In a bid to help the environment and reduce waste-related costs for the business, Stephen Day, Commercial Director has been tackling the waste arising through the operation of Contract Flooring Solutions for a few years. The company who joined Carpet Recycling UK as a member in 2016 is now diverting 90% of its waste from landfill which includes Plastic, polypropylene carpet, wool carpet, cardboard, PU underlay, metals.

“I have young children, and I am watching the world fall apart as we neglect it, so anything I can do to make a difference is worth the cost. Although there seems to be a net gain at the moment, this may not always be the case in the future” says Stephen.

In 2017 we installed five Kenburn Balex 50 machines (known as the Carpet Crusher in the flooring trade, including journals like The Stocklists and CFJ). A team of full-time recycling staff was employed, and waste and recycling review program created following the construction of our new distribution centre in Bromsgrove. The Balex 50 balers produce high compaction bales of 550kg, bringing down transport associated costs and making handling more straightforward for the recycler using a forklift truck.

“95% of our turnover comes from large UK housebuilders, such as Barratt Homes, Bovis Homes, Persimmon, etc. In the last financial year, we made a net saving of £65,286 by diversion away from landfill, a fantastic achievement for the business enabling reinvestment in both people and equipment to push our recycling goals forward. “

How does it work?

“The nature of the new house fitting business is creating a stream of clean tufted polypropylene carpet which is collected by a firm to be used in the manufacture of non-woven products. Wooden pallets are shredded and used for biomass and PU underlay is reused alongside the virgin material. The main recycling centre in Bromsgrove is run on 100% renewable energy. Even on dull days, given the size of the solar array, we always generate more electricity than our facilities use” says Stephen.

“The company’s long-term goal is to reach 100% recycling of all of our flooring products. At the moment it is difficult, near impossible in fact, to recycle domestic vinyl. We would also look at becoming a drop off centre for local retailers/fitters so that others can dispose of their waste responsibly, although this will require more work/planning yet”. We will continue to work with CRUK as we move toward this final goal. Membership of CRUK has so far proved invaluable in creating the recycling connections we have in place.

Contact Contract Flooring Solutions Ltd:

sales@contractflooring.co.uk
0121 457 7057

Outlets in

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• Bromsgrove
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