Hadco Group unveils recycling service for businesses

LOCAL conglomerate Hadco Group has launched a business-to-business service which will facilitate the collection of waste-paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, cooking oil, used lead batteries for recycling purposes.

The new services falls under Hadco's manufacturing and recycling division, and will be carried out by New Age Recycling Ltd, Ecoimpact Company Ltd and Caribbean Battery Recycling Ltd, all of which were acquired by the group of companies over the past three years.

Managing director (recycling) Kevin Whiteman said in a statement that since businesses and restaurants produce more waste than the average household, "it is vital that the business community lines up behind the growing recycling culture in TT by responsibly disposing of waste materials."

The statement added that the group’s recycling companies will provide "hassle-free collection solutions that serve the common good."

Whiteman noted, "Given the significant export potential in used lead acid batteries and waste vegetable oil, we are confident that we can grow this business into a successful export focused enterprise, earning much needed foreign exchange for the country.

"Our ultimate goal is to become the leading recycling facilitator in the Caribbean using a unique business model that supports sustainable development."

The three companies each collect specific waste items.

New Age Recycling collects waste-paper, cardboard, Tetra Pak and aluminium cans which Hadco says is recycled locally and internationally to make products such as newsprint, tissues and recycled cardboard products.

Ecoimpact collects waste vegetable oil from businesses and households and processes it for export to international manufacturers who use it as feedstock for biofuels – a cleaner alternative to diesel.

Caribbean Battery Recycling collects used lead acid batteries for export to international smelters, where they are used to create new lead-based products.

Hadco says this recycling business is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Goals Framework — Goal No 12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production with targets including the sustainable reduction of waste generation; encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and removing market distortions that encourage wasteful consumption.

Meanwhile, Nicholas de Freitas, general manager (recycling) said companies can make a big difference by making small changes to their daily waste disposal routines.

"We are determined to make closed loop recycling an integral part of the local business landscape," he said.

Closed loop recycling is the process by which waste is collected, recycled and used to make something new. Done effectively, the waste makes a full cycle without having a negative impact on the environment.

De Freitas said, "For example, instead of pouring your waste vegetable oil down the sink or throwing it in the garbage, that’s a valuable resource literally being poured down the drain.

"If you save the waste vegetable oil in a container and have us collect it, we will process it and export it for use in the production of biofuels — and in doing so we will have sustainably closed the loop."

Hadco said it plans to roll out collection points in convenient locations later in the year, having already begun collecting waste cardboard materials from local companies, and that it anticipates partnering with more companies in the future.