Every little thing we do leaves its mark on the planet. From simply driving a car every day to work to getting takeout food for lunch, no matter how small the act is, it will impact the environment in one way or another. Thankfully, because of the rise of environmental consciousness, more people are continuously taking steps to lead a more environmentally sustainable life. From switching to metal straws to bringing their own reusable cups to coffee ships, more people are now committed to lessening their carbon footprint.

However, individuals can only do so much. Companies and large corporations should exert more effort when it comes to becoming less harmful to the environment. Business interests are often in conflict with environmental interests because of the resources used. This does not mean that companies cannot take active steps in recycling their waste and minimising any risks they pose to the environment. 

In the UK, more than 4.5 million tonnes of wood waste is generated in a year. However, only half of this is properly recycled. Wood waste can include bark, lumber, sawdust, and ash from burning the wood waste. 

This waste wood can come from several different sources.

 Construction

Wood waste from the construction industry consists of different sorts of wood waste such as solid wood, chunks of plywood, and broken pallets. Because of the various types of wood waste from this industry, recycling wood waste from construction is harder as different kinds of wood waste is recycled differently.

Demolition

Second to the construction sector, demolition contributes around 1 million metric tonnes of wood waste in a year. In this industry, the produced wood waste mostly consists of old bricks and salvaged parts such as fireplaces and sinks. Today, demolition commonly occurs through large excavators compared to cutting down parts using chainsaws. This new process makes it hard for wood to be saved. Again, as with the construction sector, various types of wood waste are generated from demolition which makes it harder to recycle.  

Municipal wood waste

Generating around 1 million metric tonnes of wood waste, municipal wood waste comes from the domestic waste stream which includes broken furniture, old walls, and unused kitchen units. Out of all the leading sources of wood waste, a very little amount of reusable wood comes from this stream.

Proper wood waste disposal should be prioritised by businesses, especially companies that belong to industries that generate a lot of wood waste. Wood recycling repurposes old wood scraps into something useful and can be made into a new wood product by refinishing it.

No matter what the industry, companies should uphold sustainability in their operations and reduce their negative impact on the environment.  

Make a difference with LKM Recycling

LKM Recycling can handle your business’ wood waste for you. We provide wood waste collection and recycling. With our years of experience in wood scrap recycling, we aim to help companies properly dispose of their clean wood waste. Contact us today and let’s discuss waste management solutions for your business.

Theft in the office is more common than you might realise. According to a survey conducted by management consultant Accenture, 69 per cent of the 209 organisations they interviewed had experienced an attempted or realised data theft over the previous 12 months.

A plan to safeguard your company’s data is an important component of a security strategy, regardless of whether the data are in digital form or on paper. Below are ways to secure your company’s confidential information.

Protect your network

To reduce the risk of data theft from computer files, restrict downloads and block off any USB or SD card slots that can access your company network. Install recording software to monitor screen activity in the company. Restrict employee use of their own gadgets for work and ensure that all files are encrypted.

Many companies today prefer to use online data repositories. Storing your data online is generally safer compared to more traditional ways of storing information. Even the most tech savvy companies store hard copy files in the office. Depending on the sensitivity of the data, installing CCTV or alarm systems for out-of-office hours and enforcing strict file access procedures will limit the risk of information theft.  

If you have worries about your company’s data security, or are expanding and want to ensure that your business has the capacity to manage data securely, hire a company to assess the security of your online network. The report will not only inform you if your standard operating procedures are credible; it will also inform you of your network’s weak points, and provide solutions.

Develop a culture of security

Conduct awareness training on hacking and phishing. A lot of hackers use password theft and phishing to breach security and access company data online. Make sure your employees can quickly determine if an email is a potential threat to the company and if a website is credible or a front for something else.

Develop your company culture in a way that employees will not be afraid of reporting suspicious activities by colleagues. Set up a system where anonymity and confidentiality encourages staff to come forward if they are suspicious about someone from a more senior position.

