Cementing a Commitment to Recycling

From time to time words are spoken about the role tyre manufacturers and wholesalers do – or should – play in the full life cycle of the products they sell. The accepted consensus is for a greater level of responsibility, a role most parties have readily accepted. Michelin, the world’s second largest tyre manufacturer, was one of the first companies off the mark in the UK in terms of meeting this obligation, and its joint venture facility for the processing of end of life tyres – Sapphire Energy Recovery – is now in its eighth year of operation.

The team at Sapphire report their company has grown since its establishment in 2001 to become the UK’s leading used tyre processor, and as such it handles a large proportion of the 40 million tyres removed from vehicles in the UK each year. Sapphire’s output, in chipped or whole tyre form, serves as an alternative fuel for the cement industry, more specifically Lafarge Cement, Michelin’s partner in the joint venture. And in spite of the opposition to tyre burning encountered by at least one other UK cement producer, Lafarge – and its fuel supplier – have been acknowledged for their commitment to environmental principles.

For the tyre recycler this recognition recently came in the form of the Tyre Recovery Association’s (TRA) Audit Excellence Award. Presented to Sapphire’s general manager Tim Stott at the British Rubber Manufacturers Association dinner last October, the award has been received as confirmation of the company’s continued consistency in its high quality operation and management systems.

“Complementing the environmental commitment of our parent companies Lafarge Cement and Michelin, we have worked hard across all areas of our operation to achieve the highest environmental standards,” comments Stott. “For a business based on the sustainable recycling of waste car and van tyres, it is imperative that our environmental performance and commitment is of the highest standard. We work to EMAS standards and have achieved and retained the internationally recognised quality certificate ISO 14001.”

Zero waste is generated during the processing of scrap tyres at Sapphire, and all its UK processing centres are certified to ISO 14001 and registered to the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), with regular monitoring conducted by the Environment Agency. The company thus sees sustainability as being at the heart of its operations. “This kind of award also importantly gives our customers reassurance of our commitment to sustainability and the professionalism of our recycling and recovery service,” Stott adds. “It was a great pleasure to have all this hard work recognised with this TRA Audit Excellence Award – it’s a well deserved pat on the back for the whole Sapphire team.”

In 2007 Sapphire began a series of improvements at a number of its sites, which will continue this year. These developments mainly focus upon improving workplace safety through reducing manual handling and risk factors – important additions for a company that has passed the milestone of an entire injury-free year of operations. New pedestrian walkways and a new push wall for lorries have recently been built at the company’s Oldbury site, following similar improvements at Sapphire’s Thurrock and Manchester sites. The processing centre in Dunbar, Scotland, will undergo a similar upgrade in 2008.

Also new is the purpose designed, Sapphire branded haulage unit operated by James Baxter Haulage. The result of what Sapphire calls the growing relationship between it and the specialist recyclable materials haulier, who moves 35,000 tonnes of whole tyres and tyre chips for Sapphire each year, the new truck is capable of dropping off scrap tyres and collecting tyre chips on the same journey, and features a ‘walking floor’ that automatically moves loads in and out of the vehicle.

Ryan Mifflin, head of sales and marketing for Sapphire, welcomed the addition of the new truck to the fleet and said he was looking forward to more: “Not only does the branding raise our profile – we’ve already received many sales leads from the existing trucks – the ability of Baxter’s to drop off tyres and collect chips in same truck is more efficient for us and our customers. It’s also good for the environment, as it prevents empty journeys. As a recycling company with a clear commitment to sustainability, the ability of our partners to innovate in this way benefits us and our customers.”

The new Baxter/Sapphire Mercedes unit has other environmental benefits – the engine is fitted with selective catalytic reduction technology to clean emissions, and qualifies for a reduced pollution certificate as it is fitted with NOx sensors. The equipment fitted exceeds current environmental legislation. “The units we operate are ideal for a recycling company such as Sapphire, because we can handle large loads in an efficient and safe manner,” says Baxter’s managing director James Baxter. “They also have onboard weighing facilities, meaning less time lost at the weighbridge which in turn means swifter deliveries for Sapphire’s customers.”

Baxter’s units also operate a remote sheeting system, common in the quarrying sector but not yet widely seen in the recycling business. “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the service and environmental performance of our business, as that in turn enables forward-thinking companies such as Sapphire to pass on such benefits to their clients,” Baxter continues. “It’s a win-win situation all round.”