ReNEWS Issue 12 – April 2017 by Sonder

ReNEWS

ALL THE LATEST FROM THE RENEWI MUNICIPAL DIVISION

MBT MANAGER HITS THE HIGH NOTES

2 X NUTRI BULLETS UP FOR GRABS April 2017

BETTER TOGETHER

Continued – P6&7

MONSTER CRUNCH Colleagues at Lingerton landfill site in Argyll & Bute have welcomed an exciting new addition to their Lochgilphead base in the shape of this bright yellow 26-tonne monster (below). The new compactor is similar in size to the old one used at Lingerton for the past 12 years, but technology makes it more efficient. Colin MacInnes, Area Operations and Recycling Manager, said: “The old one has done a lot of work and suffered problems lately. This new machine is a lot easier to use and the large spiked wheels push the waste down into the ground and compact it to give us more space in our new landfill cell, part of a £1.2-million investment in the site.”

Our man Paul talks campanology and shows he’s got real a-peal – p3

… WHAT’S INSIDESAFETY

P12

Following our merger with Van Gansewinkel and the launch of our new company, Renewi, we are in a great position to transform our industry. Although we are operating business as usual, the reaction to the merger has been positive among customers and stakeholders, who can see we’re now ‘better together’. Peter Dilnot, Renewi’s Chief Executive Officer, acknowledged that despite the challenges we have faced in the Municipal Division over the past year, the broader geographic spread and increased expertise put us in a great position as a leading wasteto-product company. He said: “We are well placed to grow, with our well-invested infrastructure and the right team to win.”

RING ANY BELLS? WATCH The new system to save lives

WIN!

A SECOND CHANCE The man given a leg up by Renewi

P11

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS Mercy dash saves the day for mum

02 ❙ April 2017

CHECK OUT YOUR CHAMPIONS! We’re always looking for stories about the people who make Renewi Municipal what it is, so our panel of Communications Champions are here to make it easier. Got a story about a hobby, fundraiser or best practice? Contact your Communications Champion and we’ll do the rest.

ARGYLL & BUTE Gail Orr, gail.orr@shanks.co.uk

CANADA Chris O’Toole, cotoole@orgaworld.ca

BDR Abi Cox, abigail.cox@ shanks.co.uk

CUMBRIA Joanne Crone, joanne. crone@shanks.co.uk

DERBY Emma Ray, emma. ray@shanks.co.uk

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY Dave Cheetham, david. cheetham@shanks.co.uk

ELWA Gurjeet Kaur-Assi, gurjeet.kaur-assi@ shanks.co.uk

ENGINEERING Steve Bullock, steve. bullock@shanks.co.uk

Managing Director James Priestley

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

How joining forces with Van Gansewinkel will lead to new opportunities and greater capabilities for the Municipal business Hello and welcome to issue 12 of ReNEWS and the first under our new brand, Renewi. We are delighted to now be ‘better together’ following our merger with Van Gansewinkel in February. Combining Shanks and Van Gansewinkel, to form Renewi, will not only open many opportunities for us as a business but also makes a genuine difference to the world around us – something we should feel proud of. Access to new technologies and a wider geographical reach will enable us to drive future growth. POSITIVE IMPACT While the focus of the merger is in the Benelux region, we will feel positive impact in the Municipal business, here in the UK and Canada. A firmer financial base will allow us to invest more in innovation and the greater spread of assets geographically will secure our position of being a waste-to-product leader and support our well-

established business. We have faced a challenging year in the Municipal Division, but being part of a large Group provides us with security to work through difficulties. IMPROVEMENT Meeting colleagues is an important priority for me, and gives me a greater understanding of what work needs to be done in order to resolve issues quickly. We know what needs to be fixed and we are fully committed to delivering what’s needed to drive improvement in our division. As we enter the new financial year, an ongoing area of focus for all of us is safety. I believe our leaders have a big responsibility to provide the right environment and training to enable you to complete your day-to-day tasks in the safest way possible and ensure you get home safe. Under the direction of our new Director of SHEQ, Tom Lynskey, we will be focusing more on site traffic management plans and permit to work and plant isolation procedures .

These measures are already coming into place with more than 1,000 manager-led behavioural audits conducted so far and physical and procedural changes in the workplace. As we enter the new financial year we can take time to reflect on last year, but equally look forward to the year ahead with the exciting growth opportunities as one Renewi family.

See P5 for how we’ll be reducing the risk in your workplace and putting safety first

Kerry Guthrie (far right) was part of a group who visited Oakgrove school to inspire kids FINANCE Sophia Kibirige, sophia. kibirige@shanks.co.uk

ICT Simon Betts, simon. betts@shanks.co.uk

PROCUREMENT Abdul Haneef, abdul. haneef@shanks.co.uk

SHEQ Alan Rhodes, alan. rhodes@shanks.co.uk

HR Claire Stackpoole, claire. stackpoole@shanks.co.uk

LEGAL Louise Thompson, louise. thompson@shanks.co.uk

RESOURCE & RECOVERY Tracy De-Filippis, tracy. de-filippis@shanks.co.uk

WAKEFIELD Sally Hurn, sally.hurn@shanks.co.uk

CLIMBING THE TREE OF WORK We’re making a difference to youngsters’ lives Making career choices whilst still at school can be a daunting prospect and sometimes a bit of reassurance goes a long way. That’s what our colleague Kerry Guthrie was on hand to deliver to local pupils, as part of the voluntary career mentoring scheme, Worktree. And according to Business Analyst Kerry, based at our head office in Milton Keynes, it can have a positive effect on your own career too. “I got a lot out of it too. It was interesting to hear what the pupils feel is important and it made me think about what I enjoy about my own job.”