Properly dispose of your confidential information

For computer files, hackers are able to retrieve data even when they are already deleted. There are available software programmes that secure the deletion of your company’s online data.

Document shredding is usually not enough to properly dispose of confidential information because shredded pieces can still be put back together. BBC reported an event that happened in 1979 when Iranian students spent years reassembling an intelligence report from the US embassy that had been shredded by CIA officers.

Confidential information needs a more thorough disposal process. LKM Recycling offers confidential data shredding services to ensure the proper disposal of confidential business information. We offer shredding services to cater to home-based workers and large companies. We also dispose of confidential data on any media devices, including data from hard drives and USB drives.

You can choose to schedule a regular weekly or monthly collection of your confidential waste, or choose our one-off service.

Contact us today and we will help you securely dispose of confidential information for your company’s security.

Look around you. How many electronic devices are in your living space? From the flat-screen television in your room, the fitness tracker on your wrist, to your smartphone that you bring almost everywhere—even to the restroom, how many of these gadgets do you actually need?

Due to technological innovation, more and more electronic devices get released on the market almost every month. And consumer electronic brands can somehow make us believe that we need a new gadget because of its new features or new design. Because of this, people are buying more gadgets than they need and are replacing the ones they have even though it’s still in perfect working condition.

According to Strategy Analytics, UK mobile phone owners replace their mobile phones every 26 months, even though it could actually last up to 4 years. There are two common reasons behind constant gadget replacement: a broken unit or the desire to upgrade because of a newly-released model.

When purchasing a new gadget, we only think of two things: whether we can afford it and the new features you can get from it. However, have you ever stopped to think about where used electronic devices end up?

Understanding E-Waste: An Escalating Global Problem

Electronic waste, also called e-waste, are electronic products that reached the end of their “useful” life. E-waste can include computers, televisions, cameras, mobile phones, and any used electronic device. The e-waste problem in the UK is growing by the minute. In fact, tonnes of electronic waste is dumped each year. On a much larger scale, the United Nations University Global E-waste Monitor predicted that global e-waste would hit 50 million in 2019, with three million of it being small devices such as used mobile phones.

Why e-waste is dangerous to the environment

Computer and most electronic devices contain toxic materials which if released into the environment can be harmful to human blood and organs. Moreover, when e-waste is left in the landfill and is warmed up, the toxic chemicals can damage the atmosphere which is one of the biggest environmental risk caused by the growing amount of e-waste. This can harm land and sea animals when these toxic materials seep into groundwater.

What to do with e-waste

While used electronic devices are seen as useless, this type of e-waste contains metal components that can be used again. E-waste contains scrap metal that can be recycled and even purchased by waste management companies. While the standard way of sourcing metals is extracting them from the ground, a more cost-efficient alternative is to utilise scrap metals. Aside from the fact that recycling metal components does not contribute to depleting the planet’s resource, this alternative also saves on fuel and energy expenses in manufacturing.

Give e-waste a second life

Aside from helping the environment, selling and salvaging scrap metals or e-scraps can be a great source of income. LMK Recycling is committed to being a zero-waste company. Our 40 years of experience in scrap metal allows us to help you with your metal waste. We collect, purchase, and recycle scrap metal from both public and trade partners across the country. Contact us today and let’s start recycling.

In the recycling industry materials that are classed as waste can be split into 3 distinct categories. Positive value, Neutral value and Negative value.

On the one hand you have the positive value products. These are desirable products such as metal which has long been the material to make money from when recycling. This is based purely on the fact that metal is easy to recycle and the processes to do so have existed for many years. This means that there are scrap yards setup across the country that will buy your scrap metal and pay you for it. This means there is money to be made as the material has a positive value. 

On the flip side you have negative value materials, a common negative value material is tyres. Tyres are a material that cannot be easily recycled and has often gone to landfill in the past. As scrap yards will have to pay someone to dispose of these they are classed as negative value and not seen as a desirable material. 

