Partnership recognised at 2019 Highways Awards
A partnership that delivered 100% recycling on over 14,000 streetlights, whilst also achieving over £34,000 worth of social value, has been shortlisted for a prestigious industry award.
The partnership first came together in August 2017 to manage the disposal of over 14,000 decommissioned streetlights, which were being upgraded to LED lanterns in Derby. During the 16-month project, a total of 113.43 tonnes of waste were processed, requiring a total of 158 waste movements.
Prisoners at HMP Foston Hall given the chance to ‘earn and learn’ by deconstructing each of the decommissioned lamps, enabling 100% recycling to be achieved on all materials with no landfill requirements. In addition to this significant environmental benefit, the project is also estimated to have saved £50,000 in procurement and waste disposal costs.
It has also delivered direct benefits to both the prisoners of HMP Foston Hall, and to wider society. As well as receiving a financial wage and learning new skills, the project allowed inmates to become more familiar with the disciplines of a working environment, increasing their chances of finding work and staying in work upon release, thereby reducing the likelihood of reoffending.
Jamie Roberts, Director of Managed Accounts at Reconomy, said: “On behalf of the partnership, we are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. By developing new ways of working together, the Derbyshire streetlighting project exceed all our expectations for delivering social, environmental and commercial benefits.
“The results of this project are rightly attracting significant attention from other areas of the construction industry as well as from across the prison service. Long-term, we believe it has the potential to be replicated across the UK.”