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Western Isles businesses wanting to increasing profits by reducing their environmental impact are encouraged to attend the launch on Dec 3rd of an exciting new project – Business WINS (Waste minimisation In the North of Scotland).
Western Isles Business WINS promotes the benefits of waste minimisation and is coordinated jointly by Scottish Water, Western Isles Enterprise, Western Isles Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The project aims to provide targeted support to a small group of companies from a range of local sectors and to identify waste minimisation opportunities that will deliver bottom line benefits. The project will also provide opportunities for sharing best practice with the wider business community, and create a local forum to address strategic business waste issues.
Gillian Bruce, SEPA’s Waste Minimisation Manager, said:
“With this project everybody in the Western Isles wins. All businesses, large and small, know that reducing waste saves costs and leads to greater efficiency. This is good for their commercial future and for the environment of the Isles so SEPA is keen to help them succeed.”
Western Isles Companies already signed up to the idea of saving money include:
Polybox Limited Stornoway; Stornoway Shellfish, Stornoway; Fjord Seafood, Stornoway; WISCO Stornoway; Stornoway Fisherman’s Co-operative; Kenneth Mackenzie Mills; Macleans Bakery; Stolt Seafarms Ltd Harris; Salar Smokehouse Ltd South Uist; CALMAX Construction Limited; Lewis Aggregate Industries.
Scottish Water, Project Manager, Alan Kellock added:
"Companies participating from Lewis, Uist and Harris, will benefit from group workshops where they will be able to share experiences and to work through topics of mutual interest as well as hearing from guest speakers on relevant topics.
"Traditional methods of disposal, such a landfill, are becoming more difficult and expensive. By joining forces with other agencies we hope to provide the business community with important challenges but also help deliver bottom line benefits for companies across all sectors. We are aiming for savings of £1,000 per employee."
When & where
The Western Isles project will be launched on Wednesday 3rd December 1pm in the Caberfiedh Hotel Manor Park Stornoway
Buffet and refreshments will be available and the event should provide an excellent opportunity for interested local companies to meet the project partners and find out more about the practical business benefits of effective waste minimisation.
Businesses wishing to attend should contact Alan Kellock at Scottish Water by emailing
Alan.Kellock@ScottishWater.co.uk or by calling 01463 228202
ENDS
Notes
- Firms undergo an initial audit by an experienced consultant who looks at the amount of resources used and waste produced. This determines the exact cost of waste for the company and looks at ways of reducing it. Most improvements will be made through the introduction of simple low cost measures to cut waste and firms will also benefit from follow-up workshops where participants can share their experiences and cost-cutting tips.
- Business Wins has already proved a success in the North-east of Scotland where it was launched last year. A similar scheme run in the East of Scotland saw total annual savings of £4 million for participating companies.
- Envirowise (part of the Scottish Energy Efficiency Office provides other forms of assistance to local businesses, including: Free confidential advice, free site visit, free energy audit, interest free loans, free design advice and free consultancy. Their Environment and Energy Helpline is 0800 585794.
- General information on Waste Minimisation is available at:
Media contact: Stewart Prodger: 01786 457724 & Mobile 07788 916857
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