Behind every process that runs smoothly on site is someone who fixed it when it didn't. At North West Recycling, Dan is one of those people — and after eight and a half years, there's very little he hasn't seen.
Turn up, work through the planned jobs, pick up on any breakdowns as they come in, and train the next generation of engineers — god help them. Some breakdowns are straightforward, others take a lot of thought to work through. That’s the part I enjoy most, if I’m honest. The ones that make you think.
The knowledge you pick up that isn’t in the manual — especially understanding the way machines actually behave. You can read all the technical documentation in the world, but there’s a layer of instinct and experience that only comes from time on the tools. After eight and a half years, you develop a feel for things that’s hard to explain but makes all the difference.
I was working as a maintenance engineer before this and wanted a role closer to home with more variety — somewhere I could grow my knowledge rather than just repeat the same jobs. NWR gave me that. The range of what you work on here is genuinely broad, and the business has trusted me to take on more and more over the years. That relationship goes both ways.
My wagon licence, for one. And I’ve learned a huge amount about the processing plants — my understanding of hydraulics and auto electrics has come on significantly. These aren’t small things. They’ve made me a considerably better engineer than I was when I arrived, and NWR has been the environment that made that possible.
The sense of humour. It helps make what can be a genuinely tough job — the stuff we’re in amongst day to day — that bit more bearable. Being able to smile through the hard bits matters. And people’s willingness to pitch in when it’s needed, without being asked. That’s not something you can manufacture — it’s just the kind of team this is.
I’ve trained quite a few engineers now. It’s good to be able to share what you’ve built up and then watch it work — see someone deal with something more confidently because of what you’ve shown them. That’s a satisfying part of the job. You want the people coming through to be better than you were at their stage.
Working through the improvements on the SRF line — particularly the simplification of it. That was a proper project, and the result is something you can see and point to on site every day. I’ve been here for nearly a third of the business’s thirty years, and it’s a good feeling knowing I’ve played a real part in some of what you see out there now.
The gasification plant could be huge — the company is already expanding and that would take things further again. Hopefully I’ll continue to be part of the team that helps build it. That’s what I’m here for.
Stick with it and you’ll be able to progress. It’s a good community of people — and in this job, that counts for a lot.
Celebrating 30 years of North West Recycling 30 Years of Building From What You Left Behind This year marks a proud milestone for North West Recycling as we celebrate 30 years of service to Cumbria — and we think that strapline says it all. Because that is exactly what we do: we build something valuable […]
And How We Can Help Prevent Tragedies Refuse not refuge! As temperatures drop and winter approaches, many people experiencing homelessness face increasingly harsh and dangerous conditions. In desperate attempts to stay warm, some rough sleepers seek shelter inside refuse containers such as bins and skips. While it may feel like temporary protection from the cold, […]
We’re proud to announce that North West Recycling (NWR) is now an official Club Partner and Waste Management Partner of Carlisle United Football Club for the upcoming season. Founded in 1995 as Brampton Skip Hire, we’ve grown over the past 30 years into the region’s largest privately owned waste management provider, serving Cumbria, South West […]
What are aggregate materials used for and what are their main benefits? Construction aggregates are often referred to as simply “aggregates,”. They are a group of materials that are used in construction to form the foundation of roads, buildings, and other structures. Indeed, there are several benefits to using construction aggregate materials in construction projects: […]
A simple guide to gasification and its benefits Gasification is a process that converts solid or liquid fuels into a gaseous fuel called “syngas”. This is done by oxidizing the fuel, creating a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and other volatile gases. The syngas produced can then be burned as a fuel in a gas […]
Hiring a skip is an excellent and convenient way of getting rid of waste in your home. During home and garden clean or clear outs, you will realize that you have different types of waste to dispose of. Before you embark on disposing of any waste, it is important that you understand what type of […]
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is a diverse and intricate category of recyclable waste that poses unique challenges in the recycling process. This category of waste consists of various electronic devices, making it a challenging waste type to handle. Our primary goal is to achieve the best possible outcome for the waste we receive, […]
When it comes to waste and recycling, North West Recycling is the leading waste management provider across Cumbria and beyond. And for good reason too. Here are 10 reasons why you should choose us as your provider: 1. North West Recycling provides a reliable service with a reputation for quality and dependability. 2. We recover […]
Ever wondered whether you actually know the best way to recycle plastics? Here are some tips specifically for recycling rigid plastics in the UK: Recycle Plastics Remember that recycling is just one part of the solution to reducing plastic waste. Reducing your use of single-use plastics and choosing products with minimal packaging can also have […]
The truth is there is no right or wrong answer on how best to recycle paper, however we’ve written an easy guide blog post to help demystify the process. Here are some general tips for recycling paper: Recycle Paper By recycling paper properly, you can help conserve resources, reduce waste, and contribute to a more […]
Last week we announced plans to develop a gasification plant on our site near Rockcliffe, Carlisle. And now we are delighted to share a few more details with you. THE BACKGROUND Sadly, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled. Most is burnt for energy and the rest ends up as plastic waste in the environment. […]
There many great waste management careers available to explore within the waste sector. Some of the most common roles include: Environmental Waste Manager. These professionals are responsible for managing waste collection and disposal operations. They focus on ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting sustainable waste management practices. Recycling Operatives. These professionals are responsible for the […]
The best way to recycle plastic film may vary depending on the specific type of plastic it is made of and the recycling capabilities in your local area. However, here are some general tips that may be helpful: Furthermore, remember that reducing plastic consumption and choosing sustainable alternatives whenever possible is also an important part […]
Trade accounts
