Indian officials learn about West Sussex recycling

As part of a seven day fact finding study tour, senior officials from India visited three Household Waste Recycling Sites (HWRS), operated by Viridor on behalf of West Sussex County Council, to research how Viridor manages the segregation and recycling of e-waste.

The delegates who are setting up schemes across India to regulate the recycling of e-waste to protect the environment and human health, were given a tour of the sites to demonstrate their cutting edge e-recycling systems

The visit demonstrated how with well trained staff and a customer friendly approach to operating the sites, the householders of West Sussex have been encouraged to recycle their unwanted electrical waste and divert it from landfill.

“We are very impressed by the way the HWRS’ in West Sussex are designed and laid out making recycling of a wide variety of materials, including all types of electrical waste, very easy for members of the public” said Dr Saroj Director Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.

Bill Griffiths, National Recycling Manager for Viridor, commented “The delegation were very interested in Viridor’s experience in setting up and operating effective recycling schemes under a Producer Responsibility regime by working in partnership with Local Authorities and Regulators”.

This scheme has enabled West Sussex to achieve a recycling rate for electrical and electronic equipment three times the EU targets and 60% higher than the UK national average.

The delegation was treated to a traditional Sussex pub lunch and pint of English ale. The journey from Billingshurst to Worthing HWRS picked up views of the South Downs at Bury Hill, Arundel Castel and Cathedral with the final leg back towards London giving a spectacularly clear view across the Sussex Weald to Brighton from the top of Titch Hill above Steyning.