The Chair advised that he had invited Rebecca Owens, Marketing manager of Recipro UK, to give a presentation to Members, to highlight the issues that affected the business and to indicate the factors that led to its location and continued operation in Wirral.

Ms Owens commented that Recipro was launched in 2008 and was essentially a free to use online exchange for the re-use of surplus building material. She indicated that the construction industry was the single largest producer of waste in the UK, creating 90 million tonnes of waste each year, of which up to 25 million tonnes was sent to landfill. It had been estimated that 13% of all construction materials arriving on site ended up as surplus and were never used. Those goods alone were valued at £1.5 billion per annum and, there were further large volumes of reusable second hand materials and products generated by the construction industry.

The Waste Regulations 2011 was a significant driver for change that had led to client pressures in relation to corporate responsibility and the need for added value, particularly with regard to carbon savings and waste avoidance. Users of Recipro included construction companies, builders and trades people, charities, DIY enthusiasts and community projects – essentially, anyone who used building materials.

Since 2011, Recipro Managed Services had worked with principal contractors to manage surplus and leftover building materials and products, with the expressed goal of enabling green building, better resource management and benefit for community projects and charities. The service involved surplus materials being collected and delivered to ReciproCity centres, then sold at discounted rates to community projects. The costs to construction companies of the collection of surplus were lower than the costs of disposal and she commented that ReciproCity in Wirral, since February, had seen 92 tonnes of waste diverted, 108 tonnes of carbon saved with a value of £148k. Since July, the centre in Cardiff had seen 12 tonnes of material diverted, 24 tonnes of carbon saved with a value of £46k. Reporting was presented back to clients upon the carbon and waste reductions and community projects that had benefited. Local case studies in Wirral highlighted approximately 30 tonnes of waste that had been avoided and 15 tonnes of carbon saved.

In response to a number of questions from Members, Ms Owens indicated that the impact of the economic downturn on construction had placed a greater value in tenders of the added benefit of carbon and waste reduction. Marketing was undertaken primarily by direct contact with the construction industry, with particular support from Travis Perkins, who had also improved engagement with charities. She commented also that Recipro had received good support and advice from Invest Wirral, particularly upon how best to grow the business and the provision of funding. The company had also benefited from the Wirral 100 Apprenticeship Scheme, with one of the original apprentices now a key member of the team.

Resolved – That the thanks of the Committee be accorded to Rebecca for her informative presentation and best wishes for the continuing success of Recipro.