DS Smith supports industry initiative to celebrate quality in recycling

GreenPrint

Earlier this month, DS Smith attended the Resource Association’s Annual Lecture at The Liberal Club in London. With the theme of ‘In good company: doing the right thing for resources’, the event saw leading figures from the waste and resources sector hear a thought provoking lecture and acknowledge some good examples of organisations collaborating in the UK to address the issue of contamination in recycling.

Delegates were treated to a keynote speech from Dominic Hogg, founder and chairman of Eunomia Research, who discussed the rationale for the circular economy and latest trends in waste and resources policy and the need for the sector to engage in the UK’s industrial strategy. With more than 25 years’ experience as a campaigner within the environmental field, the speech focused on bringing the industry together to promote high quality recycling and deliver improved recycling rates.

Winners of the inaugural Quality Recognition Awards were also announced at the event, which saw organisations including Conwy County Borough Council, Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee and The Co-op – a long-standing customer of DS Smith – recognised for their efforts to eliminate contamination from their recycling streams. Celebrating outstanding work to achieve consistently high quality recycleate, the ceremony rewarded innovation and process improvement from across the industry.

Commenting on the event, Peter Clayson, general manager (Business Development and External Affairs) at DS Smith and board member of the Resource Association, said: ‘The Resource Association’s Annual Lecture is always a great opportunity to discuss the industry’s topical issues. This year, the Resource Association are pleased to be launching awards for companies across the supply chain who consistently produce high quality material for recycling. Much of the debate about recycleate quality has been negative in terms of cracking down on poor quality and poor performance, so it is nice to be able to recognise organisations that are producing good quality materials regularly and proving it can be done.’