Strategies to help the region’s paper recyclers grow and prosper were headline topics at an industry gathering hosted by CO2Sense Yorkshire to mark the launch of its paper recycling business support programme.

CO2Sense Yorkshire, which is funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has launched a business support programme that will work with Yorkshire and Humber paper recyclers to help them increase paper collections, increase sales and create jobs.

Mark Gregory, paper project manager for CO2Sense Yorkshire explained: “CO2Sense Yorkshire has a twin approach to achieving resource efficient business growth for our region: we create demand for resource efficiency products and services and support environmental sector businesses to fulfil that demand.

“The launch of the CO2Sense paper and board programme provided an opportunity for the region’s paper recyclers to share knowledge and ideas with us so that together we can divert more of the 500,000 tonnes[1] of paper needlessly going to landfill each year in Yorkshire and Humber.”

He added: “One clear message from delegates at the event was there is a need to communicate the business case for paper recycling to waste producers and promote the value of segregating different grades of paper waste. CO2Sense will build this into its business support programme and work with paper recyclers to build their capacity to deliver recycling services that offer higher quality paper to end markets.”   

Barry Read, technology director of the Paper Industry Technical Association acted as chairperson for the event, introducing the keynote speaker, Dr Mike Burgess, sourcing manager of one of the world’s leading paper manufacturers, UPM-Kymmene. Over 40 delegates from paper-related businesses, local authorities and business support agencies across Yorkshire and Humber attended, many signing up to introduce resource efficiency initiatives as a result.

Andy Hartley, operations director of CO2Sense Yorkshire commented: “Paper is a material that we should be keeping out of landfill and re-using and recycling as much as possible. This gathering of paper industry experts has helped CO2Sense Yorkshire to refine its offer of support to the paper recycling sector. Our launch event marked the start of an industry relationship that will contribute to Yorkshire and Humber making the much-needed shift to a low carbon economy. We aim to help the paper recycling sector generate new customers, new income streams, more jobs and greater profits.”