As EMR continues to help more businesses benefit from the circular economy, it has outlined an ambition to extract 1 million tonnes of sustainable materials that would otherwise risk being sent to landfill.
To meet this aim, EMR has tasked its new UK Sector Head (Waste), Alastair Little, with reaching new customers, building new partnerships, and accessing waste streams that contain a host of valuable materials.
“Whether it comes from a business, local authority or the public sector, the UK produces a huge volume of waste – including food waste, paper, glass – and metals. This presents a huge opportunity for us to work with the businesses contracted to collect this waste to ensure as much recyclable material is recovered as possible.
“Over 22 years in the industry, I have helped create a closed loop for Tesco’s cardboard waste, delivered the waste pillar of Marks & Spencer’s Plan A sustainability strategy and was, most recently, the Regional General Manager for Yorkshire at Biffa. It’s given me a great insight into the opportunities that exist for closer collaboration between sectors and industries.”
From this vast experience, Alastair has been able to deeply understand the opportunity available to tap into this valuable source of high-quality feedstock for metal recyclers such as EMR.
“Waste is often an under-recognised source of metals. While ferrous metals such as iron and steel have traditionally taken centre stage, EMR has long appreciated the value of non-ferrous waste streams such as aluminium, and precious metals within these streams. By refining segregation and recovery processes, EMR is helping customers unlock even greater value from these high-potential materials.”
Transitioning to a system where even more metals are recovered and harnessed as valuable materials requires significant effort from Alastair and his team, building on the work already being done by energy from waste plants and other recovery processes.
“To maximise metal recovery, we are enhancing sorting technologies, strengthening partnerships with existing customers, and improving collection processes. For companies where we have more transactional relationships, we aim to introduce consistent grading criteria, transparent pricing structures, and streamlined logistics to ensure a more efficient and reliable service.”
The goal of reclaiming so much material is clearly going to require a lot of hard work and, as he gets to grips with his new role, Alastair’s first mission is to build the right team:
“I’m working very closely with our regional commercial teams because they have so many great relationships with customers already. While continuing to leverage this, I’m hoping also to grow a bigger team of my own, to make sure we’re partnering with as many companies in the waste sector as we can.
“If we have the team in place, we can sit behind waste companies and waste brokers, offering added value to their customers. This will get us into markets and projects that we would never otherwise be able to access. EMR brings high standards, industry-leading operating procedures and a great reputation for health and safety and CSR – it ticks a lot of boxes for companies.”
As Alastair has been up and down the country, visiting EMR sites and meeting his new colleagues, he has been struck by the investment and innovation that underpins the company’s operations and culture.
“ EMR has developed unique treatments and processes that set it apart from others. Visiting the IES facility at EMR Oldbury, I saw the cable stripping technology – and the copper that comes out at the end – it’s amazing. And it’s the same with R&D – the agility of a company as big as EMR is pretty cool.”
Over the coming years, he believes EMR is well placed to take this same dynamism and commitment to its approach with the waste industry:
“There’s a number of exciting ways that our business can partner with the waste sector – boosting the sustainability and profitability of both sides. We can and should become a trusted voice in this sector, delivering regular market reports and operating as thought leaders in this vital, sustainable industry.”
With a clear vision and the experience to match, Alastair is now well placed to turn this ambition into reality. And, just a few weeks into his role, that work has already begun.
Ready to find out how the waste sector can make more of the circular economy with EMR? Connect with Al on LinkedIn.