You also have some materials that are a neutral value. This means that recycling companies are able to dispose of these materials but won’t be paid or be charged for disposal.

Materials can cross between these different states as demand for the materials grow or could fluctuate depending on the supply and demand. A good example of this is UPVC, this material is produced in great amounts and has been used to make windows and doors for the last 30 years. This material was traditionally negative value and therefore sent to landfill when it came to end of life. However in the last few years this material can now be recycled and then repurposed back into products. This has shifted this into a positive value product which has created a marketplace and an economy for recycled UPVC. This includes resellers and processors that will buy and reprocess UPVC into other products. 

Once a material reaches a positive value then the industry will react as there is money to be made, so people will start to buy this and this creates an economy around the product. The next big product in the industry predicted to make this shift between negative and positive will be used tyres. Around 3 billion tyres are sold globally each year and at the moment there is a lot of research going on to create a value and use for this type of material. 

We also have got to look at Electronic scrap to realise that although there is a need to repurpose our old scrap. Many of our old electronic items are discarded but actually contain precious materials that have a limited supply. As the use of electronics grows and our society becomes more dependant on technology we need to find an effective way of recycling the components contained within our devices.

Today, there is an ever-growing concern about the state of the environment. With climate change becoming even more of a global threat, everyone is encouraged to minimise their environmental footprint.

Businesses, from start-ups to multinational companies, are among the producers of huge amounts of waste every year. According to a 2016 report by the Department for Environment of Food & Rural Affairs, 41.1 million tonnes of waste were produced by commercial and industrial establishments in the UK, compared to the 27.3 tonnes produced by households that year. It is now a social obligation to reduce your business’ environmental footprint, from recycling scrap paper to sorting waste properly.

The Benefits of a Having a Recycling Program

Aside from contributing to the protection of the environment, adopting a company-wide recycling program improves your business’ reputation. Consumer preferences are shifting to sustainability, and the majority of buyers around the world say that they prefer businesses that have programs in place that protect the environment.

Recycling also nurtures a positive company culture. It makes employees feel that they are part of something positive, even with small actions. Recycling likewise comes with economic benefits, as you reduce your costs and have opportunities to earn by selling recyclable materials.

Implementing a Recycling Program in the Office

Running a recycling program in the office is more than just placing recycling bins within the premises and expecting employees to know how to discard of rubbish and waste. For an effective and sustainable plan, consider taking the following steps:

• Analyse Your Waste

Waste analysis helps you identify which waste materials your office produces the most, what kind of recycling methods you need and what waste collection methods are appropriate for your company.

• Know What to Recycle

To encourage your employees to recycle, educate them on what they can recycle and the best practices for doing so. Educational materials are an excellent way to inform and remind your team about what can be recycled in the office.

• Make Recycling Convenient

Offering containers in accessible and convenient places makes it easier for employees to recycle. Place a recycle bin next to desks, as well as in convenient places such as the kitchen and lobby. Make sure to add consistent colour codes to avoid confusion. For example, blue is for scrap paper and yellow is for food waste.

• Set Goals and Incentives

People are encouraged to do something when they have an incentive to do so. Offering rewards based on goals and milestones will motivate employees to buy into a recycling program at the office.

• Gather Feedback

Regularly gather feedback from your employees to know whether the recycling program is effective. Asking for their input keeps them motivated and allows you to improve and adjust your plan.

Professional Waste Management Services by LKM Recycling

When looking for waste management companies to dispose of your office rubbish, look no further than LKM Recycling. We have over 35 years of experience in the industry, giving us a wealth of knowledge to help businesses become cleaner, greener and more efficient.

For recycling solutions for your office waste, get in touch with us. We accept waste collection for a variety of materials, such as paper, cardboard, glass and plastic. Call 01795 439393, and our sales reps will recommend the best solution based on your requirements.

When your car breaks down because it is too old or damaged, you will find it difficult to sell or you might spend a lot on repairs. Your next option is to sell it to businesses that buy scrap cars.

