The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consulted on the planned Simpler Recycling in 2023 publishing the consultation finding earlier this year, stating that “reform to the recycling system which means that people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school, putting an end to the confusion over what can and cannot be recycled in different parts of the country.”

The survey sought views on the upcoming legislation, general levels of understanding and what plans were in place to prepare for the new rules, which aim to simplify and standardise recycling across businesses and households in England.

Encouragingly, 71% of respondents knew about the Simpler Recycling legislation, 90% felt they had good knowledge of what was required and 60% felt that they knew what they needed to do to prepare. However, 62% of respondents had yet made no provision at all for the new legislation.

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward, said: “In its latest update, the government stated that the new default requirement for most households and workplaces will be four containers for residual (non-recyclable) waste, food waste (mixed with garden waste if appropriate), paper and card, plus all other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass). These may be various container types, including bags, bins or stackable boxes.”

“As much as there is positive intention to simplify waste streams, improve recycling effectiveness and reduce waste to landfill, there are some practical considerations to businesses to adopting these measures. The top concern from the survey was cost, with 60% of respondents naming this as a main barrier. A further 39% said space constraints and 31% cited lack of time as other main factors that prevent them from segregating and recycling waste.”

“There are many ways businesses can address these issues, for example, a free and simple waste audit can quickly assess the volume and type of waste. From there, you work out a plan of the required container sizes and optimise collections to achieve the best value for money.  For larger businesses, using a provider which offers site visits to set up effective recycling areas and gives customers access to an online portal is a good way to monitor and evaluate different waste streams. From that management data, businesses are then able to make more informed decisions about recycling rates and ways to make improvements and adjustments to waste collections.”

Respondents also shared that some types of waste were more problematic than others to recycle. Hazardous was considered most difficult by 32%, closely followed by construction waste at 28%, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) at 27% and food waste at 26%.

Head of Sales (Waste) at Ward, Heather Foo, added: “Depending on their size and type of activities, some businesses will be more affected than others with Simpler Recycling. A multi-premises business employing more than 10 full-time equivalent employees will be required to segregate residual waste, food waste, paper and card, and all other dry mixed recycling in four specific containers and arrange the appropriate collection services by 31st March 2025. Microbusinesses (those with less than 10 FTE employees) are currently exempt from these requirements until 31st March 2027, but as a wider sustainability measure it would be beneficial to implement in advance of legalisation.

“New guidance was issued by DEFRA in late November 2024, so now is a good time to start planning for Q1 2025 to get a solution for Simpler Recycling in place in time for the March 2025 deadline.”

A copy of Ward’s Simpler Recycling Report findings can be found here: https://www.ward.com/simpler-recycling/.

For more information about Ward’s innovative waste management solutions, visit www.ward.com.

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Currently operating across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, the ‘Recycle a Car’ site aims to provide car and van owners with a simple, sustainable and competitively priced scrapping service for their redundant vehicles.

An estimated four million vehicles are disposed of annually, some illegally. As an accredited Vehicle De-Pollution centre, Ward is well-placed to provide a secure, sustainable solution for customers looking to dispose of their vehicles in a more environmentally-friendly way.

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward, said: “Recycle a Car is the latest service offering from Ward as part of our complete waste management and recycling solutions. Whether a vehicle has reached then end of its serviceable life, didn’t pass it’s MOT and is too expensive or it has been written off, we understand can be a hassle trying to dispose of a vehicle once it reaches the end of the road.

“Beyond practicalities of scrapping a car, our customers are increasingly focussed on sustainability. As a DVLA accredited facility, we guarantee that every vehicle component, from seats to engine, are recycled responsibly and with minimal environmental impact.”

In line with the latest EU directives, Recycle a Car aims to extract and recycle over 95 per cent of car components, minimising waste to landfill. Ward has specialist processes to responsibly recycle and manage all waste streams from metal to rubber, plastics, fabrics, cabling and hazardous waste, such as battery fluids and oils.

