks has produced before, are suitable for a whole new market l Then they are taken to Agriorganics for further treatment lF inal destination… a colliery in Northumberland.

Once all the tests have been carried out at Silloth, the fines mountain is transported to its final destination

8 ❙ September 2014

Artist Cassandra Kilbride puts the finishing touches to one of the bikes donated by Shanks

These two-wheeled works of art are now on display around Yorkshire

BIKE ‘ECK… WE’RE ARTY Cassandra’s designs – seaside (above) and (far right) Yorkshire’s White Rose heritage

The Tour de France got off to a colourful flying start after we lived up to our promise of making more from waste.

When artist Cassandra Kilbride wanted to cause a saddle sensation as part of the cycle race’s Grand Depart from Yorkshire, she spoke to Shanks first.

Our teams were only too happy to help and donated 10 bikes from HWRCs around Wakefield to the 29-year-old crochet creator. The bikes

were stripped down and covered in eyecatching woollen designs, each one with a Yorkshire-related theme.

They included the Yummy Yorkshire, covered in puddings, pies and ale bottles, and the White Rose, which among others celebrated the county’s industrial, literary and social heritage.

Cassandra, whose creations have now been returned to the 10 Yorkshire towns where they were made at special workshops, said: “I couldn’t have done

any of it without Shanks.

“Buying the bikes from new would have made it impossible due to price and the amount of stripping back to the bare frame needed.

Shanks was only too happy to help.”

The bikes took pride of place at Sheffield Cathedral at the start of the Tour in July and can now be seen at sites around Yorkshire, including Barnsley, Hebden Bridge and Wakefield.

TOO STUFFY? NOT US Forum recruit Emily reckons it’s good to talk

No job’s too big!

When fishermen hauled a threetonne whale on to the slipway of a Scottish port, there was only one company they were going to call.

People in Campbeltown, on Scotland’s west coast, gathered to pay their respects to the 26-foot-long minke whale, after it died of natural causes.

The whale had been separated from its pod and ended up drifting in the sea near the Mull of Kintyre.

But the beautiful mammal had to be moved and disposed of safely, which was where Colin MacInnes and his team came in.

Colin, Area Operations Manager in Argyll and Bute, said: “It’s part of the job, but it doesn’t make it any

less sad.

“We don’t see too many whales, but when we do, we dispose of them as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The minke was hoisted on to a lorry and taken to our Dunoon landfill site where a ‘grave’ had been prepared.

Colin added: “It’s quite a big job and we have to treat things like this as special waste. The whale was buried to a very good depth and then covered.

“It’s not a nice job, but the alternative would be extremely undignified for the whale.”

It’s not the first time the team have dealt with a whale. They’ve handled a 40foot one, as well as dolphins and seals.

New-look panel will make it much easier to have your say A brainstorming team that have proposed ideas to improve the Shanks experience are undergoing a facelift.

The Works Council will change its name to the Shanks Communications Forum from its next meeting onwards.

And the panel is also looking to expand so that it has representatives from every one of our sites on board to make your voices heard.

Representative Emily Babey, Finance Manager at Milton Keynes, said: “We have just over 500 people in Shanks so it’s like an extended family.

“Just like with families, it’s healthy to

talk about things we think could be done better, recommendations to improve things or to just throw ideas around.”

She believes the Works Council name was ‘too stuffy’ and did little to encourage people to join or have a say.

IMPROVEMENTS The last Works Council meeting decided to broaden the remit of the panel to tackle any generic issues that could make improvements at all sites.

Emily (above) said: “Ideally, the suggestions have to be ones that can be implemented across the business to improve the way we operate or make the

job easier and more effective.

“But we’re also looking for suggestions about running social events and activities to encourage the various arms of the business to talk to each other.”

The Forum, which will meet every three months, is looking for representatives from Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Bute, Cumbria, Westcott Park, Cumbernauld, Derby and BDR. Emily said: “The name change is aimed at encouraging people to communicate.

If we don’t make changes happen where they need to, it hinders progress.”