Scrapping your car is a form of recycling that provides numerous environmental benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and conserved natural resources. Energy is also conserved, as would otherwise be expended in the manufacturing of virgin metal.

Selling your scrap car also gives you extra income. Once you bring your car to the recycling facility, you receive your profit and leave. But do you know what happens to your scrap car once it’s sold? Here are the basic stages.

Step #1. De-Pollution

Before a scrap vehicle is taken apart, the fluids need to be completely drained. Cars contain numerous fluids that are hazardous to the environment, such as antifreeze, oil, petrol and different kinds of lubricants. The drained liquids are stored and shipped to processing plants.

Other parts like batteries and tyres are removed, cleaned and restored. The facility will issue a certificate of destruction to the owner of the vehicle.

Step #2. Shredding

After the issuance of a certificate of destruction, the facility feeds the remaining parts of the vehicle into the crusher to compact the metal. Then, the compacted metal is fed to the shredder.

Step #3. Separation

The materials are separated using the following processes:

• Magnet: Once the shredded metal falls onto a conveyor belt, magnets pull off the steel, separating it from other materials.
• Vacuum: Lighter materials such as fabric, plastic and rubber are removed via vacuum. .
• Heavy Media: The remaining materials are submerged in water with a different density to determine which materials float and which sink.

Step #4. Reuse and Recycle

The scrap metal is melted down in a furnace, after which it undergoes purification to make sure the final product is of high quality and doesn’t contain impurities. After being melted, it is carried to a conveyor belt, where it is cooled and solidified. The solidified metal is then sold to manufacturers to be reused as new metal.

Other materials in the scrapped vehicle are also recycled and reused. For example, plastics are changed into pellets for moulds. Light materials like foam and rubber are turned into gas, which is then converted into steam to produce electricity.

When selling a car for scrap, there is a lot of work involved in breaking down its complex machinery into materials that can be reused and recycled. With the majority of the car’s components being scrapped, there is less energy involved in making new materials, leaving minimum impact on the environment.

Efficient and Professional Vehicle Recycling by LKM Recycling

When your car is at the end of its life, bringing it to an authorised treatment facility ensures that it will be disposed of in an eco-friendly manner. If you’re looking for a facility where you can sell your car for scrap, go to LKM Recycling. We are registered under the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, ensuring that your car is disposed of through environmentally friendly means. We also pay you fair market value for your vehicle.

For more information or enquiries, get in touch with our team by calling 01795 439393

Due to increasing population and increasing car ownership around the world, last year the tyre industry sold over 3 billion tyres to the public. This is a staggering amount of tyres and with each tyre weighing on average 7.5kg that is 22.5 Million tonnes of End of Life Tyres (ELT’s)  produced each year. 

So where do all these tyres go once they are no longer road worthy? The sad thing is that ELT’s are not easily recycled and the cost for disposal is a clear indication of this. For many years in the UK tyres were sent to landfill or buried in the ground. This is now against EU regulations because the tyres will leak toxins into soil and water causing pollution.

Since the change in regulations in the EU millions of pounds has gone into research as to how we deal with the ongoing tyre problems of the next decade. Tyres can be used as fuel as they contain a lot of energy but can produce harmful toxins when burned. Other options are to shred the rubber and repurpose for rubber matting for playgrounds or for use on railway tracks which helps to reduce vibrations of the train for the passengers.

Some recycling companies will now seperate good tyres coming in from end of life vehicles to resell on as part worn tyres. Often when vehicles are scrapped they may have at least 1 good tyre that can be resold as a part worn tyre, rather than just sending these to be reprocessed good recycling companies will make sure these roadworthy tyres are reused and resold to go back onto vehicles

India has recently been experimenting on creating new roads with a mixture of old plastic and rubber solutions to create a real use for waste products. As the technology continues to evolve and real world uses for end of life tyres become available we will start to see ELT’s become a recycled product with a positive value so we will see companies start to collect these as there is money to be made which will divert away from landfill and fly tipping.

