Grimsby fish dock recycling in dire straits after fire – Fishupdate.com
Grimsby fish dock recycling in dire straits after fire Published: 06 February, 2006
A GRIMSBY fish dock recycling company badly hit by a fire almost two weeks ago is on the point of being forced to close.
Directors of Enviro (Gy) Ltd are considering the future of the business which was virtually brought to its knees after arsonists struck at the premises.
The company collects thousands of polystyrene fish boxes from Grimsby processors and fish merchants each week.
The boxes are then crushed and shipped out to the Far East – mainly China – where they are carbonised before returning to the UK as video casings, tennis racquets, golf clubs and other pieces of sports equipment.
One of its biggest customers, Young’s Bluecrest, was forced to seek alternative disposal means when the fire put the firm out of action – and this has put the future of Enviro into serious doubt.
Young’s said that Enviro has served the company well for the past few years, but they had little option other than to find a new recycling company because Enviro was longer functioning as a recycling operation.. “In the end the decision was an economic one and we had to take a careful view of risk protection factors for our business,” the company added.
Fish box disposal presents Grimsby fish processors with a major environmental headache because of the sheer numbers involved and the launch of Enviro three years ago was seen as a way out of the problem.
Enviro employs around a dozen staff and owner Steven Rowlands admitted he was seriosuly thinking of closing the business. “Unfortunately, we did not have the guarantee of another building so we were unable to help Young’s. I don’t think we have the heart to carry on and the sad thing is that we will be forced to lay off staff at what is a difficult time in the fish industry .”
To add insult to injury, the ground landlords, Associated British Ports , declared the building is unfit for further occupation, largely because of the asbestos risk, but the Rowlands family has so far been unable to find suitable alternative premises.
Police and local fire officials said they were still investigating the cause of the blaze, but so far no-one has been charged.
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