If you want to be part of the Forum, contact: leanne.pullen@shanks.co.uk

September 2014 ❙ 9

OUR RUBBISH WILL INSPIRE CHILDREN Interactive model of our groundbreaking Yorkshire plant will help inspire the next generation of engineering students, thanks to a £28,000 grant Youngsters will be able to find out more about a career in engineering when they embark on a ‘Rubbish Adventure’ with Shanks.

The Royal Academy of Engineering has awarded us a £28,000 grant to build an interactive model of our new Yorkshire facility. We’ve joined Magna Science Adventure in Rotherham to create the working model to showcase the work of our new Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham site.

WORKSHOPS The partnership is critical because the UK’s engineering sector needs 156,000 people a year to meet demand over the next decade, while, currently only 74,500 join the profession annually.

The project will feature workshops for schools and families at Magna and elsewhere, showing what can be done with some of the 340,000 tonnes of rubbish thrown away in the three towns each year.

Stuart Ballard, Magna’s Education Manager, said: “There are 350,000 households across the three boroughs so that means every household throws away nearly a tonne of rubbish annually.

“This project will show the

processes involved in moving, sorting, reusing and recycling waste as it will be done at the new Manvers Waste Recovery Facility.”

BLOWERS From this month the new model will show youngsters the inner workings of the two-in-one Mechanical Biological Treatment and Anaerobic Digestion Plant.

It will feature a mini working conveyor, a working magnet and air blowers to show how we will reduce waste to landfill, increase recycling and create SRF for green energy.

Contracts Director Colin Fletcher said: “The model will give young people in the area a real taste of what engineering is about. They’ll see the process their rubbish goes through and the part we’re playing in using it to create something new.”

The judging panel said our It’s a Rubbish Adventure would give students an insight into our work.

The model is due to go live this month at school workshops on site and at Magna, with plans for a second in time for the launch of the new Wakefield plant. New faces at the new site are Abi Cox, Community Education Liaison Officer; Danny Tadd, Senior Operations Manager and Office Manager Erica Bagshaw.

(l to r) Alison Mpouki, Kez Grimley, Jo Lewis, Lauren Smith, Lucille Stanley, Sam Lock, Clare, Kirstie Slade and Jo Keep.

Moly’s Mates in the pink Friends of one of the company’s most inspirational women helped raise £2,000 in the Cancer Research UK Race for Life within weeks.

Eight colleagues completed the 10km for Occupational Health and Safety Office Administrator Clare Molyneaux, who was diagnosed with cancerous growths in both breasts last September.

She had both removed before embarking on gruelling chemotherapy.

Best friend and PA to the directors Kirstie Slade said: “She is the most remarkable woman I know. Even after the diagnosis it was me who was more upset. She laughs about everything and that hasn’t changed. She’s so positive and is an inspiration to us all.”

“We had many donations from within Shanks, which shows what an amazing group of people work here.”

Kirstie, whose son is Clare’s godchild, added: “She knows there are a lot of people right behind her.”

The model will give young people in the area a real taste of what engineering is about

10

Minutes With…

Keith Sinfield, Engineering and Performance Director

I also keep a small flock of sheep with a couple of friends and look after 250,000 bees.

You should try my honey roast lamb!

Q My team were set up 18 months

What does your team do?

ago and have UK-wide responsibility for areas including repairs and maintenance of fixed plant assets, fleet and vehicles management, the Asset Lifecycle Programme, which manages the strategic replacement of worn-out machinery, processing equipment, and building and site infrastructure.

Our Central Engineering team provide practical and hands-on engineering support, while the Continuous Improvement team are implementinga cultural change in the business

where we focus on plant availability, lost time and quality in driving the business.

Each area is led and run by highly skilled professionals from the waste, engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Q

How do you relax outside work?

Q

What three words describe you best?

Relax is an interesting term with two young daughters, but I still find time to get out on my bike with the Bicester Millennium Cycling Club for a few hours at the weekend. I also keep a small flock of sheep with a couple of friends and look after 250,000 bees. You should try my honey roast lamb!

Determined, passionate and humble.

Q

What are the two main targets at work for the year ahead?

First, to develop and implement continuous improvement across our operating facilities, with a target of achieving 90% availability.

Second, to deliver a budget performance for repairs and maintenance, while improving machine availability and reliability.

