RE:Group

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RE:Group and the University of Hull make the chemistry right

Hull fuel manufacturer RE:Group is targeting top students.
The company is impressed with the high standard of University of Hull applicants for year-long placements, saying they bring extra dynamism.
And the students benefit from real-world experience, which enhances their studies and CVs.
Jacob Ward-Pike, the latest undergraduate to spend a year at the site in Air Street, Hull, is taking up a fulltime position in the RE:Group laboratories after finishing his four-year MChem Integrated Masters degree next summer.
The chance has come due to ongoing expansion of the firm.
He completed his paid placement by interviewing eight shortlisted candidates to take over from him.
Production director Robert Booth, himself a Hull graduate, said that helping select his successor was difficult for Jacob because they all had good credentials.
“The students have been of genuinely superb calibre. They’re as keen as mustard and obviously hard-working.”
The position has gone to Raimonda Globytė from Lithuania who joined her family in England in 2010 and studied at Hull College before starting her degree course.
The company’s relationship with the University and its Department of Chemistry could bring more job opportunities.
Mr Booth said that taking on an extra student each year was now under consideration.
“We start by training them to ISO 17025 which is the flagship standard for laboratories and crucial to our operations.
“We benefit from bright young students and the dynamism they bring. We give them the opportunity to gain experience they wouldn’t get on campus and the life skills to work with other people at all levels.
“They can take research and development projects through to full-scale plant trials. They are demonstrating why the University chemistry department has such an excellent reputation.”
Coming soon after the University was named in the national top 10 for graduate employability, it is another example of the close relationship it has with industry.
Dr Nigel Young, industrial placements officer and senior lecturer in inorganic chemistry, said: “Students going to RE:Group get the chance to do some real chemistry, dealing with contaminated oils. There is lots of problem solving and they learn new skills. In return, they offer an additional resource freeing up time in the business.”
Jacob Ward-Pike who is from Rhyl has set his sights on a future in Hull.
“RE:Group makes you a vital part of the team, not just another member of staff,” he said. “If you have an idea, they’ll take it as far as they can.
“I had the chance to study at Manchester, but when I came to Hull on an open day I was amazed by the University and the city itself. I hope I can stay in this area for many years to come.”

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Apprentice makes quick impression

RE:Group is investing in the future through its new apprenticeship scheme.

It is hoped that Ross Vinegrad, who has joined us as an engineering apprentice, after spending four months with training organisation HETA, will be the first of many in the years to come.

Ross, who is from Hedon, was chosen from a strong candidate list, and has made a quick impression by passing a PAT testing course and starting the job of updating procedures in site.

His apprenticeship will last two years.

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RE:Group passes the surveillance test -UKAS

Auditors from UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service) have once again given RE:Group’s laboratory a clean bill of health.

During their annual inspection, after comprehensively checking, witnessing and reviewing everything the lab does, the three auditors confirmed the company’s accreditation to the ISO 17025 standard.

This was a one day ‘surveillance’ visit in contrast to the four-yearly root and branch review of the laboratory which lasts three days.

“Although we have been audited every year for many years it is always a happy workforce when we can say once again we have achieved accreditation for our high standard of operations,” says Paul Marsden, safety, health, environment and quality manager.

“I would like to thank everyone for their help and cooperation over the past 12 months.”

To maintain accreditation, there is also an annual assessment by global certification body NQA.

In between visits, RE:Group’s in-house team carries out regular internal audits of business processes and quality systems.

Paul says that all laboratories need to carry out an internal audit of their business processes to ensure delivery of a competent service.

“For our part, we are fully committed to maintaining a quality management system which meets the requirements of ISO 17025:2005.

“We are committed to continuous improvement. It is about providing an excellent service and giving customer satisfaction.”

Re:Group UK is also audited against BS EN ISO 9001:2008 and BS EN ISO 14001:2004.

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RE:Group provides safe home for garage waste

Following legislation that effectively ends the use of used oil in garage SWOBs, the demand for waste collection is growing.

Acting as a one-stop-shop, RE:Group provides the answer for all business sizes, from one-man bands to dealerships and large chains, that are looking for a safe home for their waste.

Proving bona fide hazardous waste and recycling services, we can pick up everything. We collect waste oil in quantities from as little as 20 litres plus brake fluid, batteries, fluorescent lighting, used oil filters, antifreeze and oily rags. We can empty interceptors and bunds.

All this is achieved safely, efficiently, with respect to the environment and at competitive prices.

The government’s decision to revoke permits for the use of small waste oil burners (SWOBs) was announced in December 2015 and their use became illegal on April 1 unless garages obtained an expensive waste incineration plant permit, costing £3,218 for the application plus four-figure annual subsistence fees.

