15 jobs to be created as Derbyshire recycling firm expands
Derbyshire-based metal recycling and waste management specialist Ward Recycling has launched a new textile recycling service, WARDRobe and is looking for a national charity partner to deliver regular donations.
Ward’s latest recycling service, WARDRobe, which will create 15 jobs at the company, will provide a national collection service from clothing banks at amenity sites and supermarkets in return for direct payments or donations to charity. The WARDRobe team will then bulk up collections and export the textiles to destinations including Europe, Africa and Dubai.
Ward has bought a new 10,000 sq ft sorting warehouse in Ilkeston, adding to its existing five metal and waste recycling sites, as well as investing in a fleet of new collection vehicles. The new venture is expected to employ up to 15 new staff within the first year and aims to recycle approximately 10,000 tonnes of textiles annually.
James Balfour, finance director at Ward, said: “This is an exciting new venture for Ward, to add to our portfolio of business and household waste management services. We already have the set up for collection and recycling and are used to exporting materials, so there is a lot of synergies with what we already do.
“We are looking for new sites such as supermarkets, car parks or local community centres to install clothing banks which we hope will be filled by members of the public with unwanted clothing items. We’ll provide a free collection service and make a donation to charity in exchange for the textiles, or arrange a per tonne price. We are looking to partner with a national children’s charity, so are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in working with us.”
The idea was inspired by a new member of staff with a background in textiles and initial collections started last month. Longer term, Ward says it hopes to build up the textile recycling service by working with large commercial waste business that operate household waste sites or textile providers that need a waste management facility.
