NEC chooses local reprocessor for fridge and WEEE recycling

Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is now sending its end-of-life fridges and other electrical equipment to a local specialist centre to be recycled.


This new initiative is in line with the venue’s other schemes, which have included the installation of a £330,000, on-site,waste pre-treatment centre that aims to recycle 50% of waste by end of 2013, with the target of achieving zero landfill by 2014.

One of the NEC’s policies is that waste products should travel no more than 30 miles from site for processing so Overton Recycling in Stourbridge was chosen to help the venue meet its targets. Fridges will be de-gassed there and shredded with the resulting different waste streams recycled.

NEC waste manager Steve Cartmell said: “Our ambitious targets mean that every bit of waste produced here at the NEC is considered. So when 16 industrial size fridges were replaced as part of a refurbishment programme we looked for ways to ensure their disposal was in line with our strict environmental policies.”

He added: “Overton works with the National Offender Management Service, helping ex-offenders obtain permanent employment and also provides opportunities for the long-term unemployed in the local area, so for us they were a great choice of company to work with.”

Maxine Perella

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