Q

Who are your real-life heroes and why?

Explorer Ernest Shackleton, who was forced to abandon his ship The Endeavour in ice on his 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Using his leadership excellence to ensure his team survived, he took a rowing boat across 800 miles of the Southern Ocean to South Georgia to return four months later to rescue his crew from the inhospitable Elephant Island. He turned a disastrous expedition into a truly remarkable story of survival.

The other is Kenton Cool, who I got to know while a student and who helped with my first expedition to Russia. In 1996, he shattered both his heels in a serious climbing accident and was told it was unlikely he would walk again –­ let alone climb – without crutches. A week later he was climbing a crag, from a wheelchair left at the bottom, with just his hands and has since climbed Everest 11 times.

10 ❙ September 2014

WELCOME TO THE TEAM HELPING TO

GETTING THE B With just a year to go until our new facility opens in South Kirkby, work continues behind the scenes to ensure the changeover process runs smoothly “Everything is changing and, while it does, we’re making sure it’s business as usual.”

So says Project Co-ordinator Sally Hurn, whose team are pioneering our blueprint partnership with Wakefield Council.

From a temporary office at Calder Vale Road Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), Sally monitors the daily operation of the seven HWRCs and 36 Bring Sites handling waste from the district’s 156,000 homes.

Her team are helping to deliver the new Waste Treatment Facility at South Kirkby, which includes a Composting Facility, Anaerobic Digestion Plant, Waste Treatment Plant, Materials Recovery Facility, Residual Waste Treatment Facility, Visitor Centre and a new HWRC, due to open in summer 2015.

There’s also a rebuilt HWRC in the pipeline for Wakefield at Denby Dale Road, which will replace the temporary facilities currently at Calder Vale Road, and a new facility at Glasshoughton, as part of the £750-million contract.

Sally added: “The target is to achieve 90% diversion and 52% recycling rates across the district by next year.”

But until then it’s a balancing act as the Wakefield team drive us towards the Full Service we promised as part of the 25-year contract.

MEET THE TEAM

THE GLUE SALLY HURN PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR “I suppose I’m the glue that holds everything together by making sure all areas of the business are talking to each other and to Wakefield Council.

“It’s really busy in Wakefield, there’s a lot of work going on refurbishing old facilities and building new ones.

“Day-to-day, we have to comply with strict objectives set out in the contract, or we can face financial deductions. That means making sure weighbridge data is accurate and ensuring all HWRCs and Bring Sites meet maintenance, health and safety, and cleanliness requirements. I helped implement some of the systems to make sure this happens.

“We are also delivering 75 educational events a year to schools and community groups, which is vital in trying to educate the next generation.”

‘JUST CALL ME MUM’ JO EVERSON ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT “I’ve been with Shanks and its predecessors for 25 years and worked at the Denby Dale Road site.

It was sad when they knocked it down because I had lots of memories there – I couldn’t go because I’d have been too upset, but it’s for the best because the future looks so exciting. It’s a whole new chapter.

“My job is all about looking after the lads by giving them operational and admin advice. They call me Mum because I deal with everything so that they can get on with the job.

“I also help with the permit system – anyone that brings waste to a HWRC needs one ­– feedback and complaints, and work closely with the council’s contact centre. We get about two complaints a month, which given the number of customers is good, but still two too many.”

RAPID RESPONSE NICK HARTSHORNE BRING SITE SUPERVISOR “I look after 36 Bring Sites where people bring their recycling to bottle and paper banks, making sure my team of four are collecting and monitoring the offtakers.

“We watch out for fly tippers and any other unexpected issues that might crop up – we’re a bit like a rapid response unit, ready for anything.

“The main aim is to ensure that the bins are never full and sometimes that can be a difficult balancing act, but we always get it done.”

September 2014 ❙ 11

MAKE SURE IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL

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KEEP ON MOVING

kefield C won a le o Excellenc tsrecycle.com Aw uncil e in Recy ard of cli Manage ment in ng and Waste the Desig Waste M no a category nagement Facilit f a for our C y Road HW alder Vale RC

JOHN LAWSON TRANSPORT AND OPERATIONS MANAGER “I look after the fleet of seven roll on and off lorries, two artics, vans and telehandlers, always making sure they are where they should be.

