The renewi reporter 14 by Sonder

Reporter The

WIN!

AN 8GB SAMSUNG GALAXY TABLET

… THE NEW NAME FOR YOUR MUNICIPAL DIVISION NEWSPAPER

January 2018

LAST MAN STANDING

WHAT’S INSIDE…

P4 FOOTE-LOOSE The miracle marathon man

P10 OUR TV HERO Lifesaver Nigel in mercy dash

P11 HOLS HORROR HWRC team in passport hunt

SMASHING SUCCESS

“It’s only a prang,” says racing hero: full story p3

LITTLE DRIP SAVES THOUSANDS When a tweak or two to the system cuts weight… and costs

A series of simple changes to the drying process at one of our newest and most innovative sites is set to lead to major savings. The review into increasing moisture loss to reduce the weight of the domestic

waste we handle at Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham (BDR) could save as much as £100,000 for every 1% improvement. Several changes are being made to the drying process, leading to energy savings both from the cost of running the fans

and the reduced cost in weight of the waste. Simon Lund, Contract Director at BDR, revealed how small tweaks have made a world of difference. Full story – p5

02 ❙ January 2018

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

TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR MUNICIPAL STARS James urges innovative colleagues to ‘make yourselves heard’ locally and nationally as we head into exciting new year Happy new year and warm wishes to all! ReNEWS has changed to become The Renewi Reporter as we have generously given its masthead to our new group-wide magazine, which has been branded as ReNEWS. It was such a good name our Excom couldn’t resist pinching it for the magazine. In fact, it’s just that kind of open sharing of ideas and improving the brand of Renewi that we want to encourage. Rest assured The Renewi Reporter will continue to provide stories from people across the company and keep you up to date with our latest ventures.

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

CANADA CUMBRIA Ann-marie Cooper, Joanne Crone, joanne. amcooper@orgaworld.ca crone@shanks.co.uk

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

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

ELWA Katie Turner, katie. turner@shanks.co.uk

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

FINANCE Sophia Kibirige, sophia. kibirige@shanks.co.uk

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

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

PROCUREMENT Heidi Brown, heidi. brown@shanks.co.uk

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

LEGAL Sandra Dunsterville, sandra.dunsterville@ shanks.co.uk

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

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

SAFETY AND E-LEARNING What else is new? Well, we have an e-learning scheme to be launched in mid-April to ensure people get access to really good materials. This will improve inductions and further training for our people –

including health and safety. We made great progress in 2017 and will continue this trend with this new method. Also, coming up is the next employee engagement survey. We encourage everyone to have their say so that we can put the results into action. Teams will be driving these changes forward locally, so be sure to make yourselves heard if you have any suggestions. RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE I’d like to put a focus on celebrating colleagues too. If you know of someone who’s gone above and beyond or works exceptionally hard, give them a nomination in our employee of the quarter awards. It’s always great to recognise those around us who do such a consistently fantastic job… those people who will ensure we start this exciting new year on the front foot.

CREATE A SCOOP!

We’re looking for a cartoon reporter to lead your paper We’ve become The Renewi Reporter and we want you – and your family and friends – to create a cartoon logo. Always doodling? Do you know someone who’s got a knack for cartoons? Give it a go and your Renewi Reporter creation could be on the front page of the paper. GET CREATIVE Whether it’s a typical New York reporter with tipped-back fedora or a bushbaby with a notepad, we want your take on our new title. It doesn’t have to be a work of art either because once our design judges pick the winner, we’ll make the tweaks to get your creation ready to appear in the masthead of the paper. The Renewi Reporter Editor in Chief Helen Kemp said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that the name of our paper was

loved so much the Excom has decided to name the new magazine after it. What greater compliment could there be than that? “Now we want to take The Renewi Reporter on to the next level by giving it a new identity and some of that will come from the cartoon character that one of our readers comes up with.” Make sure to look out for the next edition to see if your creation ends up on the front page.

WIN!

