Eco-Vision - It's better not to waste the waste

Sep 14 2006 By Anastasia Weiner, North East Vision

When J&B Fuels diversified into collecting waste for recycling rather than delivering solid fuel, few could have anticipated the measure of its success. Anastasia Weiner looks at how the firm has transformed its business.

Sifting through rubbish may not sound like fun, but a North-East firm has made garbage its business. It was the decline in coal that spurred J&B Fuels founder Alan Jackson to consider the future direction of his 35-year-old solid fuel sales and delivery business - and the welfare of its workers.

Although the recycling sector was still in its infancy in the UK, he decided to create a new division in 1998 under the guidance of daughter Vikki Jackson-Smith.

Since then, J&B Recycling has tripled its workforce from 20 to 70 - not only safeguarding the jobs of more longer-term employees, but creating employment opportunities within Hartlepool.

Starting out with commercial glass collection, which it still offers, the waste disposal spin-out has extended its services to include the management of civic amenity sites, and skip hire.

All collected "co-mingled" waste is streamed at J&B's Baltic Street site in Hartlepool, which means that recyclable materials such as plastic, tins, paper and cardboard are directed to the appropriate recycling facilities.

The family-owned firm also handles materials collected via local authority kerbside collection schemes. Private companies too can take advantage of the firm's collection service. In fact, Vikki's passion and drive for recycling has meant few opportunities to further develop the business have been passed by.

"For example, a chance conversation about construction sites and the amount of timber headed for landfill resulted in a wood recycling service," remembers J&B Recycling's general manager Chris Hare. "That's the kind of person Vikki is - always looking for the next idea."

Another example of J&B's innovative approach was its decision to "test" the viability of collecting plastic bottles for recycling by running a pilot scheme in 10 Tees Valley primary schools.

"J&B was one of the first companies in the region to collect plastic bottles for recycling," Mr Hare says proudly. "We ran the scheme to get feedback on how viable it would be, and were amazed at the positive feedback.

"No one had really looked at plastics before, mostly because the value is in the weight, and plastic bottles, although large in volume, don't weigh much."

Although J&B isn't as large as some national waste disposal firms, the amount diverted away from landfill is impressive. Around 7,000 tonnes of glass bottles each year are earmarked for recycling and, according to Mr Hare, more than 90% of waste collected by the firm is recycled.

"We'd like to do 100%, but there are certain materials that cannot be recycled at present," he adds. "However, that will change as packaging manufacturers decide to use different materials, or legislation demands it."

The company also sees itself as progressive in an evolving sector. "We keep a close eye on developments as there is always new technology," says Mr Hare.

"For example using chips on bins to intelligently identify the material through weight. They could also have other uses such as measuring the waste picked up."

J&B's success has been helped in part by Business Link's Tees Valley operation and workforce development programmes funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

The continued development of the industry means that there is a constant need to invest in training and development including health and safety, first aid, and waste management competence.

Its growth has developed to such an extent that the once core business of solid fuel sales and deliveries was dropped in 2005. But according to Mr Hare, working for J&B Recycling is more than just a job.

"There is a definite feeling that what we do at J&B's goes beyond work," he says. "It's not just a 9am to 5pm job."