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Simon Ripley Environment Manager at IKEA, Birstall |
| Simon sets the standard for business waste recycling, having reduced the amount of waste at Leeds IKEA going to landfill to virtually zero. |
| When Simon took up his position at the IKEA store near Leeds in 2003, it was decided to take control of waste disposal locally and try to reduce the amount going to landfill. As Environment Manager at the store, Simon spearheaded the campaign to reduce the waste being sent to landfill and reduce waste disposal costs, principally through segregating the waste streams and finding recycling outlets. So successful has he been that the amount of waste going to landfill has been reduced to virtually zero! | Education is vital in securing the cooperation of staff |
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Cleaners have trolleys so that waste can be collected in separate containers |
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Waste streams throughout the store had first to be identified and segregated. The materials and an example of their monthly quantities in tonnes can be seen in the table below:
The total tonnage of waste at the store varies between 100 and 225 tonnes per month. In March 2004 Simon was employed on a 30 hour contract plus 1 part-time environment employee (20 hours). Currently, he is employed on a full-time contract plus 3 part-time employees. These are posts are covered by savings on waste disposal. This year Simon's action plan has covered installation of 1 new polythene baler costing £8000; a polystyrene compactor (£4250); a wood burning boiler costing £160,000 (in progress); wind turbines and solar panels; a take-back facility for customers' spent energy-saving lightbulbs and batteries; and installation of occupancy sensors throughout the store. Ex-display and slight damage goods are donated to 10 charities plus local schools and colleges. When asked to comment on his achievement, Simon said, "It's not rocket science. There are companies out there ready to collect these materials. They've got all the equipment for doing the job. You just have to do a bit of research to find them." |
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Clear signs help to keep materials properly segregated and reinforce the message that recycling is important |
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This polystyrene baler will pay for itself in a year through space savings and revenue from materials recycled |
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Even plastic strapping is collected and baled - this man is a perfectionist! |
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Landfill is definitely a last resort! |
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| Go to Pennine Waste Exchange | ||||||||||||||||||||
