IN THE second of our features, the E&L Advertiser speaks to the largest employer in the town, a further two residents of the community and received feedback from an exile now living in Fife about how the council there is dealing with recycling waste.
A leading dyeing company is at the forefront of the recycling revolution which is currently gripping the country. Langholm-based company FTS Dyers recently posted on social media on Environment Day about its processes.
The company is very conscious
about the impact the business has on the environment.
The E&L Advertiser spoke to James Blackburn, dyeing manager, who explained how they recycled all plastic, cardboard and even water.
James said: “The plastic tubes, which the yarn is wrapped around, are ground down in a granulator machine on site and sent to a recycling plant in St Boswells in the Scottish Borders.
Packaging
“The cardboard packaging, if a customer allows it, is recycled two or three times depending on the condition.”
The dyehouse is currently investigating how to recycle the plastic bags which are used by manufacturers to send yarn in from overseas.
James added: “It does protect it from damp and any contamination but working with the suppliers we are hoping to find alternative packaging.”
Waste water is discharged through effluent storage tanks underground where the heat from waste water passes through a heat exchanger to recover heat from the effluent tank.
Energy-saving
The processed warm water is stored in an insulated storage tank at 35 degrees Centigrade as opposed to starting from cold as an energy-saving mechanism.
About two years ago FTS Dyers installed new burners on all its boilers to become more energy efficient and as a cost-saving exercise.
FTS Dyers currently satisfies all European environmental legislation.
In a statement it says: “Under the guidance for the Textile Sector Notes as issued by the Environment Agency, we are liaising with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure we follow “best available techniques” to minimise our impact on the environment.
“This includes monitoring our emissions, use of energy-
efficient processes and recycling materials.