A SAMSUNG GALAXY TABLET

TURN TO P12 TO ENTER

200mm

Editor: Jim Levack; Assistant Editor: James Ball; 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

100mm

January 2018 ❙ 03

A COUPLE OF SUPER SMASHERS Terry (left) and Peter (right) with their beat-up Nissan

Follow signs for progress

BANGER BUDDIES Drama on the track as daredevil duo tackle Death Destruction race for charity Two East London Renewi workers took on a crazy challenge to raise money for charity in a race that saw their cars smashed to bits but finish in glory. Forget the squeaky-clean world of F1 where crashes can get you kicked off a team; banger racing encourages every dent and ding. Started in the 60s, the race is run on a dirt oval with cars that are stripped back with windows removed, roll cages added… and not much else. THE CAUSE The Arena Essex Raceway was the setting for this twisted metal battle where ELWA Vehicle Operations Manager Peter Westwood and RoRo Driver Terry Lucas tackled the race to raise money for Homes 4 Heroes. “We thought it would be a good idea if we could raise some money for charity,” Peter said. “We chose Homes 4 Heroes after reading stories from many of the veterans. I used to race back in 1976 and Terry raced over 25 years ago.”

Colleagues at our sites around the country will be arriving at work to spanking new signs bearing our new brand name by the end of spring. The signmakers have already been to our sites to measure up and work is now under way to get the new Renewi logo up and prominent in as many of our sites as possible by April. Once the measurements have been taken and an audit of the old-style signage carried out, we will liaise with every one of our local authority partners to make sure they are comfortable with the changes we’re making. Mark Robinson, our Head of Property and Insurance, said: “There are a few stages that we have to go through before all the sites have their new signs, but once the process is complete we will be fully unified as Renewi.”

Below: Peter crosses the line with his car looking a little worse for wear!

The vet eran racers strapped themselves into their two raceprepped Nissan Almeras ready for the oncoming chaos. Mud flew and metal crunched. Peter said: “Terry’s first race was going really well. He managed to finish eighth and qualified for the final, which was excellent. “In my first race I finished just outside the top 10. I then had to go in the consolation race. I finished fifth, which meant I also qualified for the final.”

After both qualifying for the final, it looked like it might be all over. With the car struggling Peter thought it was the end of his campaign. “Our pit crew and star Renewi fitter, Abie, got the car back up and running again for the Death Destruction race, which starts with

DISASTER STRIKES It was going well until disaster struck and Terry took a couple of hits that led to the race being stopped. “He was badly winded,” Peter said. “We restarted but I was struggling with selecting my gears, so I pulled out.”

Our wives think we’re mad, but our grandchildren think we are both heroes

EFFECTIVE The latest milestone came when our Dunedin House head office and its car park in Milton Keynes were fitted for their new signs, which went up in November. The gradual process started when our first branded truck took to the streets in Scotland last autumn. Mark said: “We have carried out an audit and an internal review of all our signage to check on locations and sizes to see whether every sign needs to be replaced. “In one place we had four signs on top of each other, so it’s a good opportunity to improve what we have.”

Reporter The

… THE NEW NAME FOR YOUR

MUNICIPAL DIVISION NEWSPAPER

WHAT’S INSIDE…

WIN!

AN 8GB SAMSUNG GALAXY TABLET

January 2018

LAST MAN STAND ING

P4 FOOTE-LOOSE The miracle marathon man

40 cars and ends when only one car is still running,” he added. WINNING WRECK Peter drove hard to win the Death Destruction race and despite being smashed to bits, the Nissan still runs. “We’re both a bit sore and got some nice bruises to prove it but had an enjoyable day. Our wives think we’re mad, but our grandchildren think we are both heroes. “We would like to thank the friends and colleagues who came and supported us – we hope you all had a good day and enjoyed it. We have raised £1,575 so far, which is fantastic, so a very big thank you.”

P10 OUR TV HERO Lifesaver Nigel in mercy dash

P11 HOLS HORROR HWRC team in passport hunt

SMASHING SUCCESS

“It’s only a prang,” says racing hero:

full story p3

LITT LE DRIP SAVES THOUSANDS When a tweak or two

NEWS ON TAHLEL MOVE FOR to the system cuts weight… and costs

and the reduced cost in weight waste. Simon Lund, Contract of the Director at BDR, revealed how small tweaks have made a world of difference. Full story – p5

We want to help you keep up to date with all things Municipal wherever you are, so all colleagues now receive a web link to the online version of The Renewi Reporter.

