Recycling firm set to create 20 jobs with new facility

Metal recycling and waste management specialist Ward has signed a five year lease on its fourth site in Ilkeston.

The 10,000 sq ft warehouse will be home to latest initiative from the fourth-generation family business – WARDRobe, a new textile recycling service.

Ward has taken on the unit on Booths Industrial Estate on Awsworth Road in Ilkeston as a sorting warehouse, premises previously occupied by a manufacturer of polyethylene bags and plastic packaging for the food and retail sector. The move sees the recycling business adding to its existing five metal and waste recycling sites. Once fully operational, the new venture is expected to create up to 20 new full time jobs. It is currently recruiting for Class 2 drivers to service new contracts.

James Balfour, finance director at Ward, said: “Our aim is to become the UK’s leading textile recycler, recycling approximately 10,000 tonnes of textiles annually. From our investment in the new premises at Ilkeston, we will provide a complete recycling solution for textiles – from the provision of textile banks, to the collection and warehousing of stock, right through to the resale and export of used clothing, shoes and household textiles. We will pick up from household waste recycling centres, charities and textile banks in our fleet of new, modern collection vehicles.

“We are also in talks with a number of leading UK charities about partnering with them in return for donations and free collections, so watch this space for more details.”