The decision raised concerns that illegal dumping and burning of waste oil could increase despite the hefty penalties enshrined in the legislation.

For all those responsible users looking for a safe home for their waste, RE:Group is the answer.

“The changes to the regulations have prove controversial, but we can help customers meet all obligations set by the Environment Agency with a range of bespoke agreements that cover all their waste products,” says Phil Evans, RE:Group commercial director.

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Lincolnshire Waste Oil opens new city depot

Family firm Lincolnshire Waste Oil Ltd has entered a joint venture that secures outlets for the waste it collects and will enable it to expand its level of service to local businesses.

The company has opened a licensed waste transfer station on Lincoln’s Whisby Way industrial estate in partnership with RE:Group of Hull. The development includes storage tanks, a yard and offices.

Waste oil collected from Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties is bulked up into storage tanks for collection before processing at RE:Group’s recovery operation.

“The logistics of the new facility frees up a lot of extra time to spend on collections offering an economical and convenient way to dispose of used oil and other waste ”, said Lincolnshire Waste Oil managing director Rob Donald.

“Large quantities of waste oil are out there with the potential to damage the environment if incorrectly handled. Our service can give customers peace of mind that the waste is being consigned in full compliance with UK legislation.”

Mr Donald started Lincolnshire Waste Oil in 2000 and his sons, Tom, 28, and Ben, 26, having joined the business over the last few years as it has expanded. To complete the family firm, Mr Donald’s wife, Charmaine, is company secretary.

Collections are from businesses, ranging from factories and oceangoing ships, to farms and owner operators, such as small garages.

As part of a management programme for associated hazardous industrial and garage waste, Lincolnshire Waste Oil also deals with antifreeze, brake fluid, oily water and paint, and solid waste such as oil filters, aerosols and lead acid batteries.

“As part of our service we can supply containers in a range of sizes for customers to fill with this additional waste,” said Mr Donald.

“We make frequent collections from some customers while for others, such as farmers, it may be once every few years.

“The joint venture is a major step forward in our company’s development,” Mr Donald added.

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Changes to premises code and consignment note systems

RE:Group would like to inform you of the forthcoming changes to premises registration and consignment note systems.  From the 1st April 2016, two processes are changing that will affect you and your waste management.  These are:

  1. Premises Registration – There will no longer be a requirement for any premises in England to register with the Environment Agency, even if they produce or store over 500kg of hazardous waste per year. Waste producing sites in Wales and Scotland will still be required to register sites as per the current system.
  2. Consignment Note – To accommodate the removal of premises registration, the format of the consignment note code, which appears on every consignment note, will change regardless of the amount of hazardous waste produced, stored or handled.

The first six characters of the consignment note code (currently the premises registration number) must be replaced by the first six letters or numbers (not symbols) of the business name. See the following example given by the Environment Agency:Picture1

You as the waste producer should ensure consistent use of the organisation name with all consignment notes. The code “EXEMPT” can no longer be used.

For further information please call us on 01482 879666 or e mail sales@regroup.uk.com

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UK Garages now paying the price for oil market fall

The UK’s independent garage workshops are being squeezed in the oil market turmoil, says fuel manufacturing and waste oil company RE:Group.

As a direct result of collapsing crude oil prices, the garage industry now has to pay for the disposal of thousands of litres of oil after becoming accustomed to receiving a regular income from it over the last few years.

RE:Group’s commercial director Phil Evans calls the unavoidable charges a ’sting in the tail’ from the current oil market fall.

“It would be natural to think that garages would gain all-round from cheaper oil, but that is not the case. Charges for disposal look like remaining for some considerable time.”
One upside is that the prices garages pay for highly refined replacement lubricating oils has reduced.

Mr Evans said that the company’s RE:Claim division, which operates a waste oil collection and recovery facility in Hull, was enabling garages to meet their legal and environmental duties at a difficult time by providing a home for their waste at competitive rates.
“A crucial aspect of garage management is to make sure that used oil, oil filters, absorbents, antifreeze and brake fluid are disposed of safely and legally,” he said.

“The price of our service to the industry has to reflect the fact that, up stream, we are competing with virgin fuels, whose price, as we all know, has come down at an extraordinary rate.

“We have now reached the point where the value of the recovered fuel is lower than the cost of recovery and, as such, waste producers are required to contribute to the recovery cost,” he added.

The Oil Recycling Association acknowledges that the market expects recovered products to be offered at a discount to virgin products if they are to gain customers.

It explains that the value of waste lubricants is determined by the value of the fuel produced, less the cost of processing to meet the UK Processed Fuel Oil quality protocol.

RE:Group has a fuel manufacturing plant and UKAS-accredited laboratories at Air Street in Hull and a specialist marine waste facility in Grimsby.

It provides a range of heating fuels for industry and fully compliant specialist waste collection services.