Worktree is a charity helping young people succeed in work by raising their career awareness and improving their communication skills. One of the group’s schemes calls upon volunteers from businesses in the local area to take time to talk to students. CONFIDENCE BUILDING The sessions also help the students build confidence by speaking to adults. Kerry said she was impressed with what she found during her first volunteering session: “It was a fantastic experience. Small groups of students met each volunteer for a

set time, and were encouraged to ask questions on a range of topics. “A lot of the students wanted reassurance that, if they don’t have a definite career plan in mind right now, it’s possible to end up doing something different from what you’d hoped, yet still be happy and successful.”

GET INVOLVED Register your details at worktree. org and sign up for a session

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Editor: Jim Levack; Assistant Editor: Emily Craft; Contributor: David Lawrence; Sub Editor: Kate Feasey; Senior Art Editor: Natasha Lipinski-Cox; Production Manager: Julia Fulford. MADE BY SONDER LTD, VICTORIA COURT, 8 DORMER PLACE, LEAMINGTON SPA, WARWICKSHIRE CV32 5AE. MADEBYSONDER.COM

This newspaper is produced by

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ReNEWS

ALL THE LATEST FROM THE

RENEWI MUNICIPAL DIVISION

MBT MANAGER HITS

THE HIGH NOTES

RING ANY BELLS?

WIN!

P12

2 X NUTRI BULLETS UP FOR GRABS April 2017

BETTER TOGETHER

MONSTER CRUNCH

Colleagues at Lingerton landfill site in Argyll & Bute have welcomed an exciting new addition to their Lochgilphead base in the shape of this bright yellow 26-tonne monster (below).

Our man Paul talks campanology and shows he’s got real a-peal – p3

The new compactor is similar in size to the old one used at Lingerton for the past 12 years, but technology makes it more efficient. Colin MacInnes, Area Operations and Recycling Manager, said: “The old one has done a lot of work and suffered problems lately. This new machine is a lot easier to use and the large spiked wheels push the waste down into the ground and compact it to give us more space in our new landfill cell, part of a £1.2-million investment in the site.”

WHAT’S INSIDE…

SAFETY WATCH The new system to save lives

A SECOND CHANCE The man given a leg up by Renewi

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS Mercy dash saves the day for mum

NEWS ON TAHLEL MOVE FOR P5

P11

We want to help you keep up to date with all things Municipal wherever you are so from next issue all colleagues will receive a web link to the online version of ReNEWS.

April 2017 ❙ 03

CUMBRIAN LEADER’S TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT Paul has enjoyed the challenge of learning a new skill at All Saints Church, Cockermouth

SIGN OF THE CHIMES

There’s more to the art of bell-ringing than pulling ropes according to manager Paul

Site Manager Paul shows us the ropes as he rediscovers long-forgotten childhood hobby He has trekked all over the world and ticked off hundreds of lakeland fells, but it is another of Paul Wetherell’s passions that has added ‘a-peal’ when the weather keeps him indoors… bell-ringing. And while the Cumbrian campanologist admits he is still learning the ropes, it is a hobby that has seen him scale new heights – well up the belfry at least. Paul, Site Manager at our Hespin Wood Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility, started ringing when he was just eight, but it took a move to the Lake District and a pint of beer to renew the interest some 54 years later. COURAGE “I was having a beer in the pub when I heard the bells of my local church, All Saints in Cockermouth,” he explained. “My wife Sara said I should give it a go as it was something I’d done and I’d mentioned I might go back to it. “I’d been bell-ringing when I was a

child down in Kent, but then the group I was with dispersed. I plucked up the courage and went up the belfry and introduced myself and I’ve not looked back since,” he added.

I’m enjoying learning. “People don’t realise the complexities of what we do and it’s great to hear when everything comes together perfectly.”

PATIENT “I had to learn from scratch again and it was rather weird at my age having to learn something completely different. But the group was very patient with me and I’ve come on leaps and bounds. There’s still a lot to learn though.” Paul, who moved to the area in 2008, explained that it wasn’t just a case of pulling ropes. Complex routines have to be learnt together with the terminology that refers to things such as Oxford Bobs, rounds and changes. “You have to know where you are if the captain calls a bob, or where you are if he calls a single. Some of them can do amazing things with the bells because they’ve been doing it for so long. I don’t think I’ll ever get to their degree of skill, but

CRAFTY As well as being a regular in the Cockermouth belfry, Paul also rings at churches in Workington and Bridekirk and is part of a group that travels to other churches across Cumbria. And the crafty campanologists have even found themselves a pub with a bell tower over on the Durham coast! “The smallest belfry I’ve ever rung at was at a pub called the Black Bull, which was owned by a passionate bellringer who made his own belfry,” Paul explained. “The bells are small but they are amazing to listen to. “I’ve rung at about 20 or 30 different belfries but the one in the pub was my favourite as we rang for an hour and a half and then had lunch and a beer!”

