Viridor, Atlas Packaging create partnership

The U.K.-based recycling company Viridor has announced a three-year partnership with the packaging firm Atlas Packaging, located in Barnstaple, U.K. Through the program Viridor is expected to be able to handle around 1,500 metric tons of pre-consumer corrugated per year. Prior to the contract Atlas and Viridor had never worked together.

From left, Dave Matthews, General Manager Viridor; Karen Clark, Sales Manager, Viridor; Jason Sharman, Managing Director, Atlas and Ray Maze, Site Services & Safety Manager, Viridor

Through the partnership Atlas will deliver to Viridor on a daily basis cardboard clippings generated from its manufacturing process. After processing, baling and quality control checks on the material, Viridor will market the material as a high-value recovered fiber material.

Jason Sharman, Atlas’ managing director, says, “Seventy percent less energy is used when making new paper and card from recycled stock than when using virgin pulp so it is great to know that we are doing what we can to support the environment. The high quality of the cardboard waste we produce also means that it is in demand in the manufacturing sector and we can get a good return on what was essentially a waste product."

Dave Matthews, manager at Viridor’s Martock, U.K., recycling facility, says, “We are delighted to be working with Atlas and helping them maximize their waste recycling."

Viridor also handles Atlas’s general waste contract. While performing a review of Atlas’ waste services, Viridor was approached by Atlas on establishing a program to handle the pre-consumer corrugated clippings.

As part of the partnership, Viridor has overhauled Atlas’ waste system with the help of the company’s site personnel and will be working on continuous improvement programs through the three years of the program.