SRD Engineering has embraced waste management as a smart business decision that can lead to cost savings and enhanced operational performance.
In high-quality precision engineering, waste can be an overlooked yet pressing issue. With the sector producing over 15 million tonnes of waste annually in the UK alone—according to the Engineering Employers Federation—a staggering amount of valuable raw materials such as plastics and composites are discarded during manufacturing. This leads to environmental degradation and increases operational costs, with many companies failing to realise the financial opportunities in reducing waste.
SRD Engineering is a precision engineering company that supplies high-demand industries such as aerospace, automotive (including Formula One), and medical devices.
The company initially partnered with Waste Mission in 2017 when the team sought a recycling option for their redundant carbide end mills and tips. The initial problems were solved by the provision of bespoke carbide containment sited throughout SRD's works to ensure all staff had access to a clear recycling option; recycling rates and financial returns for the materials were maximised. SRD then asked Waste Mission to provide a recycling solution for its day-to-day swarf and offcuts as well.
Waste Mission’s answer was to supply sealed lockable stackable stillages that saved space and allowed collections to be more detailed, helping with traceability and increasing the financial returns as more material could be collected per collection.
After a reliable and profitable metals system was in place, the SRD team asked if Waste Mission could help with the safe, secure collection and disposal of redundant coolant. At that time SRD was producing about 1000L of redundant coolant fortnightly. The customer also had an issue with recycling plastic swarf, and needed to streamline its systems and ensure these materials did not go to landfill.
For the redundant coolant, a solution was created where the coolants would be stored in 1000 litre IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers), helping reduce the environmental impact and space and resulting in a cost-saving on collections.
Plastic swarf was provided with its own containment which aligned with the metals containment and was then incorporated into the metals collection schedule offering SRD a concise, one stop shop for multiple waste streams.
Over the next several months the Waste Mission team operated a regular monthly collection schedule of coolant, enabling SRD to reduce haulage costs and hence its carbon footprint.
An innovative approach to the segregation of the metals, especially the swarf and the bins, was developed further to increase the financial benefits of recycling for SRD. The Waste Mission team worked closely with SRD to investigate the most efficient approach to bins and segregation for its workshop. Working through all their materials, the best solution was to supply tipping bins that could easily be moved around the factory and then used to feed the larger containers each time a job run had finished.
Steve Head, Manufacturing Manager at SRD said ‘The biggest benefit I have seen from Waste Mission is their ability to scale up the service offered to suit what we have needed. From changing the swarf containers to make sure they are suitable for new machines, to increasing the collection frequency so we aren't wasting floor space on swarf. We have had advice, and a solution offered to any issues our growth has seen. With the volume of swarf we are now generating, the assistance given has allowed us to maximise the financial returns whilst minimising the time, effort and floor space needed.’
Robert Pepperell, Commercial Manager at Waste Mission, who has managed the SRD account from day one, said: ‘Working with companies such as SRD is an absolute pleasure. They are a long serving customer whose values align clearly with Waste Mission. Improving their waste outcomes and ensuring a 100% diversion from landfill on the materials we handle is a joint priority. SRD are always open to new processes and technology that can benefit their operations, and we look forward to many more years of working with them.’