As well as delivering excellent value for money, Recycle a Car offers a quick and easy online service. Via the website, customers can enter their registration number and postcode for a free quote. A vehicle can potentially be dropped off or collected, recycled and payment issued within 24 hours.

Donald adds: “With Recycle a Car we are offering a simple, flexible solution at a competitive price point. We can provide faster collections and quicker payment, as well being the sustainable choice.”

The scheme has proved so successful in the Midlands that Ward plans to roll it out nationwide in the New Year.

For more information on Recycle a Car, visit www.recycleacar.com, and to learn more about Ward’s waste management services, visit www.ward.com.

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The new locator allows visitors to search for their closest bank by inputting their postcode, town or city into a search box or using the handy WARDRobe map.

A member of the Textile Recycling Association, Ward’s textile recycling operation, WARDRobe, provides a free nationwide textile bank collection service for good quality pre-loved clothing and shoes. Collecting from various locations across the UK, the team works closely with local authorities and organisations to maximise the recovery and reuse of textiles to minimise waste to landfill.

Textile banks are located in prime locations, including household waste recycling centres, office headquarters, school premises and on local council and private land. Sites receive payment for each kilo of textiles collected, which they can donate to charity or put towards local community projects.

WARDRobe also works in close partnership with local charities, including Sharewear, which focuses on reducing clothing poverty.

Clare Harby, Head of Textiles and Waste Brokerage at Ward said: “We are committed to supporting the Circular Economy while positively impacting the communities where we work and our textile banks are a great example of this.

“Through our regular textile collections, we can help others to limit their impact on the environment by minimising the amount of pre-loved clothing that ends up in landfill while supporting charities with regular donations.”

To find the location of your nearest textile bank, visit https://www.ward.com/wardrobe-map/

For more information about arranging a textile bank at your business, place of work or community group, get in touch with WARDRobe via textilebanks@ward.com

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Sharewear offers a free scheme to provide people in economic difficulty with their basic clothing needs, from winter coats, school uniforms and undergarments to shoes, bedding and household textiles. Operating a referral system for individuals and also an outreach service for organisations, the charity has supported around 115,000 people since its launch in 2014.

Ward has committed to placing four textile banks around the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire area to allow Sharewear to collect donations, supporting them in their mission to reduce clothing poverty. These banks will be operated by Sharewear, meaning that one hundred per cent of the textiles collected will be reused through the Sharewear Clothing Scheme. The latest bank, at St Paul’s Church in West Bridgford, joins St Jude’s Church, Woodborough Road, Mapperley, as a destination where members of the public can drop off their clean and dry, pre-loved donations.

WARDRobe has partnered with the charity for several initiatives over the years to raise awareness of and tackle clothing poverty. In 2022, the organisations teamed up to provide a clothing bank at Manchester University where students, staff and the general public could drop off pre-loved clothing that could benefit others in the local community. Together, they have also launched a pilot clothing take-back scheme with national retailer House of Fraser. Ward also works with local councils to ensure pre-loved clothes donated via textile banks are given a new home with those who need them most.

In addition to putting back into the local community, Ward’s partnership with Sharewear supports the firm’s commitment to reducing waste to landfill by encouraging the reuse of clothing that would otherwise have been recycled or discarded.

Founder, CEO and Head of Operations, Louise Cooke: “Clothing poverty is not a matter of having clothes that you want to wear but more about having the basic clothes a person needs to either keep warm, go to work, or attend an interview.

“Our ongoing partnership with Ward allows us to offer people a vital identify and the confidence to live life to the best of their abilities. We know that Ward’s values align perfectly with our own, and we are forever grateful for their support in our mission to make a difference.”

Clare Harby, Head of Textiles and Waste Brokerage at Ward: “Ward is always looking to put back into our community and to make the biggest difference where it is needed most, and our partnership with Sharewear is an excellent example of this.

“There is a huge divide between the ‘fast fashion – throw away’ culture and the growing clothing poverty crisis faced by thousands of people across both our local region and nationally. Hopefully, our ongoing partnership will narrow that gap by reducing the environmental damage caused through waste to landfill while providing quality clothing to those most in need across our local communities.”