Some can do amazing things with the bells because they’ve been doing it for so long. I don’t think I’ll ever get to their degree of skill, but I’m enjoying learning

04 ❙ April 2017

TRAINING TO MAKE YOU THE BEST YOU CAN BE New NVQ scheme is launched following Pulse survey

While Tracy De-Filippis tracks shipments from her desk in our Milton Keynes head office, Peter McMillan is working as an operative up in Argyll & Bute (A&B) near the west coast of Scotland. They are miles apart, both in distance and in their roles at the company, and yet they are about to follow a common goal as they embark on one of the new National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) that we have introduced. While we spend significant resources on compliance-related training every year, we can do far more to support our colleagues to enhance their own personal development – something which came out loud and clear in our last Pulse employee engagement survey. RECOGNITION Mark Cowan, Head of HR, explained: “We have taken the Pulse feedback on board and, as a result, we aim to offer all our employees access to NVQs in areas such as Recycling Activities, Line Management, Team Leading and Business Administration. “Personal development is important as it helps employees meet new responsibilities, enhances self-confidence and provides improved capabilities,” he said. “It’s important that employees are given recognition for the work that they do.” A five-day roadshow toured our sites to give a presentation to those interested in following

an NVQ and both Tracy and Peter signed up for the programme. Tracy, a Trans Frontier Shipments (TFS) Co-ordinator based at head office, said she was looking forward to making a start. “It’s going to be good to be able to push myself and add another string to my bow,” she admitted. CHALLENGE “I have two grown-up children and haven’t studied for years, so it’s going to be a challenge to see how I adapt but it’s something I’m really looking forward to.” Tracy’s NVQ will be business-related while Peter’s qualification will be in recycling. He said: “I’ve been doing the job for 12 years and I love it. This will be the first qualification that I’ve taken and it will be good to be able to tick the box and have something to show at the end of it. “It will be based on the things I already do, so it’s going to be enjoyable.”

THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN UP FOR THE NVQs

The new Derby waste facility has a 200,000-tonne capacity

A&B’s Peter McMillan hopes that completing the NVQ will enhance his current skill set

Anyone interested should drop an email to hradmin@shanks.co.uk

BUILDING A WINNING TEAM IN DERBYSHIRE New recruits learning the skills from nearby BDR ‘Building a team, not a collection of individuals.’ That has been the approach during continued recruitment at our new Waste Treatment Centre in Derby. To give the team the chance to hit the ground running once the site has gone live, later this year, they have been given insight into how we work by shadowing colleagues at the nearby Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) site. We found out their thoughts of Renewi so far.

Tracy is pleased to be adding another ‘string to her bow’ with a business-focused NVQ

Alan Rhodes, SHEQ Advisor, Derby What is the key focus of your job? Maintaining the standard of and advising on Quality, Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health issues that affect the working lives of employees, contractors, visitors and our neighbours.

What are your key aims going forward in this role? I’m currently reviewing working practices at BDR and developing traffic management improvements. My key aim is to help the highly skilled SHEQ compliance team that we have to improve H&S standards across the business. By combining our individual skill sets, we can make a real difference.

Why is safety so important for Renewi? To use the old adage, ‘no one goes to work to get hurt or made ill’ seems obvious, but how many of us take shortcuts every day and get away without any consequences? Just look at your drive home or that rushed errand; life is dangerous enough without adding to it. At work, you may not be the only one injured by your acts or omissions.

What is your impression of Renewi so far? A value-driven company with the drive to be the best in the field.

By combining our individual skill sets, we can make a real difference

Pre-treatment department, Derby Meet seven (soon to be 18) of the pre-treatment team at our new Waste Treatment Centre in Derby. What tasks will the pre-treatment team be handling on a day-to-day basis? The department has various roles to cover throughout the average day, which include weighbridge, refinement and mobile plant duties. What other roles will make up the team? We will be recruiting six mobile plant operators and two weighbridge operators later on in the year to complete the pre-treatment team. Where are the current colleagues based? All but one person from the seven hired live within 10 miles of the site.

Who’s who? 1 Richard Goodacre, Supervisor 2 Christopher Cook, Supervisor 3 Stuart 7 Newbold, Senior Operator 4 Anthony Woodhouse, Senior Operator 5 Jordan Beard, Operator 6 Daniel Casey, Operator 7 Balbinder Siniara, Operator

How integral will the pre-treatment team be to the functioning of the plant? The pre-treatment team are key to the site operation, as without this important cog in the machine, we wouldn’t be able to correctly process the waste into a fuel for use in the power generation plant.

What training are the new starters currently undergoing in the run-up to site launch? Currently, the pre-treatment team colleagues are completing in-depth Original Equipment Manufacturer training and on-the-job training at other Renewi facilities in the Municipal business.

What is the expected intake of waste at the Derby and Derbyshire Waste Treatment Centre? Our permit will allow us to take in up to 200,000 tonnes per annum.

All but one person live within 10 miles of the site

April 2017 ❙ 05

GETTING YOU HOME SAFE Tom Lynskey, Director of SHEQ, makes no apologies for cracking down on safety if it means Renewi people get home safely to their families

minutes with… JENNIFER MERCER, HR Advisor at Orgaworld Canada

Describe your job.

