Page 1032 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 382

31 October 2013

Waste Management

Xmo Strata have been recycling waste (as many others claim to do) for many years.

Unfortunately, given the nature of the sign industry, we are aware of many examples of bad practice
and can even cite examples where customers signs have been diverted and sold on auction sites.

In 2012, we integrated our waste management process into our Xmoman Management Information
System and worked with our supply chain to improve traceability. Our reports now include the type of
waste, details of any skips used, the materials recycled, those sent to Landfill, details of the carriers
licence, the destination and the destination licence number.

This information is very important to us and not only protects us, but also protects our customers from
prosecution, given that they are vicariously liable for contractors’ waste that is removed from their
sites.

Since we integrated this data, we have achieved a recycling ratio of 95.7%, with only 4.3% of our
waste going to landfill; this was recognised by judges of The Kent Excellence In Business Awards and
as a result we were finalists in the 2013 Business Commitment to The Environment category.

This month, the Environmental Agency (EA) announced that a crackdown on illegal waste and fly-
tipping resulted in 1,279 unlicensed dumping sites being shut down in England last year.

It claims that construction and demolition waste was discovered at 25% of the sites and asbestos was
found in one in 20 of the illegal dumping sites.

The EA also indicated that it had spent £17 million in the past year tackling waste crime, but estimates
that illegal activity costs the Treasury and legitimate business as much as £1 billion.

As part of our ongoing XmoMan training, our project team will be forecasting waste in advance of us
doing work as part of an environmental awareness initiative, so we can use this data to check that the
waste removed from site all reaches the licensed destination and that none of it is diverted by our
appointed waste carriers employees on the way.

We are all a product of learning. Every skill we have; everything we know; everything we believe and everything we do has
been learned throughout the course of our lives. Some of us learn best by studying graphs and charts, some through visual
presentations, and some by reading detailed text books. It is important that we receive information in a format that works
for us as individuals! That’s why at Xmo Strata we use a variety of communication platforms such as bulletins, newsletters,
videos etc. However, if you feel there is a better way for us to share health and safety information, please let us know.
Ultimately, your safety is in your hands – but we will do all we can to keep you well informed!