Ward has recently updated its website with a new textile bank locator to show those wishing to donate pre-loved clothes the location of their nearest facility. The new locator allows visitors to search for their closest bank by inputting their postcode, town or city into a search box or using the handy WARDRobe map.

For more information visit: www.ward.com/waste/commercial/services/textile-recycling/

For more information on Sharewear, visit https://sharewearclothingscheme.org/

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From next year, all businesses in England will need to adhere to stricter recycling practices to simplify recycling nationwide. The new laws are designed to improve recycling rates, simplify waste management and crack down on waste crime, supporting the new Environment Secretary, Steve Reed MP, in moving the UK toward a zero-waste circular economy.

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward said: “The Government missed its 2020 recycling target and so introduced a more robust Resources and Waste Strategy, which will see far reaching waste reforms throughout the waste industry.

“Simpler Recycling has been discussed for some time and will now become law in early 2025, but we are realizing that many businesses might not understand what the legislation involves and what is means for them. We’ve launched this survey to test the level of understanding, to find out what businesses already know and find ways that we can support them in preparing for changes ahead.”

The waste reforms aim to boost recycling rates, meet future recycling targets and protect the environment and provide consistency in recycling practices for homes, workplaces and schools across England. They will include introducing a streamlined approach to recycling and reduce bin complexity, introducing food waste collections and specifying a recyclables waste stream.

Businesses have until Friday 25th October to complete the survey and share their views here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WardSimplerRecycling. A report of findings will be available later in the year.

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Independent, fourth generation family business, Ward, ranked 10^th among the East Midlands’ top-performing businesses based on financial performance, growth and profitability. The firm also gained the top spot for Derbyshire businesses by EBITDA and was ranked third regionally for size.

Grant Thornton’s East Midlands Top 200 Report is the only in-depth study into the region’s fastest-growing companies by key sector and performance indicators. Analysing the financial performance of 200 businesses in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire that have delivered the greatest sustained profit growth between 2019 and 2023, it provides a barometer of overall economic performance.

Donald Ward, Operations Director at Ward, said: “As an independent, fourth-generation family business, we are proud to be named alongside some of the Midlands most well-known and well-respected businesses. Continuous innovation and investment in people, plant, equipment, technology and waste management and recycling processes helps us maintain sustainable growth within the East Midlands and further afield.

With a turnover exceeding £320 million, Ward is the largest independent metal and waste recycling company in the East Midlands. The business operates across 11 sites nationally, employing over 400 people.

The firm continually invests in its waste management, processing and recycling operations. Over the past two years, ongoing investments have included new buildings, equipment and technology to maximise efficiency and improve recycling rates for all material streams.

Investment in a new purpose-built material recycling facility site at Ilkeston with advanced sorting technology has increased its processing capabilities and a new Rail Head at Burton has enabled rail connectivity between its various sites for transporting bulk materials. This has improved sustainability, reduced carbon emissions and removed vehicles from the road network. The opening of a new port site at Cardiff will further increase its metal export potential.

These investments have allowed the company to grow, increasing its processing capacity and maximising material recycling.

In 2022, Ward was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, in recognition of its investment in exportation facilities and overseas sales.

Nick Gillott, Partner at Grant Thornton, said: “If the 200 fastest-growing businesses across the four counties of the East Midlands have anything in common, it is surely dynamism and the quality of their leadership.

“Leading the way is never easy, as such, we are delighted to showcase 200 inspiring businesses that have done an incredible job of using their own creativity and commercial nous to grow their operations regardless of the challenging conditions. This all adds up to a very exciting time for fast-growing East Midlands firms and it’s our pleasure to congratulate and acknowledge the success stories.”

Ward will join other businesses mentioned in the report at a special dinner at Cleaver & Wake Nottingham on Thursday 17th October.

For more information on Ward’s metal recycling and waste management capabilities visit www.ward.com.

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Formed in 2016, Arc Partnership is a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and public sector procurement framework, SCAPE. It aims to support the Council in creating an efficient, safe and sustainable land and property portfolio.