Employee relations, legal liaison, helping deliver company priorities, goal setting, establishing standards, writing job descriptions, strategic planning, HR component of Pulse results and development, performance management, employee appreciation, recruiting and inducting new employees. Behavioural monitoring means traits and shortcuts can be stopped before they cause accidents

WE’RE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU

How to turn negatives into safer positives Our new Director of SHEQ Tom Lynskey is wasting no time in making his mark. Behavioural monitoring is now in place across all our sites, with senior managers observing colleagues as they go about their usual daily tasks.

“Doing this identifies any issues and allows us to take positive corrective action,” Tom explained. “Sometimes, it’s something quite simple like having ‘three points of contact’ for getting out of a lorry. Leg injuries or falls can happen if the procedure is not followed and that might be something as straightforward as a driver holding a newspaper or his keys when he climbs down from the vehicle,” said Tom, who is based at our Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) site but travels the country visiting our other sites to oversee the SHEQ. “Using this technique gives managers a better understanding of unsafe

behaviours and why and where they might happen,” he explained. “It can be about defining what the problem is and looking at how we can resolve it, even if it means looking at the overall process design.” CONSISTENT Tom has worked at two other large businesses in the waste sector and is familiar with issues such as people walking near traffic and the huge number of lorry movements each day, which can be as many as 400. “We’re looking to create a very safe and consistent process,” Tom added. “We don’t just enforce the rules but we have a collaborative dialogue with

Q Q

What car do you have?

I drive a Chrysler 300. What hobbies do you enjoy away from work?

I enjoy painting, travelling and gardening.

What motivational quote do you live your life by?

What is your favourite meal?

What is your go-to TV programme?

What is your number-one song or piece of music?

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” – Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker.

I enjoy a lot of different ethnic food but my favourite basic meal is spaghetti and meatballs.

Modern Family.

Tom points out an inconsistency as part of the ‘collaborative dialogue’ with colleagues colleagues to ensure their work is safe and delivers consistent processes. “We look at our close call and behavioural data to better inform our decisions, with the aim of targeting non-conformances and having a conversation with colleagues and contractors, which provides an appropriate solution.”

Carmina Burana and anything Adele sings!

06 ❙ April 2017

HOUSES, DOMESTIC APPLIANCES AND T

OUR TIME IS NOW

8,000 employees ACROSS 9 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

We‘re now 'better together' following our merger with Van Gansewinkel It’s very easy when you’re working hard in your day-to-day role to forget just what an important and lasting impact our work has on the planet. Our vision is to be the leading wasteto-product company and that goal is even more achievable now we are part of a bigger, stronger organisation. Our purpose is to protect the world we live in by giving new life to used materials. In this way we will ● preserve the world’s limited resources ● protect the world from contamination ● provide new materials for manufacturers to create products ● enable our customers to meet their sustainability goals. IMPACT But just in case you’re still in any doubt about the important work we can do now we are Renewi, we thought we’d show you the impact we’re going to be making on the day-to-day lives of people around the world. Whether it’s helping to supply materials which can be formed into washing machines, producing bricks from incinerator ashes, making parts for vacuum cleaners or treating millions of litres of water, our message is crystal clear: waste no more.

WE HELP PHILIPS TO PRODUCE A VACUUM CLEANER MADE FROM

36% recycled plastic FROM DISCARDED OLD VACUUM CLEANERS

WE RECYCLE AROUND 1.2 MILLION TONNES OF GLASS A YEAR. THAT TRANSLATES TO AROUND 4.7 BILLION GLASS BOTTLES OR

9 bottles

FOR EVERY PERSON IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

CO² We avoid 2.88 million tonnes

OF CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS EACH YEAR – THAT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF THE TOTAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF ALMOST ALL THE HOUSEHOLDS IN AMSTERDAM

April 2017 ❙ 07

THE ENVIRONMENT – WE TOUCH LIVES WE RECYCLE AROUND 1.8 MILLION TONNES OF DEMOLITION AND RUBBLE WASTE A YEAR; ENOUGH TO BUILD MORE THAN

WE TREAT APPROXIMATELY

900 million litres

15,000 houses

OF WATER PER YEAR, AN ACTIVITY THAT’S CRITICAL IN PREVENTING POTENTIAL POLLUTION

WE WORK WITH MIELE TO DELIVER

back cast iron FOR WASHING MACHINES

COMBINED REVENUES APPROX.

€1.7 billion

WE RECYCLE OR RECOVER ENERGY FROM NEARLY 90% OF THE WASTE WE RECEIVE, TRANSFORMING AROUND

14 million tonnes

OF WASTE INTO VALUABLE PRODUCTS OR ENERGY EACH YEAR

FAQs from employees Q WE RECYCLE SOME

552,000 tonnes

ashes

WE PRODUCE BRICKS FROM FORMED BY INCINERATORS

OF PAPER AND CARD A YEAR. THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO NEARLY 2 BILLION NEWSPAPERS

Why did we change the brand?

We have created something new together – a strong leader in recycling. Our new brand reflects a fresh start and our position at the centre of the circular economy. While the name is new, it is important to understand that the new brand draws on much of what made Shanks and Van Gansewinkel great.

