Case Studies in Resource Efficiency

Craigavon Civic Centre, November 13th 2009

Content

1. What is resource efficiency?2. Why be resource efficient?3. The drivers4. Good practice examples5. Case Studies

• Wilson’s Country• McAvoy Group

6. Envirowise Programme

• Elimination

• Source reduction

• Re-use

• Recycling

• Treatment & disposal

Reducing the Cost of Waste

Mostpreferable

Leastpreferable

Why be resource efficient?• savings in costs• reduced levels of waste (raw materials, product, energy, water, etc)• improved products, packaging and processes• reduced levels of pollution• resources used more efficiently• increased profitability• improved environmental performance• helped to comply with legislation• helped towards suitable accreditation• improved level of sustainability

Drivers

DRIVERS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Financial Benefits

Legislation

Financial Institutions

Government

CustomersEmployees

Suppliers

Pressure Groups

Shareholders

Competitors

What do you need to do?

• WHAT• Understand your waste streams • – consider water, energy and other wastes• Understand what resources you use• Understand your suppliers• Use a ‘fresh pair of eyes’

• HOW• Conduct a walk-around survey• Map your wastes• Flow chart • Diagnose and Prioritise

PROCESSRaw Material IN

WasteOUT

PROCESSRaw Material IN

WasteOUT

Some Practical Tips

A FACTORY / PROCESS ENVIRONMENT

Improve HousekeepingSegregate to reduce costs Recover washings (pump / filter tank)Don’t over order materialsStore more liquids in bulkSchedule production to minimise washingRecover or reuse vessel washing liquors

Some Practical Tips

AN OFFICE ENVIRONMENT – It’s Simple

Using both sides cuts paper use by 50% Cancel junk mailUse electronic communicationAvoid overproduction of marketing materialChoose minimally packaged productsHold an annual ‘stationary amnesty’ or ‘one bin day’Turn off taps fully / fit push button tapsCheck pipes for leaksSwitch off and replace with energy efficientTravel planning

Case studiesLots of examples

Wilson’s Country

• Established in mid 1980’s• Pack potatoes and fresh fruit• 120 employees• £5m new facility Carn Road Industrial Estate (2005)

Achievements

• Investors in People (IIP)• BRC (Higher Level)• Wilson’s Country Garden

Potatoes voted Top 10 ‘Tesco’s Customers favourite brands’

• No additives or preservatives used

WASH PEEL CUT PACK

Envirowise Visit (FTV)Issues Highlighted

WATER USE / DISCHARGE• Approx 80% water used in washing• 5 automated washers – 2 with leaks

• Cleaning Efficiencies• Dirty water dumps (timed) – not in line with production quantities

• No water re-use or recycling

• Old ETP

Envirowise FTVIssues (cont)

SOLID WASTE• Segregation of wood & green waste only• Volumes of waste in skips• Waste created at packaging brand changeover

MANAGEMENT• Scheduling of repairs• Cleaning of drainage channels (sweepings)

Action Plan (1)

1. Better Leak ManagementMinimal Cost : Payback <6 monthsSavings – for every 1m3 = £1.59 saved (estimated that £133 could be saved in 24 hours)

2. Reduce Dirty Water Dumps – dependent on volumes washedMinimal Cost : Payback <6 monthsSavings – as for leak management

3. Recycle / Re-Use Water in processHigh Costs : New ETP with payback>24 months Savings of £47,000 – if 50% recycled

Action Plan (2)4. Segregate Waste

Minimal Cost : Short Payback <6 months (receptacles)Savings – Cardboard = £19,000 & Plastic = £10,000

5. CompactionModerate Cost : Medium Payback 6 – 24 monthsSavings – dependent upon new compacted size. Less skips lifted.

6. Reduce brand changeoversMinimal Cost – scheduling / programmingSavings two fold – reduced volumes of material used (purchased) and reduced number of skip lifts

7. Reduce effluent strengthMinimal cost – cleaning regime changesSavings in reduction in effluent load – Mogden formula charges for BOD and Suspended solids.

C=R+V+Vb+B(Ot)+S(St)

TOTAL SAVINGS

At least

£76,000

McAvoy Group

• Portable building manufacture • ‘Off Site’ construction• 35 years in operation• 2 modern factories in Northern Ireland (Lisburn &

Dungannon)• 300 employees• Hospitals, schools, government buildings, offices,

airports

Achievements to date• Investors in People• Safe-T-Cert• Construction Line• McAvoy Group Director – Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame• Innovation Award for McAvoy Pods

Products• McAvoy Off Site Building Solutions

• ‘fast track buildings’

• McAvoy Safe Space• Eg. construction site accommodation

• McAvoy Multi Space• Long and short term accommodation – used at

London Marathon, Henley Regatta and North West 200

• McAvoy Pod• Sealed units for connection to plumbing &

services eg. Hotel bathrooms

Issues & Solutions (1)Envirowise Intervention – KREEC II1. Packaging Material

Change from use of screws and fixings in small quantities – to a consignment stock operationSavings - reduced cardboard and plastic wasteCapital Costs – low

2. Waste Monitoring & TargetingSet KPI’s eg. wastes per unit. Smarter purchasing choices eg. wood in desired lengths.Savings – reduced off cuts (up to £20,000)Capital Costs – low (discuss with supplier)

3. Production / Utilities Monitoring & TargetingPractice electricity conservation measuresSub-meteringSavings – through greater efficienciesCapital Costs - Low

Issues & Solutions (2)Envirowise Intervention – KREEC II

4. Value EngineeringConsider design elements – floor bracing & window cut outsSavings – up to 5% of total steel costs (and same for wood)Capital Costs – Medium (review of nesting / cutting)

5. HousekeepingImprove stock rotation, segregation and use up ‘odds’Savings - £2,000Capital Costs – Nil

6. Compressed AirIntroduce inspection system and maintain airlines to reduce leaksSavings - £1,000Capital Costs - Nil

TOTAL SAVINGS

£52,556+ 5% steel costs

Summary of Envirowise assistanceAdvice Line 0800 585794Free adviceTailored VisitsPublicationsIT Tools – Resource Diagnostic ToolWorkshops & seminarsSector Based Projects

Publications & ToolsGood Practice Guides• How to do itEnvironmental Performance Guides• BenchmarkingCase StudiesNewsletters, leafletsVideos & software

www.envirowise.gov.uk

Local Information PagesUp to date newsEventsDownload all publicationsInteractive Helpline pagesEmail notification of what’s newLinks to other sites

Contacts

Advice Line 0800 585794 Website www.envirowise.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Regional Team• 028 7135 5400 / 028 9070 6080

Contact :• Sam McCloskey (NI Country Manager)• Nuala Devlin – (Envirowise Co-Ordinator)