Arc Partnership and Ward began working together in 2019, with an official partnership agreement signed in 2021. The latest contract renewal follows Ward’s exceptional service level delivery and implementation of innovative waste management solutions across Arc Partnership’s portfolio of public properties, including schools, libraries and clinics.

Mick Roots, National Construction Waste Manager at Ward, said: “We’ve enjoyed a very positive long-standing partnership with Arc Partnership and this contract renewal is testament to both the strength of that relationship and our capabilities to provide a total waste management solution within the building and construction sector.

“We’re extremely proud of our ability to deliver the optimum waste management solution across Arc Partnership’s portfolio. We’ve worked closely to improve efficiency, reduce administration and consistently achieve material diverted from landfill rate of over 98%.

“Last year, Ward completed a significant number of waste movements, including grab services and hazardous waste removal, offering a total waste management solution. Through the Customer Portal with its Scope 3 carbon reporting capability, Arc Partnership is able to access transparent and actionable data insights about both material type and transportation of waste products too.”

The recycling and waste management specialist has also supported Arc Partnership to meet its objectives across several school sites by offering flexible solutions. For example, the teams work together to ensure maintenance work is undertaken during the six-week holiday period, or scheduling collections services in term time which avoid peak pedestrian times.

Paul Parker, Operations Manager at Arc Partnership said: “We’ve worked with Ward for a few years now and they’ve been a vital partner in helping us to realise waste management efficiencies and increase sustainability across our property portfolio.

“The team’s construction sector knowledge has been paramount in helping us to improve our waste stream segregation, implementing efficient use of containers to reduce contamination and improve cost efficiency. The Customer Portal is fantastic too. Digital ticketing and electronic waste transfer notes, including photographic evidence, provides unrivalled transparency in identifying waste streams and recycling opportunities across multiple sites, while real-time carbon waste reporting helps to track and reduce CO₂ emissions. The level of information and the transparency is refreshing.”

The Ward team meet regularly with Arc Partnership’s operational teams to review performance and plan for the next programmes of works, so that the waste management plans can dovetail in with construction.

For more information about Ward’s innovative waste management solutions, visit www.ward.com.

For more information about Arc Partnership, visit: www.arc-partnership.co.uk.

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As the UK Representative for the Shredder Committee, Donald, was invited to share insights into the UK’s Auto Shredder Residue (ASR) proposals, which will have far reaching impact on the industry in coming years.

The topic was timely, with the UK Environment Agency (EA) potentially set to implement major changes to ASR legislation for metal and vehicle recyclers as early as 2025. The legislation, expected to come into force in the next two years looks at accepted classification of residues from shredding facilities as non-hazardous and proposes waste reclassification in certain areas. This will significantly impact the UK’s vehicle waste recycling process and set a global precedent.

During the presentation, Donald highlighted the key findings from the Government’s review of metal shredder residue (MSR) in the UK, which has led to the new legislation. In 2005, the EA accepted classification of residues from shredding facilities as non-hazardous. However, recent findings identified compositional changes to shredder feedstock, sector misapplication, including WEEE residues and diversion of MSR from landfill, leading the EA to reclassify this waste as hazardous.

In the proposals, any untested MSR will be assumed hazardous, with an estimated 1.2 million tonnes affected. This has led to uncertainty regarding treatment and disposal capacity and a push towards investment in advanced sorting technology to maximise component recycling and minimise waste to landfill.

An extensive pilot study conducted by the British Metal Recycling Association (BMRA), includes the most comprehensive analysis of vehicle waste to date. Donald shared an overview of key findings and how this data has helped to inform the decision-making process, while identifying some of the wider implications for vehicle recyclers.

Donald said: “This is a critical time for the international recycling industry and an unrivalled opportunity for the UK to position itself as a global leader in end-of-life vehicle waste management.

“There is real need for investment and technological advancement to implement this important legislation to make vehicle recycling more efficient and sustainable. Ward’s investment in this technology has helped to set us apart as an industry leader, and, while there is still much work to be done around data and analysis, we look forward to supporting these changes and being at the forefront of this vital progress.”

