April 2009
First ‘Assured’ Contractors Collect Agricultural Waste
Following a successful audit, B&B Contractors from Gunnislake in Cornwall are the first business to become ‘Assured’ Agricultural Waste Collectors.
Developed by the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) and independently audited by NSF-CMi, the new scheme promotes a traceable route between the farmer, contractor and the next point of process, ensuring waste is collected by suitably trained staff and hazards from collection and transportation are identified and controlled. Contractors must also recycle at least 70% of waste collected.
Commenting, Adrian Riley, Scheme Manager said, ‘Safety, professionalism and traceability form the back bone of the scheme and the NAAC is delighted to be working with agricultural waste contractors to promote recycling and ensure that standards are kept high for their customers.’
The new scheme will establish a framework of good working practices to be verified by external assessors that allow contractors to prove the quality of their service.
The first assured member, B&B Contractors, has developed a simple cost effective bag-based system that allows them to collect segregated waste with ease. Since launching the collection service in 2005, B&B Contractors now collect from more than 1,500 farmers across the south west.
Tim Bloye, Managing Director, B&B Contractors said, ‘I recognised the growing importance for farmers to dispose of their waste responsibly due to the changing legislation. Our bag based system has made it easy for the farmers, taking away some of the headache brought on by the new legislation. Also, it was a good opportunity for B&B Contractors to extend the service already offered to its customers”
Paul Adams from NSF-CMi said, ‘The Agricultural Waste Collection module will allow participating contractors to demonstrate principles of best practice and a very high percentage of recycled material both to their customers and bodies such as the Environment Agency.’
Contact
For more information on the NAAC’s Agricultural Waste Collection scheme, please visit the Assured Land-Based Contractor section of our website, or contact Adrian Riley on 08456 448750 or adrian.riley@naac.co.uk.
Press packs can be sent on request.
Editors Note
Founded in 1897, the NAAC is the representative organisation for contractors in the UK who supply all types of land-based services to farmers, government, local authorities, sports and recreational facilities.