In Sweden there is a project that is in its infancy that is working on a more circular economy approach. Scientists there are working on a process that would take old end of life tyres and repurpose them back into new tyres. This sort of process would be groundbreaking and could flip the recycling of tyres on its head and make ELT’s valuable and create a recycling economy around them

The next 10 years are crucial to ensuring that we are producing a sustainable solution for end of life tyres.

Is your car languishing, gathering dust in the garage? If yes, consider scrapping it to earn extra cash and help the environment. You can make money from its metal components. These metals will be recycled to make other products, like tin. The use of recycled materials also minimises greenhouse gas emissions, a major cause of global warming.

The process of scrapping, however, has to be done properly.

Why Should You Scrap Your Car Properly?

When scrapping your old car, you can’t just turn up at a scrap yard, then leave your vehicle and be done with it. You need to complete a few documents and contact an authorised scrap company.

Coordinate with various agencies to help you dispose of a vehicle that is broken beyond repair. Only an authorised treatment facility (ATF) can scrap a car. The ATF will decide whether to scrap it completely or repair and sell it themselves.

The processes for scrapping an old vehicle may differ if you intend to keep some parts of your car or scrap the whole lot; a different process may also apply if your car is registered outside of the UK. General guidelines will apply whatever your situation.

What Do You Need to Remember?

You need to remember several factors to make the process easier. These crucial factors include:

• Notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) – after scrapping your car, the ATF will give a Certificate of Destruction (CoD). Use this certification to inform the DVLA that the ATF has scrapped your car. Otherwise, you will remain accountable to the vehicle and could end up paying £1,000 fine.
• Reclaim insurance and tax – once you have informed the DVLA that your car is already off the road, you may get a refund cheque for all the full months left on your vehicle tax, starting from the date the agency receives your information. For payments via Direct Debit, automatic cancellation will take effect.
• Safeguard your personal data – selling your car as scrap normally requires you to provide proof of identity and proof of address. Companies will store your personal information for three years. It’s important to find a reliable organization so that you’re certain your details are safe.

Scrapping is suitable for vehicles that force you to spend more on maintenance and repairs. The car may eat up excessive fuel and is no longer safe to drive. Instead of ending up at a landfill, your old car has to be recycled to reduce waste and maximise the available resources.

Work with Professionals

LKM Recycling helps you scrap your old car according to regulations set by the DVLA. Since we’re an ATF with the DVLA, our team handles all the paperwork through the agency’s website, so you can relax. We also normally issue CoD within 24 hours of collection. You don’t need to bring your vehicle to our site because our team will pick it up from your home. We collect vehicles in any condition, but they should have four wheels and a rolling chassis.

Contact us today to learn more.

Copper is a common element with a lot of amazing properties. You can find it in just about anywhere and is one of the few naturally occurring metals that you can use directly upon mining. One of its earliest uses was as a material for making tools, creating an alternative to stone and informally ushering in the era of metallurgy. Today, many industries use copper for many reasons, primarily the following:

Conductivity

Next to silver, copper is an excellent thermal and electrical conductor, but it is less expensive to use, making it the practical choice of manufacturers in the electrical and electronics industries.

 Malleability

Apart from electrical conductivity, copper is known for being malleable and versatile. It can be processed and shaped easily into different objects. As stated, many of the earliest tools were made from copper, including copper pots and cookware, which are used in much the same way today.

Durability

The discovery of the metal led to the Bronze Age wherein copper was combined with tin and other metals to form an alloy that’s stronger, easy to melt, and more resistant to corrosion than pure copper. With copper’s natural resistance to corrosion, it is recyclable multiple times. It does not deteriorate during the recycling process, making it precious for scrap collectors.

Although copper is an abundant metal, it is in high demand. Continuous mining and discarding could rapidly deplete the resource. Recycling scrap copper has tremendous benefits to people and the environment.