Is the Municipal Division irrelevant following the merger?

Our Municipal Division is definitely not irrelevant – it is at an important point in its development. We have a well-established business underpinned by long-term contracts and with opportunities for growth as new contracts come on line and through continuous improvement. The Municipal Division is well placed to grow in the years

ahead with its long-term contract structure, world-class technology, well-invested infrastructure and the right team to win. We can also benefit from using our capabilities in the Benelux region to grow our Municipal business.

When will signs and logos change?

We are conducting a phased roll-out of the new brand. We will not simply throw away legacy branded material but will instead be creative with ways to rebrand items without being wasteful.

Will the current focus on our dayto-day business operations get lost?

No. It is vital that we continue to focus on ‘business as usual’ by keeping everyone safe, serving our customers well and delivering our target results.

08 ❙ April 2017

HELPING HOMELESS MARTYN

Martyn (left) with Re-Valued Manager Steve Hyde outside the Featherstone shop

“It’s unbelievable the difference this has made to me!”

HUMBLING Martyn Haycock was left with nothing after he suffered a heart problem while abroad, which led to him losing both his job and his home. He finally managed to secure some accommodation but needed to furnish it, which was when he called in at the Re-Valued shop in Featherstone – the charity works with Renewi to find new homes for items of furniture. Manager Steve Hyde listened to Martyn’s story and decided to help get him back on his feet. Becky Davies, HWRC/Transfer

UNBELIEVABLE Becky added: “Steve usually takes about 90% of the items, which are cleaned up and sold in the shop or donated to causes like Martyn’s. “There is only one shop at the moment, but they are considering expanding because the

scheme is going so well.” Martyn was full of praise for the scheme. He said: “It’s unbelievable the difference this has made to me. Thanks to the service and the recycling scheme, I’ve been able to furnish my new home. “It means that I can put a difficult time in my life behind me and I’ve been able to start again.”

Councillor Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for environment and communities, said:

At this time of year, many people are having a clear-out. I’d like everyone to think carefully about donating items to their local charity or taking items they no longer need to one of our recycling centres so they can be reused to help others. This helps reduce the number of items going into landfill, which is kinder to the environment and helps people like Martyn too.

CLARE’S ‘NO CHOC’ DIET

BE FO RE

It means that I can put a difficult time in my life behind me and I’ve been able to start again

Station Manager at our Denby Dale Road site, helped deliver the items – including a bed, dining table and crockery – to Martyn’s new home. She said: “The charity has done a number of goodwill projects like this in the past, but this was the first time that I’ve gone along. It was humbling to be there. It’s not often I shed a tear, but I did on this occasion.” Becky explained that the Re-Valued shop is regularly stocked up with the items from special containers placed at the household waste sites in South Kirkby, Glasshoughton and Denby Dale Road.

Images courtesy of Pontefract and Castleford Express/ Wakefield Express

A scheme that recycles unwanted furniture left at three of our sites around Wakefield has helped give a homeless man a new start in life. And one colleague who helped move the items into the man’s new home admits she was moved to tears to see how much it meant to him.

A shadow of her former self: Sweet-toothed Clare is happy just baking for others now

AF TER

Cream ban crowns cake queen Slimmer of the Year It can’t be often that someone with a reputation for baking is crowned Slimmer of the Year. But that’s what has happened to Milton Keynes Compliance Administrator Clare Molyneaux, after losing weight and slimming her way into a size 12 dress. And the secret to her success? Not baking her favourite chocolate cakes or millionaire’s shortbread! “I bake every week and keep my husband supplied with muffins, ginger cake, coconut cake – in fact anything that doesn’t include chocolate or fresh cream,” she explained.

“I’ve also organised quite a few cake stalls at the office – cooking and baking is a real hobby of mine.” HONOURED Clare first joined a slimming club eight years ago and lost an incredible five stone. “I was doing well keeping it off, then nearly four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said. “Diets went out the window while I was having the gruelling treatment and old, very bad eating habits crept back in. I regained about two stone.” Clare took control again in May 2015

when she went to a Slimming World group with a friend. “I lost another three stone, so in total I am nearly six stone lighter and six dress sizes smaller,” she added. “Of course, the battle is keeping it off, but once you realise your eating habits have to change forever, it makes it easier. “The Slimming World award was voted for within the group I attend each Saturday morning. There are about 50 to 60 members, so I did feel honoured.”

TAKING PART… … that’s all that matters for Jason’s junior Rangers

AD PLANT UP FOR AN AWARD

PRESSURE “During their SATS exams, I told them just to go out and enjoy their football. There was no pressure; they’d had enough of that in the classroom.” Jason joked that “the younger ones are still better behaved” than his MBT workmates but that the skills he’s learnt coaching on the field have proved valuable in running a busy team on site too. He said: “It’s helped my motivation of other people and made me consider the ways I put important points across. I ensure that I say it in ways people understand.”

team,” he explained. “Some of our players this season have just started playing football, but we make sure they still get as much time as those who’ve been with us longer. “We lose more than we win over

the season, but when you see players improving and growing in confidence as they go through the year, that’s the best part of coaching them.”