PUTTING MY BEST FOOTE FORWARD

04 ❙ January 2018

Inspirational heart attack survivor’s amazing fightback

Gary’s caught the running bug as he trains for the MK Half Marathon

After suffering a heart attack, Gary Foote could barely walk. Now, just two years later, he has incredibly completed a half-marathon in support of the organisation that helped him. Drive and determination saw Gary defy the odds by finishing the Milton Keynes winter half-marathon to raise funds for British Heart Foundation. PETRIFIED “Just over two years ago I suffered a heart attack. I was 34 and it was a complete shock. I’d had no previous heart problems and there had been no symptoms leading up to it,” the senior payroll & HR reporting officer said. “I went from a normal day at work to a critical care unit in eight hours via two hospitals and a 20-mile ambulance ride. “Lying in a critical care unit after an emergency procedure to insert stents into my coronary arteries, I don’t mind admitting that I was petrified. Not only of that moment but also of what the future was going to be like for me and my family. How were we going to get back to any sort of normal?” While Gary could barely walk it was the mental anxiety that came with every ache and pain that was as bad.

I have heart disease and that’s not going to change… but on the whole I feel like I’m winning

TWO INTO ONE TIME

He said: “The tiredness was indescribable after even the smallest exertion and people were telling me what I could and couldn’t do, what I should eat, how I needed to be active but not overdo it. Pills for this, pills for that. I wanted to hide.” Gary overcame the initial shock and quickly set about changing his lifestyle. “Mentally and physically it has been a long road, not just for me but for my family too.” CHALLENGES “I’m fitter and healthier than I’ve been for a long time, though some days it’s still difficult. I have heart disease and that’s not going to change. I’ll never be able to ignore even the most innocuous ache or pain, but on the whole I feel like I’m winning.” For Gary, running has become a huge part of his life: “It now takes up a lot of my free time and energy. It challenges me and proves to me each time I go out how much stronger I am now compared to then.” To join Gary ’s fight against heart disease, take a look at his Just Giving page at justgiving.com/garyfoote

1ST

will include: ● a single effective way of working using a single collaboration area for our teams across Municipal ● enhanced ability to find colleagues ● greater skill and information support ● a ccess to easy-to-use video conferencing and collaboration work spaces, such as SharePoint ● reduced travel time and costs, and a reduction in our carbon footprint

● i ncreased personal and team productivity as a result of more intuitive functionality. Employee feedback and careful consideration of the best digital solution led to Microsoft being chosen as the new partner. Peter added: “This platform will provide unified Renewi email, easy-to-use office tools, conferencing capability and an online environment for Renewi communities and work groups.”

1WSTITICHKIT

I was running no more than 30 seconds at a time to begin with. Keep chipping away and believing in yourself. Keep at it and you’ll get there.

SLOW & 2 ST EADY

The temptation is there to do a lot very quickly. You’ll pick up injuries that way. Slow and steady wins the race every time.

GET 3 AD VICE

I’ve joined Facebook groups, talked to experienced runners at work and sought advice where I can. It’s been really useful.

REAL 4 GO ALS

I set myself the goal of 5k initially. Set your goals in manageable steps and you’ll feel great when you reach them.

BAKING? IT’S AS EASY AS 1-2-3, SAYS JILL Generous sweet-toothed employees helped one of our teams raise a mouth-watering £345 for charity. Jill Tidswell, Site Administrator at South Kirkby, organised the Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning that saw some of our colleagues show off their Paul Hollywood side. Best Baker first prize went to Andrew Weston’s wife for her cupcakes.

Collaboration the key to new digital choice

Our teams will be better equipped to communicate and work more effectively together when a new digital platform is rolled out. The system, which brings together both the Shanks and Van Gansewinkel systems, will see a new Microsoft platform installed by March. “The platform will be central to how we communicate and will help us move towards one way of working,” explained CEO Peter Dilnot. Key benefits from the new platform

GET FIT WITH GARY

2ND 3RD

DELICIOUS Suzanne Dakin, who works on reception, took second with a stunning cheesecake while third place went to Jill for her carrot and walnut cake. She joked: “I think mine was the best! The main thing was that everyone was so incredibly generous to a great cause.”

