re3 wins certification to international environmental standard

The re3 waste partnership has taken a big step forward in its plans for continual improvement in environmental performance, by achieving certification to ISO 14001 for its Environmental Management System (EMS) at Smallmead Waste Management Park, Reading, following an audit by certification body SGS.


The re3 waste partnership has taken a big step forward in its plans for continual improvement in environmental performance, by achieving certification to ISO 14001 for its Environmental Management System (EMS) at Smallmead Waste Management Park, Reading, following an audit by certification body SGS.

ISO 14001 is the international specification for an EMS and it exists to help organisations minimise how their operations negatively affect the environment and helps them to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

re3 has been committed to environmental performance since the 25 year Public Finance Initiative (PFI) contract, between Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and Waste Recycling Group (WRG) was signed in December 2006.

The EMS encompasses a series of procedures, policies and objectives and targets that help re3 reduce its impact on the environment. re3 has been working on its EMS over a period of 18 months and has achieved certification a year ahead of schedule.

re3 has included all aspects of its waste management operation in the scope of the EMS, including activities at the public Household Waste Recycling Centre, Materials Recovery Facility, transport and administration functions at Smallmead. Key objectives and targets include monitoring and reducing energy/fuel consumption, promoting waste minimisation to residents and developing sustainable purchasing procedures.

Chris Ellis, Waste Recycling Group’s Operations Director, South, commented: “This is a big achievement for the re3 partnership team and it rewards the hard work that has taken place in recent months. More importantly, it demonstrates the commitment that the three local authorities and WRG have to ensuring that good environmental performance remains at the highest level in their sustainable waste management strategy.”

re3 Project Manager, Oliver Burt, said: “We are delighted with this achievement by our partners, WRG. We know that residents are delighted with the new facility and now they can be assured that it operates to the highest environmental standards.”

re3 is currently redeveloping Longshot Lane Civic Amenity site, Bracknell, and the new site will include a Household Waste Recycling Centre and Transfer Station. Redevelopment is expected to continue until summer 2009, after which re3 will work to include this site in the scope of the EMS. Certification of Longshot Lane Waste Management Park is expected in late 2009.

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