True grit beats the arsonists
Mar 19 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal
ARECYCLING company is determined to bounce back from an arson attack that destroyed more than two thirds of its equipment and left its site in ruins.
It took 35 firefighters 10 hours to put out the 20ft flames at J&B Recycling in Stockton on the night of February 8, when around £2m worth of damage was caused.
Rather than shut the site down, managing director Vikki Jackson-Smith called on her 100 staff to work around the clock to ensure that the firm’s backlog of recycling was completed over the weekend.
With only one of its three sorting lines now in operation, staff are still working late to ensure that the firm does not suffer from any long-term damage.
As a sign of goodwill, a number of J&B’s competitors in the region have also allowed it to use their baling machines after the firm’s own machine, an integral part of its operations, was destroyed in the fire.
Police still do not know who committed the arson but did say that they have CCTV footage showing two people entering the site at around 8pm that night.
Jackson-Smith said: “We are all absolutely devastated by the fire and can’t comprehend why anyone would feel the need to do such a thing. We have worked extremely hard over the last few years to build the business and are shocked that anyone could be so malicious. We are working closely with the police and hopefully will find out why the fire was started and by whom.
“However, in the meantime we are refusing to be beaten and are already showing that we will come through this stronger than ever.”
Despite a tumultuous few weeks, she is confident that the firm can pull through and is hoping to grow its £3.7m turnover to around £5m in two years time.
The firm also hopes that the development of its new four-acre site, next to its existing 3.5 acre site on Baltic Street, will open in the summer and help to support this growth and counter any negative impacts of the fire.
It has also retained a number of contracts with local authorities, including Hartlepool Borough Council and Durham City Council and is hopeful of increasing its work for private clients.
Chris Hare, business development director at J&B, said: “We are looking towards the future and, with the EU putting so much pressure on the government over the environment, believe we are well positioned.”