January 2018 ❙ 05

WET MEANS WEIGHT… SO WE CUT IT Inside the vast biodrying hall where the savings are made

Manual handling Safety is the top priority at Renewi today and the main aim for future plans too. The Vision 2022 targets put zero serious incidents as a key goal. In this mini Safety Tips series we spoke with Adam King, Head of SHEQ (above), about safe working practices across the business.

TOP SAFETY TIPS RIGHT TO REFUSE

MOISTURE MATTERS How we are taking action at BDR to make savings

The team at BDR were tasked with increasing moisture loss to cut the weight of the domestic waste we handle. A small increase has made a huge difference. We asked Contract Director Simon Lund how they did it.

How does moisture loss come into it? We receive 250,000 tonnes of waste a year, then shred it and place it in a biodrying hall for about 14 days. At the back end of the facility, once we’ve removed the recyclables, the remaining refuse-derived fuel (RDF) is sent for incineration. We separate the organic waste and send that to our onsite anaerobic digestion unit, which provides the site with about a third of the energy required. We’ll take in moist black-bag waste with the aim of reducing the

moisture and weight. For example, we’ll get 1,000 tonnes in with the aim of cutting that to 700 – a 30% moisture loss.

Why did this need addressing? Early last year we were tracking at around 26-27% moisture loss. That’s a key financial driver as a 1% improvement in moisture loss would save the company around £100,000. We’ve completed a thorough review, which revealed a few issues with the drying process.

How did you tackle the problem? By reviewing the height of the waste and the gap in the middle of the waste profile. There’s a large V-shape down the middle that allows air flow. The floor is a concrete bed with grooves to allow air flow, so we found

If it’s beyond your physical capability, even if it’s a light item, you always have the right to refuse.

MACHINES Check to see if there are any vehicles or machines, forklift etc, that can assist in moving an object. Simon Lund and the new biodrying hall days before it was opened

30%

14 days

THE MOISTURE LOSS TARGET FOR BDR

IS THE OPTIMUM DRYING TIME FOR DOMESTIC WASTE

£100,000

250,000

SAVED PER 1% MOISTURE LOSS INCREASE

that by maintaining the correct size V-shape and clearing the blocked channels of crust that had formed in the floor, it had an immediate effect. The airflow in the biodrying hall is created by a series of large fans, so when the floor gets blocked the fans have to work hard to move the air, which means they use more power. Alongside the £100,000 per 1% moisture loss figure, with proper air flow we’re also saving power. We brought these changes in during July and August last year and reached around 31% moisture loss.

TOTAL TONNES OF WASTE BDR HANDLES EVERY YEAR

Does the weather affect moisture levels? During summer we have a natural moisture loss but try to reduce the peaks and troughs. We tested further with drying times and found around 14 days is optimum. The key is creating a predictable and stable process.

How much do you think has been saved overall? With an increased moisture loss and reduced power consumption by the fans, we’re on track to make significant savings for the business every year.

MECHANICAL AIDS If there are trolleys, sack trucks or other ways to make carrying the load easier, make sure to use them.

T.I.L.E. Assess the Task at hand – do I have the capacity to do this? Individual – do I need assistance? Load – assess the object being moved; is it safe? Environment – is there a clear path in which to move the object?

Safety is always the first concern. Remember to use everything available to you IF SOMETHING DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT & COULD AFFECT OTHERS:

SPEAKUP

Call 0808 100 5689 with your concerns or log it at intouchfeedback.com/shanks using access code 74265

06 ❙ January 2018

THE RENEWS SUR

WHAT’S THE VERDICT? We asked you to let us know what you think about our newspaper – here are the results ReNEWS, now known as The Renewi Reporter (see p2), is your paper. We wanted to know what we could do to improve – what you thought was good or not so good – and readers from sites across the business kindly took the time to tell us. “This publication is all about us,”

said Mark Cowan, Head of HR. “We’re always looking for stories about our colleagues at all levels of the business. The Renewi Reporter is a great tool for communicating site and colleague news across the business.” THE RIGHT TRACK “To make sure we’re on the right

70%

track, and to keep evolving, we commissioned this survey. There have been some really interesting responses and lots of positive comments but plenty of areas we can improve on too.” Remember, if you’ve got a story you’d like to share, contact your Communications Champion – check the list on page 2.

