Pictured above:  back - Neville Roberts (CEMEX), Paul Fenner (Chantrey Vellacott DFK), Joanne Yapp-Pennino (HSBC), David Rogers (WRAP) and Chris Daniel (Gregory Distribution) Front - Cwikskip director Mark Tailby and chairman Kenneth Baker OBE

A leading Midlands waste management company is wasting no time doing its bit for the environment having made a record £2 million investment. 

Cwikskip Waste Management Services, which has its headquarters in Rugby and a depot in Torrington Avenue in Coventry, is now striving towards zero waste to landfill having purchased waste shredding and pre-shredding machines and agreed to supply Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to neighbouring firm CEMEX. 

The new machinery enables Cwikskip to shred materials previously found to be unrecyclable at its depot on Butlers Leap in Rugby and has been funded with the support of a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), HSBC and chartered accountants Chantrey Vellacott DFK. 

It will allow Cwikskip, which was established in 1986 and employs around 40 people, to produce the shredded Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) material to the required specification of global cement manufacturer CEMEX.

Cwikskip has a contract with CEMEX to deliver 20,000 tonnes of the Climafuel® - CEMEX's trade name RDF - per year for use at its Rugby cement plant on Lawford Road. 

Director Mark Tailby said Cwikskip's investment and agreement with CEMEX, which was negotiated for the firm by environmental consultant Mandy Woodcock, will reduce emissions and secure employment. 

"This is a major milestone in the history of Cwikskip," he said. 

"The waste industry is changing so much and we are delighted to be at the forefront and to be the first business in the UK to have this new kit in place. 

"The partnership we've developed with CEMEX will help save a vast amount of waste from going into the ground and will strengthen our position in the market and secure employment for many years - so it really ticks all the boxes.

"Landfill space is running out fast and we all need to be doing all we can to be greener and this project and linking up with a major firm on our doorstep makes perfect sense for all parties. 

"CEMEX was previously purchasing the RDF, which can be waste like plastic bags and materials like poor quality card, from businesses based across the UK but now has a partner based less than two miles away, which is so much more efficient."

Neville Roberts, CEMEX's technical director, said he is delighted with the arrangement.

"It makes much more sense environmentally and logistically to source Climafuel from local sources and Cwikskip's decision to invest in this new plant has to be applauded," he said. 

Paul Fenner, partner at Chantrey Vellacott DFK in Birmingham, said Cwickskip is entering a strong period in its history. 

"Cwikskip has seized on an opportunity to expand its operations and we are delighted to support the company with this diversification," he said. 

"The firm collects waste from across the Midlands and has taken a major step towards becoming a zero waste to landfill business, which is good news for Cwikskip, CEMEX, along with Rugby and the wider region."