Companies partner for green paper drive

The Supplies House and Metsa Tissue have agreed to join forces to promote environmentally friendly paper consumables which can also save customers money. The focus is an extension of their successful long running partnership. It recognises the twin criteria of a desire of increased environmental observance, with the immense cost pressures the industry is currently facing.

Traditionally, it is assumed that going for any green option increases costs, which means in the current economic climate, the environment takes second place.

This now need not be the case.

Waste solution specialists Cleansing Service Group has introduced a laundry service for contaminated wipes - classed as hazardous waste - which until recently could be disposed of at a hazardous landfill site, but are now banned, as treatment to comply with the Waste Acceptance Criteria is not available.

CSG is offering the service on a container exchange basis to both its own customers and those of CSG group company J & G Environmental.

"The biggest problem was developing the optimum washing conditions which would determine if the wipes were clean enough to be returned for use or, if in poor condition, complied with the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons legal limit and could be disposed of in a non-hazardous landfill," says Neil Richards, CSG's treatment and disposals director.

To ensure compliance, CSG puts the wipes through a special multi-wash process followed by a test to determine the level of contamination remaining. If below the Hazardous Waste Thresholds they can be returned to customers or, if damaged, sent to non-hazardous landfill. If above the HWT limit they are rewashed and re-tested.The residue in the wash water - mainly solvents, inks and oils - is recovered for use as low grade fuel.

"We believe this service will help our customers further improve their green credentials," says Richards.

Metsa Tissue's paper products are sourced from Scandinavian forests as part of a forestry programme that plants more trees every year than are removed. It also promotes green manufacturing, including full heat recovery and green transport such as boat and train.

The Supplies House has a highly effective warehousing and distribution management system, and educates contract cleaners in efficient paper use. It also helps contract cleaners to introduce the benefits of CSR and the potential cost savings to their clients.

"We know by working with Metsa we can introduce much more environmentally friendly products and save our customers money," says Brian Chapman, Supplies House MD.