Initial helps Nissan recycle car plant waste

26 August 2009

Nissan is recovering greater levels of waste materials at its car production plant in Sunderland as a result of a waste picking facility developed and operated in partnership with Initial Industrial Services and Northumbria Recycling Ltd.

This partnership has increased annual waste recovery of recyclable materials by 30 per cent and reduced waste disposal cost by as much as £70,000 per year. The Sunderland plant, responsible for the manufacture of Nissan’s Qashqai, Micra and Note ranges, installed the recycling production facility as part of an ongoing waste management programme that is managed by FM partner Initial Industrial Services.

In addition to the increased levels of recycling and reduced costs, additional revenue has also been generated from the sale of the associated scrap, whilst new waste streams have been identified that should lead to greater recycling results in the future.The facility includes a dedicated picking line, believed to be one of only two in operation in the UK, where waste is fed overhead and separated manually by operators. As the waste goes through the picking process individual items are grouped together and then recycled including cardboard, paper, correx sheets, plastic bottles, plastic film, polystyrene, scrap glass screens, timber and ferrous material.

John Bearby Nissan Contract Controller commented: "We are thrilled with the results that have been achieved to date and the hard work that has been put in by our waste management partners. The initiative complies with Nissan’s Green 2010 Program, which is a global campaign to reduce manufacturing emissions by 7% by 2010 and the facility is believed to be unique in the UK motor industry."

Donnie McCoy General Manager of Initial Industrial Services said: "We work closely with our customers, such as Nissan, to provide efficient and ethical waste management and recycling solutions. As a result, we are able to contribute to the sustainability of their businesses and provide a service that has significant environmental benefits."

Initial Industrial Services, part of Initial Facilities Services, provides Nissan with a complete suite of waste management and recycling services as well as a range of cleaning and associated services.