Following a surge in demand for its services, South West independent commercial waste management firm DCW has invested £456,000 in three new environmentally efficient vehicles.

Two of the vehicles are Euro 6 Scania mobile compaction trucks, the lowest emission vehicles available, and are fitted with CCTV as well as cyclist protection and the latest bin weighing technology.

The third, a Mercedes 32 tonne hook-lift truck, is also a low emission vehicle and supports DCW’s growing skip operation.

Exeter-based DCW will add the new high-specification trucks to its fleet of 41 vehicles which handle more than 50 tonnes of mixed waste per hour, diverting it from landfill and significantly reducing its impact on the environment.

DCW's Exeter base

The firm operates a Zero to Landfill solution which ensures, up to 64% of waste materials are sorted, baled, and sold for onward processing to create new materials and products in a wide variety of industries.

The remaining materials that cannot be recycled are sent to energy from waste plants, so nothing is landfilled.

Despite the challenges the coronavirus has presented to businesses this year, DCW has reported a significant uplift in trade as businesses seek effective waste management solutions.

This has allowed the Zero to Landfill company to not only invest in its fleet, but also in a new plastic processing machine at DCW Polymers, the specialist plastics recycling and reprocessing plant in Exeter.

The expansion has also allowed DCW to appoint additional office staff and drivers, creating vital job opportunities for the region.

Simon Almond, DCW managing director, said: “During the first national lockdown, we experienced a big uplift in trade from local businesses which were using national and even international waste management companies.

“Unlike some of those companies, we were able to offer the flexible solutions that customers needed in a very challenging economy. We were happy to fit around their needs and continue to do so.”

He added: “As we emerged out of the first lockdown, the region became a popular location for summer staycations. This was great for the local economy and it increased waste volumes across all types of businesses.

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“DCW provided a sustainable waste management solution to hundreds of new customers during the summer season as they became dissatisfied with levels of service from their existing suppliers.

“Thanks to South West businesses choosing to support an independent, local waste management company, we’ve been able to invest in people and infrastructure to the benefit of the local economy.”

DCW empties more than 16,000 containers every week from more than 6,000 businesses across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. It was the first company in the South West to offer a Zero to Landfill solution, meaning that all materials that can be recycled, are.

DCW’s Zero to Landfill solution helps support the waste management and recycling industry by providing materials for onward processing, recycling and manufacturing.

As well as its Zero to Landfill service for mixed commercial waste, DCW also provides specialist waste management services such as data destruction, WEEE disposal and site clearances.