WASTE SERVICES SETS SAIL WITH SUNSEEKER

Southampton, 16 October 2007 – Southampton-headquartered commercial waste and recycling collection specialist Waste Services (UK) Ltd (www.wasteservices.co.uk) has agreed a new three year waste and recycling contract with Sunseeker International Ltd (www.sunseeker.com), the world’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of prestige luxury motor yachts.

Effective from June this year, Verdant Group subsidiary Waste Services has been providing a fully integrated waste and recycling management service at Sunseeker’s main Poole manufacturing site, which has seven production plants and shipyards, as well as at its new manufacturing facility at Portland.

Sunseeker, which in September reported record-breaking annual sales of £240 million and a new profit high of £12.5 million, employs 2,000 staff and exports 98% of its products worldwide. It also received its fifth Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year.

Enhanced Recycling
A key element in Sunseeker’s pursuit of making its business cleaner, greener and more efficient was an enhanced recycling service that integrates with its unique production processes. After detailed analysis, Waste Services developed a uniform recycling process that is being piloted for roll out across all Sunseeker sites. This will replace the previous individual, site-specific system.

Serviced from its Bournemouth depot, Waste Services has installed compaction and bailing machines to maximize loads, so reducing vehicle movements and their environmental impact. A dedicated vehicle on a regular schedule collects both manufacturing-related residual waste and recyclable materials, such as metal, wood, sawdust, plastics, glass, paper and card, from Rolonoff and rear end load containers, as well as wheeled bins. Hazardous materials, such as polymers, are also collected for appropriate processing, as is a variety of waste electrical equipment, largely white goods.

A key contract requirement was flexibility, a Waste Services’ hallmark, so that additional or ad hoc collections can be made at peak production times.

Waste Services has also introduced colour-coded bins, each colour for a particular material, as part of a more flexible and efficient collection scheme. The bins, which can be moved around Sunseeker’s facilities as required by production line needs, contribute to improved materials collection as staff across all Sunseeker sites understand the colour coding system.

Maximum Efficiency For Exclusive Market
Paul Vincent, chief buyer at Sunseeker, said: “When you’re dealing with an exclusive market and producing the highest quality luxury motor yachts, it’s imperative that all parts of the production process work at maximum efficiency. The same is true of the seemingly mundane role of waste management at our sites.

“As a vibrant and expanding business, Sunseeker takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and we identified that waste and recycling collection could be better integrated. With Waste Services’ expertise and service flexibility. we’re confident we will recycle far more of our production materials and reduce overall waste outputs.”
Waste Services’ managing director Roger Edwards added: “Sunseeker recognised the need for greater efficiencies across its business, and having identified waste stream management as a viable improvement area, moved fast to find an answer. Our continuing association with one of the world’s premier marine brands should add environmental value to Sunseeker’s operations.”

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For further media information, contact:

Blair Drummond, Waste Services’ PR consultant – tel (m) 07798 686 217, email blair.drummond@btopenworld.com