READ EVERY ISSUE OF ReNEWS

71%

find ReNEWS enjoyable to read

‘More focus on local issues’

WE’LL BE LOOKING INTO ALL YOUR FEEDBACK AND IMPLEMENTING YOUR IDEAS.

January 2018 ❙ 07

SURVEY RESULTS

66%

find it easy to contribute stories

‘More quizzes and competitions’ ‘Make it more accessible on the shop floor’

95% RATED ReNEWS 3/5 STARS OR ABOVE

‘More site profiles’

‘Keep doing it as it’s a great way to update staff’ Top 3 places to get Renewi company news:

ReNEWS 34% Line manager 32% Email 31% THANK YOU!

LOOK OUT FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, SITE PROFILES AND QUIZZES IN FUTURE ISSUES!

08 ❙ January 2018

RECIPE

SURREY SITE OPERATIONAL

CRANBERRY BROWNIES As part of the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign that Abi Cox, Community Education Liaison Officer at BDR, has helped promote, here’s a handy recipe from the project to help use up that leftover cranberry sauce.

INGREDIENTS • • • • •

100g unsalted butter 50g plain chocolate 150g caster sugar 2 eggs 4 tablespoons

• • •

cranberry sauce ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 40g flour a pinch of salt

Add other leftover festive ingredients, such as nuts or dried fruits. The brownies can be cut into mini squares for nibbles or for dinner parties, topped with ice cream and berries. The recipe doubles or triples well and they freeze brilliantly.

METHOD

1 2

reheat the oven to 180˚C P (350˚F), gas mark 4.

In a bowl, beat the sugar with the eggs and cranberry sauce. Pour

ut the butter and P chocolate in a heavy pan over a low heat, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

in the chocolate mixture with the vanilla extract, flour and salt. Stir well.

our into a 21cm-square P tin and bake for 15-20 minutes. If you insert a metal skewer it should come out wet.

TOP TIP

A spoonful of cranberry sauce also works well stirred into an apple crumble or spread on a stack of pancakes

Grand entrance: could Canada’s PM Trudeau be one of our first guests?

CUTTING IT IN CANADA A first for North America and a ‘brilliant’ partner, our new biofuel facility is near lift-off The first waste has been rolling into our new state-of-the-art site in Canada. “We are now ready to go and have received our first waste trucks from the city of Surrey,” said Mike Leopold, General Manager for Canada. “It’s a long-term investment for us. We built the facility and we’ll be managing it for at least the next 25 years, so taking in the first waste is a big deal.” “The site has been in development for some time, we’ve been working hard to correct a few issues,” Mike added. OPERATIONAL Trucks from Surrey brought organic waste for the site to turn into compost in early December, the first stage in making the biofuel plant fully operational. But the biofuel element of the Canadian site is most definitely the feather in its cap. “We’ve also got an anaerobic digester,” Mike continued. “With this we condense gas from waste. This biomethane gas goes back on to the grid

and the city of Surrey uses it to power its waste trucks. “This is the first fully integrated biofuel system in North America. We’re really excited to be opening soon. It’s been a long haul but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.” He added: “The city of Surrey has been absolutely fantastic; they’re our number-one customer and partner, and they’ve been brilliant.” PRIME MINISTER The grand opening was scheduled for 23 February and plans are in place to have a host of celebrities, including the mayor of the city, the mayor of Vancouver and possibly the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, present for the VIP opening.

This is the first fully integrated biofuel system in North America

“Light at the end of the tunnel” – Mike Leopold, General Manager, Canada “At this time I’m not sure if his schedule will allow it but we’re hoping,” Mike said. “It’s not just a big story for Renewi but for the whole of Canada and North America too, so we’re very excited and proud to be at the forefront of such cutting-edge innovation and technology.”