Jason (top centre) hopes that one of his squad could follow in the footsteps of Everton ace Romelu Lukaku (right)

TANKS FOR THE TEAMWORK Big clean-up after design fault dilemma solved with chips! Design problems with a suspension buffer tank have led to a gruelling 11-week clean-up operation for colleagues. But their Herculean efforts mean the issue has now been flagged up in a bid to ensure other sites don’t suffer the same fate as Wakefield. Contract Director Colin Fletcher explained how the problem was uncovered: “We discovered that as part of the original design of the tank, the mixer fitted inside was not big enough. This meant it was unable to keep the organic matter suspended and the content separated into layers. “When it came to emptying the tank, we found that half of the 1,400-squaremetre capacity was full of fibrous material, which was difficult to remove.” Various companies were brought in to clean out the tank, each with their own specialist equipment, but in the

News in brief The BDR team came top at last year’s National Recycling Awards

All football coaches have issues to deal with, from Premiership tantrums to dodgy refereeing. It’s no different at Rotherham Rangers U12s, where football formations are sometimes the very last thing on players’ minds, particularly during exam season. Coach Jason Leake, our Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) Supervisor, said: “We forget that being 11 or 12 brings with it its own stresses and that affects how you approach a game.

DIFFERENTLY Everton fan Jason has been involved with the junior side for three seasons, teaming up with the youngsters when his son, Logan, joined them. “We approach things a little differently to a lot of the sides in that it’s not all about winning, it’s about doing the best we possibly can as a

April 2017 ❙ 09

For the second year running, our Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) site has been shortlisted at a top industry awards event. This time, the anaerobic digestion plant has been nominated in the Facilities category, awarding innovation and design in our industry. A team from the plant will be interviewed by judges from National Recycling Awards Energy from Waste, with the winners being announced in the summer. Abi Cox, BDR’s Community Education Liaison Officer, said: “It’s been a real team effort. Last year, we won an award after being shortlisted in three categories. This year we entered just one, but are hopeful that the passion we have for this facility and the great potential the technology has, will be recognised.”

Cyclists from last year’s Betley Bike-Curious fundraiser

RHODES ON ROAD IN CHARITY RIDE

end it was our own team on the site who hit upon the solution to mix the matter with woodchip to absorb the fibres. They were then taken away to a composting company in Cumbria, which meant the solution also counted towards our recycling rate. “The process took 11 weeks,” Colin said. “It wasn’t pleasant – the cleanup was finished by someone actually getting into the tank – but everyone pulled together to get the job done.”

Cleaning gets under way after the process residue was pumped out of the tank

Derby’s SHEQ Advisor Alan Rhodes will be joining a crew of ‘Bike-Curious’ cyclists to tackle a gruelling 130-mile route for charity in July. The annual Betley Bike-Curious event raises thousands of pounds for worthwhile causes. The beneficiaries this year are Approach, a service supporting adults suffering with mental health problems, the Up and Under Group, enabling disadvantaged youngsters to experience the great outdoors, and the Douglas Macmillan Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent. If you’d like to support Alan by donating, email him at alan. rhodes@shanks.co.uk

10 ❙ April 2017

Operations Manager Christian relocated to Surrey with his family

Whatever the weather…

Despite record amounts of snow and rain at the end of last year, our colleagues in Surrey, Canada, prove that tough conditions won’t dampen their spirits as they describe their ‘excitement ’ at the upcoming acceptance of first waste. The unique biofuel facility that has been eight years in the making will transform the garden and food waste of 520,000 people from the City of Surrey. In the first year, the city will provide 65,000 tonnes of residual organics, which will be converted into 40,000 tonnes of nutrient-rich bedding for the local landscape and 100,000 gigajoules

of bio-methane gas – enough to fuel 42 city waste trucks and 60 maintenance vehicles travelling to and from the site. Operations Manager Christian Dietrich, who relocated from London to British Columbia last year with his family, said he and the team are looking forward to Day One at their facility: “The experience and the knowledge of the team here has been really important in terms of the progression of this complex facility. We are all excited to do what we do best once first waste arrives.”

I’LL TAKE THE NIGHT ROAD

Michael’s all set with his trusty two-wheeled steed

Families of sick children will get a helping hand thanks to our Michael Michael Harvey hopes the only stars he sees on a charity bike ride will be those high in the sky. The Lochgilphead technical assistant is ‘gearing’ up to tackle the 50-mile Edinburgh Night Ride but took a ‘brake’ from his training to tell us why he has set himself such a gruelling twilight task. “I’m raising money for Ronald McDonald House in the grounds of Glasgow’s Royal Hospital,” Michael said. “It’s an incredible little haven that provides a home for hundreds of families every year for free while their child is receiving treatment at the hospital. It allows families to stay

close to their sick child during what can often be an incredibly difficult and undoubtedly emotional time – a time when they really need each other most. “As an independent charity, Ronald McDonald House in Glasgow receives no government or NHS funding and is reliant on the generosity of kind supporters.” PROMISE Michael has a new bike to tackle the ride on 17 and 18 June and is looking forward to his night-time adventure: “The route will take us up, over, down and around Edinburgh, starting early evening and continuing through the

night. They promise panoramic views, but I’m just hoping I’ll not be seeing stars!” BIG-HEARTED The 50-mile circuit around the Scottish capital will see the big-hearted pedallers head past Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh Castle, The Forth Bridges and Holyrood, after seeing the sunset over the Firth of Forth. Michael has set up a JustGiving page, so anyone able to pledge money to help boost the coffers of Ronald McDonald House should head to justgiving.com/fundraising/ m-harvey6

The route will take us up, over, down and around Edinburgh, starting early evening and continuing through the night. They promise panoramic views, but I’m just hoping I’ll not be seeing stars!

IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE WATER? Wakefield wins award for fourth time on the trot

EMPLOYEE OF THE

QUARTER

The development of a new electronic permit system for Wakefield’s residents has helped see Joanne Everson land the Employee of the Quarter award. It is the fourth time in a row that an employee from Wakefield has won the accolade. One of those who nominated Joanne said she consistently goes over and above her role as admin and support services supervisor at the facility.

They added: “She is the ‘go-to’ person for all the Household Waste Recycling Centre team and frequently deputises while her manager is away, helping with day-to-day operations. “Joanne consistently delivers her daily, weekly and monthly tasks and has enhanced the service by getting data together and sending it out to the team.” The new online permit system allows residents and commercial vehicles bringing in waste to request new permits. Joanne worked alongside a software developer on the design and led communications with the council to get proofs signed off and demonstrations rolled out. Joanne said: “I was very surprised when I was told I had won and am truly grateful. The award might have my name on it but it’s really for the whole team at Wakefield;

for the managers and their leadership who showed their faith in me through to my colleagues for all their support. I’m also grateful to those who nominated me.” The other nominees for Employee of the Quarter were BDR’s Beverley Armitage, and Neil O’Connor and Phil Rushforth, both based at South Kirkby.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES SOME RECOGNITION?

NOMINATE

Fill in the ConnectUs nomination form and email to leanne. pullen@shanks.co.uk

Joanne Everson created a new online permit system to clinch the award

THE KEY TO GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE Mum’s lost car keys spark Renewi colleagues’ rescue dash Forget the 1990s blockbuster – stressed mum Suzanne Day really did suffer The Nightmare Before Christmas after losing her keys at one of our recycling centres. But as with all the best fables, there was a happy ending thanks to two kindhearted Wakefield colleagues. The drama began when Suzanne and her two young children arrived at our Welbeck Household Waste Recycling Centre to drop some clothes in one of the donations containers. Team Manager Gina Turner said: “For some reason she gave the car keys to one of the children to look after. They then jumped out of the car

and threw the keys into the clothing container by accident. “The problem was that we can’t get into it without the contractor and it was just 20 minutes before we closed. The lady and her children were stranded with no car keys, no phone and no money – and her husband was at work two hours away!” BREAKDOWN Pete Dyas, one of the site operatives at Welbeck, tried to arrange for a breakdown truck to tow the car back to Suzanne’s home before Gina agreed to chauffeur the family the seven miles back to their house.

Gina added: “I dropped them off and then, when her husband came back, they returned to pick up the car rather than leave it at the centre overnight.” That also meant Gina and Pete had to return to the remote site on a cold December night to let them in. “The next day, we arranged for the contractors to come and open up the container a day early so that we could retrieve the keys,” Gina added. “Luckily, because she had been here at the end of the day, they were near to the top. “Since it happened, we try to watch people when they get out of their cars because quite a few have their keys in

their hand when putting items in the containers. If we see them, we tell them to put their keys in their pocket.” EMOTIONAL And Gina admits it wasn’t the first time that there has been drama at the centre as Pete saved the day for a distraught gentleman too. She said: “The man was getting rid of some garden waste and dropped his watch into the container. “It was of great emotional value because his late wife had given it to him. The next day, Pete came in with his metal detector and was able to find the watch for him.”

April 2017 ❙ 11

News in brief

SUPPORT FOR BIKE ACE KYLE RYDE Keen biker Gayle Harrison is backing one of the country’s leading young riders by signing up as a sponsor for him for a fifth year. Kyle Ryde races in the World Supersport series but still has to secure most of his own funding. And it was at a fundraiser in Kyle’s home village of Jacksdale, in Nottinghamshire, that Gayle caught up with the young star, along with his manager, and twice World Superbike Champion, Jonathan Rea. Gayle, Office and Administration Manager at Derby, said: “Kyle became the youngest-ever British 125cc champion by winning the 2011 British 125 Championship. His mum and dad have worked tirelessly and have managed to raise half of the money needed to keep him racing for the whole of the 2017 season.” Gayle is a riding fanatic and has owned her bike ‘Suzi Savage’ for 22 years

Pete Dyas and Gina Turner went above and beyond to reunite a customer with her car keys after she displaced them at our HWRC

SITE CONCEPT COULD SPREAD

(l-r back) Amir Fakhr, Reza Malakerad and Jo Everson with (l-r front) Jonny Gleeson and Councillor Cummings

Cumbernauld idea boosts safety

Site Manager John Wilson ensures that safety is a top priority at Cumbernauld

Colleagues at Cumbernauld’s Energen Biogas AD facility are celebrating after being named regional winners in the Renewi Municipal Safety Awards. And their innovative idea might soon be used at other sites around the UK. The safety-conscious colleagues contacted a local printer and asked him to print a site plan on a plain white magnetic board. Next, they wrote the names of any contractors who were working on the site on magnets, which were then placed in the correct position on the whiteboard.

