Recofloor, the UK's vinyl flooring take-back scheme, will be recognising its vinyl flooring recycling champions at a sustainability seminar and awards event at The Building Research Establishment Innovation Park (BRE) at Watford on April 18th.
Entitled 'Recofloor - Closing the Loop', the day will feature key speakers from the flooring industry and explain how the scheme, founded by leading flooring manufacturers Altro and Polyflor, works with the supply chain to divert vinyl flooring waste from landfill.
Material is recycled back into products, including new flooring, which benefits the environment and significantly reduces collectors' waste disposal costs.
Spearheading the morning seminar session is Dr Jason Leadbitter, Sustainability & Compliance Manager at INEOS ChlorVinyls who will be exploring key sustainability credentials of PVC for use in the construction sector. Other guest speakers include Richard Catt, Chief Executive Officer at the Contract Flooring Association, Stuart Blofeld, developer of the BRE's Smartwaste Scheme, along with WRAP and Recofloor representatives.
"As well as celebrating our achievements, it will be an excellent opportunity to share expert knowledge, learn more about how Recofloor can work for your business and meet fellow industry professionals," explains Jane Gardner, of resource recovery specialists Axion Consulting, which manages the scheme.
Recofloor, which became a Limited Company in 2011, has grown to 437 members across the supply chain, from waste transfer stations to flooring contractors and distributors. Jane hopes the event will boost membership even further, saying: "Increased awareness of the scheme's benefits helped to attract 192 new flooring contractors and nine further drop-off sites last year."
Recofloor will also host its second awards ceremony, which recognises the commitment and achievements of Recofloor collectors throughout the UK. In addition to the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, new categories have been added to reward those who have made significant contributions in 2011, including Contractor, Distributor and Construction Company of the Year, Greatest Improver, Best Newcomer and Recofloor Champion.
Jane adds: "Recofloor continues to grow year on year, offering flexibility throughout the supply chain with a cost-effective and efficient collection system that has already diverted more than 700 tonnes of waste vinyl flooring from landfill in just three years."