ABI’S ADVENTURE

January 2018 ❙ 09

Renewi employee will help shape young people’s lives

When Abi Cox volunteered to help out with the Scouts she didn’t realise she’d be leading a troupe of 31 Explorers into Germany’s Black Forest. “We’re taking young people aged between 16 and 25 to Germany next July,” said the community education liaison officer at BDR. “They undergo three days of training, then embark on a 10-day expedition covering more than 100 miles, from just north of the Black Forest to the Swiss border.” ARM-WRESTLING “We set them 10 small challenges to help them get to know the locals on their journey. There are things like arm-wrestling a hotelier and making a cardboard cuckoo clock with a local dignitary sticking their head through as the cuckoo. These may sound weird but it’s all about getting them to meet local people – even if it sounds daft!” The aim, Abi says, is to get the Scouts

We set them 10 small challenges to help them get to know the locals on their journey

Abi (far right) and her leadership team scouting out sites in Germany for the Explorers

in control. They pick the country, the route and the major projects. Abi and her team are just there to make sure they’re safe and well. “The area they’re covering is huge, so we’ll be running around checking on them. Then at the end the Scouts get three days to relax.” SHAKE A STICK “We need to raise around £30,000 for them to be able to go, so there’s a lot of fundraising and planning required,” said Abi, in between several recces to find suitable campsites. “I’ve seen more than you can shake a stick at! It’ll all be worth it though. I love being involved with the Scouts and I’m really looking forward to the trip.”

Experiencing some local culture with the hard-working Explorer leaders!

“I’VE MADE LIFELONG FRIENDS”

Long-server David’s destined for the ducks after 20 years

“I’ve made some friends for life” – David’s enjoyed his time at Renewi

When David Holt joined the business after his mining career came to an end, it was only meant to be a temporary fix. “I used to work down the pit, then I started working in the quarries in 1994. It was only supposed to be a temporary job. The quarry was taken over several times until eventually it became a Shanks site,” he said. From the quarries, the Wakefieldbased multi-skilled operative began working in various landfill sites before moving on to a transfer station.

“It’s been a long journey,” he laughed. “I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed it. They say that if you find a job you enjoy, then you’ll never have to work a day in your life and that’s what it’s been like for me. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in the waste industry. Never did I get up in the morning and think ‘Oh no, I’ve got to go to work’. It used to be like that mining but not at Renewi.” TAKING SAFETY HOME Since the father-of-two started in the waste business he’s seen lots of changes.

“Health and safety has seen many changes and I tend to take safety home with me. It’s been a good thing and Renewi is quite rightly on top of it. “I’ve been driving the machines most of the time at Renewi and operating the different types of machinery has been fun – I’ve got a knack for it – and I love being outside,” David continued. “There’s never been any real pressure in the job and I’ve never met anyone I didn’t like here – I’ve made some lifelong friends.”

STARGAZING David’s retirement this month will mean more time for his hobbies: “I have an allotment with a few hens and ducks, so that’s going to be my main interest going into retirement. I can spend hours there pottering about.” Keeping active by walking local footpaths with the Barnsley Ramblers, David is also part of the Swinton Astronomical Society: “We’ve got an observatory that’s open to the public and we’re looking to expand and improve, so that’s exciting.”

10 ❙ January 2018

CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Next generation introduced to the Renewi way of thinking Young adults looking for experience in industry have been given a helping hand by Renewi. The teenagers taking part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) scheme visited our Southern Resource Park in Barrow for a workshop and tour of the site to gain a better understanding of local community. INTEGRATED The NCS is all about putting teenagers at the heart of the community and bringing young people from different backgrounds together to help create more integrated communities. More than 150,000 young people participate annually in the government-funded scheme, in which NCS takes them on a three-week course of outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing and group activities,

It’s great for us to get young people thinking about our brand and our line of work

volunteering work and day trips to local businesses. The aim is to give them the opportunity to gain life and work skills to invest in the country’s future talent. Forward-thinking companies with a strong future and positive local impact, like Renewi, are the types of businesses the scheme is actively aligning itself with. “We held workshops for more than 154 young adults,” said Joanne Crone, Community Education Liaison Officer for Southern Resource Park. INNOVATIVE “They had a tour of the site and saw some of the interesting and innovative ways in which we operate. I think it was an eye-opener for them to see what happens to everyday waste. “It’s great for the business to get young people thinking about our brand and our line of work.” Joanne added: “They were really enthusiastic. Going forward, the type of work we do will be even more important than it is today so it’s good that we can share that with the next generation.”

