A St Helens recycling centre playing an important role in helping to preserve the earth’s natural resources, is attracting international attention.


Japanese manufacturers, keen to learn more about innovative recycling practices at M Baker Recycling Ltd, have been clamouring to visit the plant, based on the Parr Industrial Estate.

“We are enjoying lots of interest from manufacturers in this
country and abroad, all keen to learn more about what we do and we are delighted to open our doors to them,” explained plant manager Sandra Gayford.

Early in 2002, new legislation required the removal of ozone-depleting substances before fridges and freezers are scrapped or recycled. Around three-million domestic fridges are dumped every year and research had revealed that there were no facilities in the UK capable of processing fridges in compliance with EU regulations.

“My background was in haulage and I had also run a textile business,” explained Sandra who formed Milona Ltd with her business partners Barry Marshall and Frank Milner to become the managing agents of the plant on behalf of M Baker Recyling, a national group of companies.

“Frank had been part of a big building company, while Barry had worked for Panasonic for 18 years. It all came together very well and then the search for a suitable site began.”

Sandra continued: “There were lots of factors to take into account such as the site being secure, not being on a flood plain, with good access to road and port links. The place we found is perfect.”

The plant handles around 30,000 fridges and freezers a month, de-manufacturing 1,000 a day. It takes mainly domestic fridges from waste disposal authorities including Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Warrington.

Recycling the fridges and freezers produces 400 tonnes of heavy metals including 150 tonnes of plastic, 216 tonnes of scrap compressors, a tonne of glass and a tonne of stainless steel. Much of this is exported to countries like China and Pakistan, although unsurprisingly, much of the glass remains in St Helens.

The plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with four shifts requiring employees to work two days and two nights. “We find that this works very well and we are fortunate to have a hard-working, dedicated workforce, with very little staff turnover” added Sandra.

In January, the company recruited additional transport staff to cope with the extra workload and are looking to expand in the future, in accordance with the WEEE Directive (The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) which considers collection, treatment and recovery of electrical waste as well as giving targets on expected recovery rates and implementation timescales.

Managers at M Baker work closely with the Environment Agency, St Helens Council and the Groundwork Trust and have also worked alongside St Helens Chamber on its Modern Apprenticeships programme, providing a work placement for a young man keen to pursue an electrical apprenticeship.

“We are a very open plant and are always willing to show visitors around,” added Sandra. “We play host to school parties and at the moment, we are very busy showing Japanese manufacturers what we do.

“We also hold open days and fun days for employees when they can bring their families along. We also attend St Helens Chamber events and are very keen to take an active role in the St Helens business community”.

For more information about M Baker Recycling, visit their website

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