Case Record – Waste management can have a heart.

Details:

Date: Location: Contract:

October, 2003 Carlisle Construction Training Centre

Issue:

Steve Smith previous centre manager for Carillion Construction Training at Carlisle shows waste management can have a heart. On my first day as the Centre Manager at the Training Centre in Carlisle, way down on my list of things to sort out was waste management. Fortunately Painting and Decorator assessor, Stephen Foster had other ideas.

Solution:

Regarding waste, our battle plan was an obvious one and followed the usual line of advance:
• No waste, use every last bit
• If there is waste re-use it in house and save money
• If I cannot re-use, find some one who can at no cost to us!
• And as a last resort recycle or get rid of it in the most environmentally responsible way available.

Much of the above is in place at the training centres for example our bricklayers re-cycle their bricks and mortar. Some things are still a problem like dust and noise. When investigating the dust problem I found that we had an adequate sawdust extraction system but what to do with it once it was collected and bagged? Stephen came to the rescue with a heart- rendering tale of the desperate plight of some moth eaten old nags at the local sanctuary. I visited the Stone House Animal Sanctuary and was surprised to find a wide range of healthy animals who apparently had been clutched from deaths door by the proprietor Elizabeth McDonagh. During a short meeting with Elizabeth, I arranged for her to collect the saw dust regularly. I returned to the centre wishing all problems were as easy to solve!

Business Benefits:

• Community relations
• Simple waste management