National Citizen Service participants enjoying their Renewi site visit

LUNCHTIME LEGEND Former pitman Nigel’s TV knowledge pays off as colleague chokes on a lunchtime chicken bone

It was a normal day for former miner Nigel Garfoot, until an emergency struck during his lunch break. While his colleague John Pearman was eating he started to make a noise and was gagging and struggling to breathe. When John stood up gesturing that a chicken bone had lodged in his throat and he wasn’t joking, Nigel moved swiftly into action. Nigel, a Maintenance Technician at Wakefield, said: “I looked at John and asked him ‘seriously?’. “When he nodded, I ran round the table and gave him about five or six abdominal thrusts until the bone dislodged. I was exhausted at the end of it!” Nigel (right) with John after he’d made a full recovery

REACTION Nigel has always been ready to deal with any situation thanks to his 39 years of experience in mining.

“When you worked in the pits you had to be the first responder, so you can’t just stand there and watch a lad choke to death,” said Nigel. “A few years ago my wife made a chilli with bay leaves in it. Halfway through dinner she started to choke on one, so I did it then too. “It’s an automatic reaction. You see someone struggling and that’s it,” he continued. “It comes from being in the pit, where there isn’t time to get someone when you’re so far down.” ESCALATING Nigel’s practical and quick reaction prevented a situation from escalating into something far more serious. He added: “Afterwards, John was in shock. When he came round a bit he said thanks and his wife made us a special

flapjack as a thank you.” Nigel admitted he knew what to do having watched a similar scene on television, but added: “It’s made me see the importance of first aid training.” DIFFERENCE “You never know when you might need to act. It could mean the difference between life and death.”

ARE YOU UP TO DATE WITH YOUR FIRST AID TRAINING?

Adam King, Head of SHEQ, said: “It should be apparent on all sites what level of first aid is provided. If it isn’t or to find out more about levels of first aid and courses, contact your line manager.”

January 2018 ❙ 11

EAGLE-EYED PICKER RESCUES DREAM TRIP Holiday horror averted at the last minute as trail leads from HWRC to couple’s home When it comes to spotting things that shouldn’t be where they are, our pickers are second to none. Thankfully so in the case of one couple who visited one of our sites after clearing out a bootful of rubbish from their home but left something critical behind – their passports. SNIPPED The husband and wife were back home later packing for a dream trip to America the next day, completely oblivious to the fact that our pickers were about to make their dreams come true. While they packed, our detectives at South Kirkby were tracking them down with some help from our council partners. “The passports were spotted close to each other on the conveyor belt,” said Jake

We find wallets, books and a lot of other personal possessions

Hammond, Materials Recovery Facility Manager at South Kirkby. “We often come across passports but usually they’ve been snipped because they’re out of date. These two weren’t so, luckily, we decided to take a longer look,” he said. “Once we got them out we cleaned them up and let the council know.” From there the council began checking Facebook and making internet searches to track down the couple, who lived nearby. CHOCOLATES Jake said: “We’re always finding wallets, books and a lot of other personal possessions but with a passport you know that there’s a degree of urgency involved.” The couple were finally traced and contacted to be told about their missing identification. Jake said: “They had no idea and were so delighted they brought us in some chocolates to say thank you before their holiday.”

