Waste management company, Total Recycling Services has invested £50K into new technology in order to improve productivity and the service for customers.
The recycling business has been using technology such as tracking equipment in its trucks in order to reduce carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. As well as this, Total Recycling is developing a bespoke stock control system, to facilitate the ‘cradle to grave’ tracking of hazardous wastes.
Drivers have also been equipped with new smart phones, allowing for constant connection between the company’s headquarters in Darlington no matter where they may be. Allowing managers to update drivers instantly whenever required.
Andy Dobson, Operations Director at Total Recycling Services, said: “I’m keen to move the company towards technology as much as possible in order to move us away from using paper-based systems.
“The Environment Agency require that we operate at all times to Industry ‘Best Available Techniques (BAT) and you have to know what the waste is before it comes in.
“Our records must show where the waste has come from, how we have tested and handled it, and most importantly, that we have recovered or disposed of the waste through a legally compliant route’.
“Our customers regularly come and audit us, and we have an open-door policy on this. If someone walks in asking for information on a consignment from eight months ago we can do a complete search and track their wastes, even if they have been ‘bulked’ and combined with other materials’.
“We have also installed a vending machine for PPE which allows our workers free access. Meaning that at any point of the day they can enter their number into the machine and out comes gloves, filters, anything they may need. Safety is key.
“The brilliant thing about it is, its gets filled up every day because it works on an automated communications process across the internet, meaning that we get a report of what staff are using , and it automatically orders any stocks we may need.
“Whenever we see an opportunity to be more efficient. We go for it.”
The company who services businesses all across the UK with waste management and industrial cleaning services has gone from strength-to-strength over the last five years and plans to double its £15m turnover by 2022.
Liam Watson, System Administrator at Total Recycling Services, said: “Digital has always been a crucial tool for us here at Total Recycling and over the past couple of years we have implemented software systems which we have slowly built from the ground up.
“These systems allow us to monitor all stock levels currently on site, along with a tracking system within all of our wagons which monitors the fuel consumption and emissions and helps to reduce the company’s carbon emissions.
“At any point, a customer can call and ask us where our wagon is, when their delivery is scheduled, and we can also accurately report what volumes of paper, plastic etc. have been picked up from them.
“Collecting and storing data digitally is key to us providing an efficient and trustworthy service.”
Total Recycling Services has recently invested nearly £500k into bespoke vehicles and equipment to meet the service demand, forecast for the coming year, due to the introduction of its highly successful industrial cleaning services division in 2017.