A household recycling firm launched in Hull 20 years ago, is gearing up for a major third decade as it prepares to invest significantly in major green projects.
Transwaste was founded by brothers Paul and Mark Hornshaw as a skip hire firm in 2002, hand-sorting waste on the docks. Now the £29 million turnover business is preparing to emerge as a leading player in the green economy in East Yorkshire, with a multiplex energy from waste plant.
Melton Green Energy Park will use waste streams to produce biogas from anaerobic digestion and electricity, while aiming to add three further wind turbines to support neighbouring businesses.
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The company is working with Solar 21 on the proposal, the Irish company behind the huge North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park at Flixborough, a scheme currently going through the national planning process due to its scale and strategic importance.
Paul Hornshaw, co-director, said: “Since winning contracts back in 2009 with local authorities, a new strategy emerged which changed the horizon for us. Transwaste’s healthy year-on-year growth is partly due to these opportunities which we reinforced with our own investment.
“A total of £19 million has been spent on state-of-the-art processing equipment, technology and green jobs. This has enabled us to manage the increased capacity, as well as the type and volume of waste that can be recycled.”
The move to Melton has allowed it receive between 60 to 100 deliveries a day, with the brothers calculating they have recycled more than six million tonnes of waste - with almost 97 per cent now re-used. Sophisticated sorting processes include mechanical separation of plastics, aluminium, wood, metals and other materials for recycling, with the remainder converted to refuse-derived fuel.
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Paul said: “Over the next five years we will commit to further investment as we develop a multiplex energy from waste plant, Melton Green Energy Park. We expect to announce the details very soon.”
Elements of expansion, including the AD plant at the Gibson Lane site were granted by the local authority last year.
A total of 103 people are employed by the firm, with numbers practically doubling in the past decade as business has grown 107 per cent, and no sign of it slowing.
Mark added: “The processes and technology have moved on faster in the last five years than they did in the first 15 years of business. We have invested profits back into the business and in the last 10 years our workforce has doubled across the plant and offices.
“Over the next 12 months Transwaste will hold several events to mark our anniversary and as part of the 20 years celebrations, Transwaste is donating £2,002 each to local charities. Internal teams and customers suggested charities. We shortlisted seven from 27 to visit and get to understand in more detail.”
Beneficiaries selected are North Ferriby Riding for the Disabled, Humber Rescue, Hull Children’s University, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Butterflies Memory Loss Support Group, Rooted in Hull and Dove House Hospice.
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