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[July 2001]
Environment Agency Launches Scheme to Help Whitewares Companies
A waste minimisation initiative has been launched to help ceramic whitewares manufacturers - as well as ceramic materials suppliers to the whitewares sector - save money by improving their environmental performance. Called PREMICE, the initiative will be launched on 17 July 2001 at the Moat House Hotel, Festival Park, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent.
Companies which implement a waste minimisation programme such as PREMICE could regularly achieve net cost savings of at least five times their disposal costs, says the Environment Agency. For example, a company with profits of 200,000 per year and waste costs of 120,000 per year could increase its profits by 12% if it reduced its waste costs by 20%.
The initiative has been set up by the Environment Agency, Envirowise, Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Business & Environment Network (SBEN), with the support of the British Ceramic Confederation (BCC).
PREMICE is based on the Envirowise Good Practice Guides on reducing solid waste, water use and effluent disposal costs. It will begin in September 2001 and will run for approximately 12 months. Companies joining the initiative will receive a starter pack, seven half-day training sessions, a baseline audit, up to three half-day on-site consultancy assistance sessions, a placement student and access to SBEN's helpline.
SMEs (companies with less than 250 employees) are the principal target for the scheme, although larger companies are also welcome to join it. It aims to recruit up to two delegates per company from up to 15 companies. Although the initiative is being concentrated on North Staffordshire, whitewares manufacturers or suppliers of materials that are located outside this area are still welcome to join the scheme.
To attend the launch, contact Nigel Barrett of Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent on: 01782 411000.
ENDS