219,000 hours or 9,125 days or 300 months, in fact 25 years ago it all began here at Woodrecyclability – to recycle waste wood into something new.
Woodrecyclability was set up in 1997 by Mrs Marcia Morris along with help from Shell UK and both local councils, as a small social enterprise to provide practical work experience for people requiring additional support needs through working with waste wood.
Over the last 25 years the organisation has grown steadily from two staff and six service users in a small croft and outbuildings to 10 staff and up to 32 service users each day in a new purpose-built workshop, yard and five acres of agricultural land.
Service users, who have a range of additional support needs, including autism, Downs Syndrome, and ABI (acquired brain injury) are involved in all aspects of the business. In fact, 534-man hours per week. There are opportunities to work with hand and power tools, de-nail wood and construct various products as well as enjoy interaction with fellow peers, staff and visitors.
Woodrecyclability is a great example of how an organisation can be a sustainable business whilst providing an environmental and social benefit.
After 25 years the future looks even better as plans for diversification into plastic recycling and the provision of a newly planted orchard for the new apple juice and cider production we plan to have in a few years time and a further expansion of the premises looks set to build on this success.
We have saved nearly 40,000 tons of waste going to landfill which equates to over 43,300 tons of CO2 saved from the environment.