Baylis launches first UK Exhibition Industry Carpet Recycling Service

• Industry generates 60,000 tonnes of waste a year at a cost of £40 million.
• "This scheme provides a viable solution to the problem of how to balance show demands with the need to be waste friendly" says Sustainable Exhibition Industry (SEXI) chairman Grahame Jones

Baylis Recycling is to launch a national exhibition industry carpet clearance and recycling service targeting all major UK venues, the Berkshire-headquartered company announced today. The after-exhibition service is a 'double first' for the industry, as it will clear and load carpet directly from the exhibition floor and also recycle it into reprocessed polymer that can be used to manufacture a range of products including chairs, doors, worktops and warehouse pallets.

Research reveals that the UK exhibition industry generates more than 60,000 tonnes of waste every year, at a cost of over £40 million (source: Sustainable Exhibition Industry project - SEXI).

"The industry uses some three million square feet of carpet per annum, accounting for around a quarter of all exhibition industry waste. Until now it has typically gone into landfill", says Baylis Recycling managing director Chris Baylis.

"For exhibition organisers and venues, our one-stop service provides a more efficient and less disruptive carpet clearance alternative, using dustcarts at lower cost than skips, as well as demonstrating that the industry is keen to be green".

Baylis Recycling has invested over £200,000 in the new service, which will be operational from March 2004: Opex Exhibition Services will be the first organisation to use it.

Commenting on the launch of Baylis Recycling's scheme, Sustainable Exhibition Industry (SEXI) project chairman Grahame Jones says:

"Any initiative that will enable the exhibition industry to become more environmentally friendly is to be welcomed. This scheme provides a viable solution to the problem of how to balance show demands with the need to be waste friendly. It is an exciting development".

Research shows that around one third of venues monitor their waste and have an environmental policy in place. NEC group cleaning manager Karen Hennessy says:

"This is an excellent idea and good for the industry, as it reduces the amount of waste going into landfill".

Earls Court customer services manager Frank Henderson comments:

"For this new service to be most effective for the industry, venues, organisers andcontractors will need to work together to enable them to build this innovation into their planning".

ENDS.

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For more information:

Matthew Bantock - Team Communications (PR)
Tel: 0208 878 4432
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Chris Baylis - Baylis Recycling
Tel: 07990 978000
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