Why you should recycle copper

Save resources – The most apparent purpose of recycling metal, of course, is to prevent them from diminishing rapidly. After all, such natural resources are finite. Although less than 20% of copper has been mined, according to Schoolscience.co.uk, recycling can extend the earth’s supply of the metal.

Save energy – The energy used to recycle copper is only 15% of the energy consumption for mining copper ores. For the same time and effort, recycling helps save fossil fuels without raising carbon footprint.

Save the environment – Recycling does not release gases that damage the earth’s atmosphere, gases that are present when metals are refined.

Save land – Disposing of metals and other used items fills up landfills fast. It creates the need to open more landfills to accommodate more waste materials. Recycling prevents this.

Sources of Scrap Copper

Many scrap collectors look for copper in construction sites, as well as shooting ranges and places under renovation. But though these places are the obvious sources of copper, they make up only 30 percent of the total recyclable scrap metals, based on an article published in Thebalancesmb.com.  It means that the scrap copper found in these places are not that many. It is also important to pay attention to other, less obvious sources. Ranches and farms, for one, are surprisingly rich in scrap copper, mostly from used machinery and old vehicles.

To this day, copper is still one of the world’s most valuable resources. It is present in just about everything, from major currencies to towering skyscrapers to kitchen implements and jewellery. Dealing with this resource, therefore, can be a lucrative source of income, when done right.

If you are planning to enter the scrap metal recycling industry, LKM Recycling is a waste management company that can help you recycle scrap copper and other non-ferrous metals.

Give us a call today at 01795 439393 to learn what we can do for your business. 

Fly tipping is a serious criminal offence in the UK. According to Keep Britain Tidy, fly tipping is the illegal deposit of any waste onto any land that does not have a licence to accept it. For the year 2017, local authorities in England dealt with 998,000 fly-tipping incidents and in 2018, fly-tipping incidents were discovered 2,700 times in a single day signifying how big the problem is.

According to the National Flytipping Prevention Group, it is your responsibility to clear and dispose of rubbish that was dumped on your private property. But before that, you should not move or remove the said waste until you have notified the authorities.

Whether it’s domestic or commercial waste, dumping rubbish is a great nuisance, illegal and gives the community a bad reputation.

Legally disposing of waste

As a resident or a business, it’s your duty to take care of your waste legally. In the UK, most waste is relatively easy to get rid of. There are specific councils that offer comprehensive collection services for waste management and recycling. This free collection is a result of council tax payment.

However, this free collection has a limit and residents have to find a way to manage their excess rubbish which is why some resort to illegally dumping their leftover waste in highways or private property.

There are a few options you can choose from if you can’t dispose of your rubbish in your regular waste collection service such as finding a local community recycling centre, donating to a reuse charity, or hiring a commercial waste collection service such as a skip hire service.

Advantages of Hiring Skip Bin Services

Hiring a skip bin service is a simple legal way to get rid of your waste. Skip bins are used to manage the waste of commercial and residential areas. These bins are available in different sizes according to your needs, from 6 to 12 yards.

Disposing rubbish is not a simple thing to do and while we can do it ourselves, having professionals take care of it is a huge weight off of one’s shoulders. Here are the benefits of using skip hire services:

• Saves time and effort – Disposing of your own waste means collecting your waste by yourself and arranging for transportation. Naturally, this costs you a considerable amount of your free time and effort whereas when hiring skip bins, they deliver the bins to your location and dispose of it for you.
• Allows you to dispose of waste in one go – Because of the large sizes available of skip bins, you can get rid of your waste in one collection. This is a huge benefit especially for businesses who produce large volumes of waste on a daily basis. No matter how much waste you need to dispose of, a skip bin will ensure easy disposal.

Protects the environment – Perhaps the biggest benefit of hiring skip bin services is that they know exactly how to dispose of the rubbish properly. They provide responsible and proper waste management by getting rid of our waste and protecting the environment at the same time. If you want to take care of your waste in an eco-friendly way, hiring skip bins for your residence or business is the best option.