SWH open reed bed recycling facility

South West Highways Ltd were pleased to officially open the reed bed at their head office in Rockbeare this week.

Accompanied by a number of students from Southbrook School in Exeter and Doug Parker, Environment Officer from the Environment Agency, professional photographer Tim Pestridge was on hand to capture the moment a student cut the ribbon and declared the facility open.

SWH were awarded National Skills Academy for Construction status in September 2013. Anna Cooper, SWH's Project Skills Coordinator, develops and nourishes this status, planning events such as the grand opening which aims to inspire students to seek a career in construction in the future.

Anna said, "It was great to spend some time with the students from Southbrook School teaching them about the significance of the reed bed and the impact it has had on the environment. We are proud to have a working relationship with the school, having sponsored one of their Go Karts from September onwards. We look forward to welcoming them back in the not so distant future'.

The reed bed helps significantly reduce the amount of gully emptying waste which is sent to landfill and a great deal of the transportation cost and impact as well. It treats effluent from gully waste water and saline effluent from the washing of gritter lorries and is now recycling water (which accounts for approximately a third of wet gully waste). SWH is now investing in recycling more of the solid waste along with other recycling initiatives at its Rockbeare headquarters.

SWH has an accredited Environmental Management System; encouraging waste minimisation and reducing carbon emissions.