Our pickers can always put a smile on the faces of our customers

EMPLOYEE OF THE

ROSS’S REWARD

QUARTER Colleagues hail our stand-in hero

Colin Fletcher (left) presents Ross O’Leary with his award

When a team leader at one of our sites had to take a long time off work, colleagues looked around to see who would do the work left behind. Ross O’Leary stepped forward to shoulder the burden and steady the ship until his grateful manager returned. The recycling technician at Glasshoughton HWRC did not hesitate when he heard about the crisis and took a leaf out of his football team’s anthem to save the day. Ross is an avid fan of Championship club Leeds United, whose club song is titled Marching On Together. He was nominated by colleague Becky

Dykes, who said: “The team leader onsite had a substantial amount of time off for personal reasons and Ross stepped up and offered his support to the supervisor onsite. “His computer knowledge helped him step into the role without any problems and without asking for anything in return.”

although he doesn’t drive, has no problem jumping on public transport to get to his allocated site.

DEVELOPING The team leader onsite is now back at work but this has not stopped Ross offering his continued support and recently expressing an interest in developing himself further within the business. Ross is always first to offer his help and

NOMINATE

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DESERVES SOME RECOGNITION? Fill in the ConnectUs nomination form and email to leanne.pullen@shanks.co.uk

12 ❙ January 2018

Y FANTAS LL FOOTBA Shanks league founder Alistair Brookes means business this season. The Stoke City fan is biding his time in third spot, but he’ll have his work cut out to catch table-topping Andy Hart, whose side is nine points clear of second as the season passes the halfway mark. Paul Fleming is hot on Andy’s heels, followed by Alistair’s Overpaid Donkeys and Mike Byrne’s side just behind in fourth. A single point separates Chris Byrne’s Pheonix VI and Craig Owen in joint fifth and Christine Cooper’s Crusaders in seventh. With only 16 points between fifth and tenth, there really is all to play for in the crucial new-year phase of the season. Who will be this year’s Renewi Ranieri and which Municipal site will boast the best boss? MANAGER’S NAME

PTS

1 Andy Hart

1323

2 Paul Fleming

1314

3 Alistair Brookes

1275

4 Mike Byrne

1264

5= Chris Byrne

1247

5= Craig Owen

1247

7 Christine Cooper

1246

8 Tony Slade

1239

9 Steve Roberts

1237

10 Duncan Morris

1231

WIN!

A SAMSUNG

GALAXY TABLET

Get drawing for a chance to win a touchscreen tablet

For anyone who’s ever wanted a tablet but just never got round to it, now’s the perfect opportunity to get yourself a great bit of tech – and it won’t cost you a penny. We’re giving away this striking Samsung Galaxy Tablet to one lucky reader.

The tablet has 8GB of memory and up to 11 hours of web browsing from one charge. So you can sit back and watch a movie, snap some pics or while away your time playing games. For your chance to win, take a look at the suggestions on page 2,

get doodling and send us your idea of what you think the Renewi Reporter would look like in a cartoon style. We want The Renewi Reporter character to be friendly, enquiring and fun, but feel free to put whatever spin on him or her you like.

EMAIL A PICTURE OF YOUR ENTRY TO renewi@madebysonder.com TERMS AND CONDITIONS The winning entry will be chosen by the editor. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Renewi Reporter reserves the right to change the prize without prior notice. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash. The closing date is 7 March 2018.

SEND US YOUR STORIES…

Do you have a colleague with a hidden talent? Is there a superstar in your midst? Let us know at renewi@madebysonder.com

READER SURVEY WINNER

Congratulations to Nicholas Hambridge, from Derby, who won a GoPro HERO. Thanks to everyone who gave us such great feedback.

JUST FOR FUN SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Bashed but not defeated, Peter and his car made it over the finish line. Check out the full story on page 3 – Terry and Peter push their Nissans to the limit. It’s safe to say Peter’s car changed quite a bit from how it looked on the start line. We’ve made a few changes ourselves, just to make things even more interesting. Look closely to see if you can spot all five differences! PICTURE 1

Answers: Car number, car bonnet logo, white tyre on grass, jumper logo, seat colour.

HAVE YOUR SAY

PICTURE 2

SEE P2 FOR YOUR

Communications Champion

This newspaper is printed on improved newsprint, which comes from sustainable forest growth. When you have finished with your copy, please pass it on to a colleague or recycle it. It is also available in the Municipal Communications Community on ConnectUs.