It was a simple procedure but meant that, at a glance, employees could see which contractors were on-site and where they were working. The system also meant that in the event of a site evacuation, contractors could be located quicker, which would speed up the operation. Marie Thomson, Admin Manager at the Cumbernauld site, said: “We are so happy with the award and to be able to share our idea with colleagues elsewhere. Hopefully, by working together we can make Renewi an even safer place to work for everyone.”

HOMELESS WILL FEEL THE BENEFIT A bundle of coats has been donated to a homeless charity thanks to colleagues at our Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) site. The unnamed and unclaimed items included fleeces and padded hi-vis coats belonging to colleagues no longer working at the site. Having read a news article about the theft of a rail full of coats for the homeless in Sheffield, BDR decided to give the items to Sheffield homeless charity the Archer Project. Archer Project CEO Tim Renshaw said: “We really rely on support from the community so it’s brilliant to see local businesses reaching out and donating to us. Regular clothing donations are a lifeline for the homeless and are really useful during times of poor weather.’

WIN!

12 ❙ April 2017

CHARITY NEWS PEAK-Y BLINDER!

ELWA Engineer Stan Tassell has completed a mountainous 12-hour trek for charity. Stan, who is based at Jenkins Lane, was part of a four-strong team that tackled the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. The quartet are raising money for Sunshine for Sumner, which is supporting the family of a little boy who has been diagnosed with a terminal and, so far, untreatable brain tumour. Stan explained: “Recently, some pioneering doctors have developed a revolutionary and experimental course of treatment. As you can imagine, it is extremely expensive and we want to help raise funds for this treatment for Sumner.” To sponsor Stan, visit justgiving. com/crowdfunding/nataliemalupa-2

TWO Nutri Bullet Blenders Get ready for summer with this nifty little blender!

The summer is drawing ever closer and for many people, longer daylight hours and better weather signal the start of a health kick. What better way to get going than with a Nutri Bullet Blender? Two of these blenders are up for grabs with the tools to burst open seeds, crack through stems and shred tough skins to get

the most out of your fruit and veg. Send your inspired shots of Renewi site landscapes in the sunshine for your chance to win a prize and be featured in the next issue of ReNEWS. All entries must be submitted by 31 May 2017. Make sure to include your name and job title when you submit your entry.

A previous phot og competition en raphy try Taras Skuratko from , Canada

Stan (far right) and teammates Natalie and Stephen on the trek

EMAIL YOUR ENTRY TO communications@renewi.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS The two winning images will be the ones judged to be the most visually appealing, original and relevant to the theme and will feature in the next edition of ReNEWS. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. ReNEWS reserves the right to change the prizes without prior notice. The prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. The closing date is 31 May 2017.

Y FANTAS LL FOOTBA

With just weeks remaining until the end of a hard-fought season, Chris Byrne still has his sights set on winning the first Shanks Shooters Fantasy League title. As ReNEWS went to press, the UK plant and vehicles manager’s Phoenix V side had opened up a healthy 40-point lead. But Real Sosobad manager Claire Stanton was hot on his heels. Further down the table, just 21 points separate ninth-placed Michael Byrne’s MakingEmileofit side on 1,510 and Stan Tassell’s Berkshire Rovers in fifth. Special thanks must go to organiser Alistair Brookes and his Overpaid Donkeys, currently sitting just below mid-table in 38th place.

MANAGER’S NAME

PTS

1 Chris Byrne

1656

2 Claire Stanton

1616

3 Sean Docherty

1577

4 Paul Robertson

1546

5 Stan Tassell

1531

5 Steve Kendrick

1531

6 Ross Williamson

1527

7 Nathan Gorry

1521

8 Craig Owen

1518

9 Michael Byrne

1510

NICK AND THE GANG’S CHARITY TREK

When Nick Blake (above right) laces up his walking boots in May, he will be a man on a mission – a 43-mile mission. The contract director for Cumbria and Dumfries & Galloway will be joined by a team, flying the flag for Renewi, and 3,000 other hardy walkers looking to complete the 43-mile stretch to Barrow. Fellow partakers from our Cumbria sites include Craig Dunnett, Paul Wetherell (above centre) and wife Sara, Jan Boniface and husband Simon, and South Kirkby’s Jade Wilkes with partner Ryan. All money raised will go to the North West Air Ambulance, you can sponsor the walkers at keswick2barrow.co.uk/walkerdonation

LAST ISSUE’S WINNER!

Congratulations to last issue’s competition winner, Michael Titmus, Frog Island Weighbridge Operator, who won an Amazon Echo Smart Speaker.

JUST FOR FUN SPOT THE DIFFERENCE When HWRC Manager Jan Boniface isn’t at our Hespin Wood site in Cumbria, she enjoys taking underwater snaps and scuba diving. Here is a dazzling picture of a shoal of blue-lined snapper fish she took during a recent holiday to the Maldives. But all is not as it seems. Can you spot the five differences between Picture 1 and Picture 2?

PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2

Answers: 1. Missing fish at the top. 2. A fish on the bottom left is missing an eye. 3. A fish in the middle is facing the other way. 4. Missing fish, bottom right. 5. Missing fish, centre, far right.

HAVE YOUR SAY

SEE P2 FOR YOUR

Communications Champion

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