Here's a letter I got from Anthony Small of Cox Waste Management in Devon in October:
Dear Mark
It sounds that I am no different than anybody else in this business. We are all too busy just getting on with our daily duties, sorting out a customer who has just had his gate pier damaged by a skip lorry or a driver who has his arse in his hand because he does not want to drive a particular lorry today as his lorry is off the road for maintenance or repairs – all the usual stuff. Also I have been busy setting up a new recycling centre for all the other local skip hire companies, local authorities and builders to use.
But I have finally found time to write back to you following our last telephone conversation and regarding your article in ‘The Skip’, yes, I believe you are right with regards to having a national brand in conjunction with the NSHA, Stamp of Quality. I do believe that we do need to have a National Skip Hire Association for the skip hire and waste management industries and all meet up at least once a year to, as you put it, ‘moan about our problems.
It is not just about moaning about our problems, a few of us have been talking to each other since and I have visited a couple of the companies’ waste transfer stations that were tat the meeting (that I had not met before) in order to get ideas etc.
Last year I was very fortunate to be invited by Blue Machinery to a recycling exhibition in Las Vegas – (didn’t see much of the exhibition, but that’s another story!). As you can imagine, a hundred people from all over the UK all in the same business with ideas, information bouncing around, relationships formed and also the business exchanged since has been unbelievable.
The December meeting went very well. The NSHA is not yet formed but the ball is rolling with people talking about their experiences and problems and listening to talks about legislation, regulations etc. All of us got something out of the meeting and for the next gathering there will be twice of three times the amount of people. Let’s have another meeting and see where it takes us – let’s keep the ball rolling.
I know that you are very busy but please don’t give up the idea of a Skip Association. As I mentioned before I don’t mind being a contact in the South West for the Association.
Yours sincerely
Anthony Small
Cox Waste Management
Devon
PS Keep up the good work.
