UK Business Briefs: environmental advice, paper recycling and pipes galore

The Hampshire-based Solent Port Resource Efficiency Network, a division of the registered charity, Southampton Environment Centre, has announced that it has got off to a flying start. The organisation aims to help businesses reduce waste costs, improve waste management practices, and generally make effective use of their resources. The organisation also provides information and assistance on green purchasing. Computer warranty company, Teleplan, has already taken advantage of advice, with packaging from imported hard drives being sent to a mail order record company that uses it to package CDs posted to their customers.

Insurance company the Cooperative Insurance Society (CIS) has announced that it is instructing all of its employees to separate their waste to enable the company to recycle its waste paper. CIS has also made provisions to recycle everything from mobile telephones to spectacles in 17 different waste streams. In 2001, CIS recycled 75% of all its waste, well above the national 7.5% average for offices.

A new company, Axium Process, has launched, starting life with over 100 man-years of engineering experience in the supply and manufacture of high quality customised stainless steel components and fabrication. This includes comprehensive ranges of hygienic stainless steel tube and fittings, including Clamp, RJT, IDF, DIN and plain-ended fittings.

And finally, MVM and the Pipeline Industries Guild (PIG) have announced that they are developing a new service that will help companies and individuals discover the location of pipes and cables in the vicinity of an excavation and facilitate communications between the parties involved. The service, known as ‘Just1Call’, is free to users and development will commence at the end of August 2002.