A reply from the Environment Agency was due by the end of May 2024, but the implementation of wide-reaching the legislation remains a work in progress.

For more information on Ward’s multi-award-winning metal recycling and waste management solutions, visit: www.ward.com.

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After a record number of entries were received, 50+ family businesses from around the Midlands were shortlisted across nine categories including Sustainability, Property & Construction Excellence, Digital & Tech Innovation, Service Excellence, Young Director and Employer of the Year, as well as Best Small Business, Fastest Growing and the much-coveted Family Business of the Year.

Ward submitted an entry in conjunction with marketing agency, Cite, for their collaboration on an innovative digital tool, The Carbon Report.

Donald Ward, Operations Director from Ward said: “We’ve been first to market with several digital innovations such as our online skip hire tool and our WARDrobe locator. This time we were looking for a way that we could share with our customers their carbon usage data, to help them identify effective waste management solutions. We teamed up with Cite to enhance the functionality of our customer portal and add a digital carbon reporting tool. This gives our customers data about carbon emissions from waste, at the touch of button, so they can make informed, sustainable decisions benefiting us all.”

Amie Masserella, Account Director at Cite, added: “We took the waste management information we were already collecting through the portal and using the methodology provided by the Government on Greenhouse Glass Reporting – Conversion factors we created an online report. The report takes into account the type of waste and whether it can be recycled or not. It also factors in the transport figures from the collection point to the Ward waste recycling centre which it has been taken. This is all at the click of a button and was achieved by our tech team doing all the calculations in the back end of the portal but presenting them online to the user in a clear and easy to understand way.”
Organised by third generation family business, The Wilson Organisation, which specialises in insurance and financial services and supported by a range of high-profile sponsors, the Midlands Family Business Awards gives family businesses of all sizes, from all sectors, the opportunity to recognised for the huge contribution they make to the region.

Charlotte Perkins, Group Managing Director of The Wilson Organisation said: “The standard of entries has been exceptionally high this year and we are so pleased that so many family businesses have taken the time to showcase their achievements. We received such strong entries in Best Small Family Business and Service Excellence categories that we’ve taken the decision to shortlist extra finalists, for the first time ever.”

The non-profit awards are made possible through a range of sponsors. Alongside MHR is family business community Family Business Futures, also created by founders Wilson’s; creative agency Stencil; Buckles Solicitors; professional services firm PwC; property maintenance business, The Handy Family Company; legal advisers Shakespeare Martineau; home care and mobility services provider, Premier Community and Streets Chartered Accountants.

The finalists in each category will meet with their judging panels during June. All Finalists are now eligible for the ‘People’s Choice’ award, sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants, which is determined by a public vote throughout September. Winners will be revealed in an Award Ceremony on 3 October 2024 at Athena in Leicester.

The full shortlist in the Midlands Family Business Awards 2024 can be found here: https://www.familybusinessawards.co.uk/news/our-2024-finalists-revealed

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Sharewear has community franchises across the country and aims to tackle clothing poverty by providing emergency clothing, shoes and bedding to people experiencing personal difficulties or facing poverty. Ward has supported the charity for several years by providing textile banks for clothing donations and helping to promote various nationwide campaigns.

To celebrate Sharewear’s birthday milestone, Ward sponsored a table where members of team Ward had the chance to meet many of the charity’s incredible volunteers who have worked so tirelessly over the years.

Clare Harby, Head of Textiles and Waste Brokerage at Ward, said: “We were delighted to join Sharewear to celebrate their journey over the past 10 years where they have supported 1000s of people to prevent clothing poverty in the region.

It was heart-warming to see their fantastic volunteers honoured, who each donate their time to giving new homes for clothing to those most in need. Sharewear has a strong ethos in driving recycling of unwanted clothes that may otherwise find their way to landfill – we are proud to work closely with such an amazing charity.”

For more information on Sharewear, visit www.sharewearclothingscheme.org

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