“I moved over from Wakefield Council under TUPE and to start with, there were a few challenges as we got to know how each other worked, but now we are going from strength to strength.

“The drivers let me know when waste needs collecting and I make sure we are covered on the rotas to either collect it ourselves or contact third party contractors for recycling.

“I also make sure our drivers are well trained, up to date with health and safety and that any near misses and accidents are reported, because that’s how we keep accident rates low. We have around two a month, usually cut fingers, so we’re proud of that, but can’t be complacent.”

I moved over from Wakefield Council under TUPE and to start with, there were a few challenges as they got to know how we worked and vice versa, but now we are going from strength to strength

THE IRON MAN PAUL (AND JOE) ROGERS HWRC OPERATIVES “I’ve been with Shanks for nine months, but moved to Yorkshire in 1988. They all call me a Cockney because of my accent and the fact I’m a West Ham fan (The Irons), but I can live with that.

“My son Joe (right) has just started working here. There are quite a few relatives working together in Shanks’ Wakefield operations, so it’s very much a family affair.

“We’ve got a really good team and we love working with the public and are always willing to help them. Most of the public are brilliant, but our job is to educate the small percentage who don’t see why they need to recycle their waste.

“We treat near miss reports very seriously because the actions that come from them help to keep the facility safe.”

TAKE A BREAK

12 ❙ September 2014

WIN!

A BOSE SOUNDLINK MINI WIRELESS MOBILE SPEAKER ®

®

Get sounds to go in our ReNEWS competition To be in with a chance of winning, simply find the words to the right in the grid opposite and rearrange the remaining letters into a well-known three-word Shanks phrase.

The winner, to be drawn from all entries received before 30 September, will be notified at the start of October.

The portable speaker connects wirelessly to your smartphone, tablet

Congratulations…

or other Bluetooth® device, to give you a full sound anywhere. Just grab it and go.

Here’s a clue to help with the final letters… Steve is a winner.

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TEXT: 07860 021367 EMAIL: shanks@summersault.co.uk

OUT THIS MONTH

… to Ian Hurst, Senior GOOD ED AT THE E F CINEMA S Operations Manager at W E e N ne in Shanks mad ess? eo dn Has som small act of kin out a Jenkins Lane in ELWA, a ab h s it w w e n y your da u got a titbit of cation fi li who completed a diploma Have yo wedding or qua GOOD al, ? new arriv ou want to share 07860 READ y n o s u t in management principles ve, tex in If you ha we’ll include it d n a 7 d e 02136 and techniques at Newham News Fe the Good AT THE College… Procurement CINEMA Manager Martin Capper who completed THE MAZE RUNNER PRIDE DESERT GOD an NVQ Level 4 qualification in Supply Chain Released: 10 October Released: Out Now

BY WILBUR SMITH Released: 25 September Management… Sally Hurn, Wakefield Project If you’re going to wake up with When a gaggle of gay and amnesia, a maze is the last place lesbian protesters rock up in an Taita has gone from eunuch slave Co-ordinator, who did her tenth Race for Life with you want to be. old-fashioned mining community, to the Pharaoh’s most trusted Joined by a community of boys, it’s fair to say the locals aren’t confidant. As Egypt prepares for a friend Cath this year in honour of their fathers, teenager Thomas is desperate to keen on sharing the love. bitter war against the Hyksos find a way out and discover why But as they clash over family who have both been diagnosed with cancer. Sally army, the Pharaoh turns to him to he’s being held captive behind morals, the two diverse groups unleash a plan to destroy the the walls. With a hidden enemy raised more than £1,155 and said: “This year it bond over their shared support of enemy by taking the Egyptian reducing the chance of a the miners. warriors on a journey of danger was even more vital that we raced to raise money successful escape plan even A comedy starring top British and romance up the Nile to more, Thomas gambles with his actors, Pride provides a different Babylon. If you love Game of for such an important cause.” life to find the exit. perspective on the miners’ strike.

Thrones, this is for you.

HAVE YOUR SAY 07860 021367

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