10 | Hawk Group REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Good for earth and the horticulture industry Hawk’s moulded fibre trays begin their life with kerbside recycling collection from approximately 44,000 households. T T Karen Phelps Creating a circular economy that benefits both the environment and the horticulture industry is at the heart of Hawk Group. Its commitment to sustainability and innovation is long standing after it started producing moulded fibre trays from recycled paper in 2009. “Hawk is proud to be part of a circular story where we can take our regional waste and repurpose it,” says company spokesperson Sam Combs. Hawk’s founder, Sam’s father Tim Combs, has previously operated a kerbside waste collection business prior to starting Hawk. Sam says he was passionate about finding a solution for moulded fibre trays that didn’t involve sending local waste overseas but rather doing something productive with it. Hawk’s moulded fibre trays begin their life with kerbside recycling collection from approximately 44,000 households in Napier, Hastings, and parts of the lower/central North Island and upper South Island. “We take kerbside paper from the central north island, around 14,000 tonnes annually that will come in as loose fill or a bale. We turn that waste fibre into our apple and avocado trays,” Sam explains. Any contaminated product is removed after it is collected. This often includes potato bags, milk and juice cartons, polystyrene, strapping, shrink wrap and plastic bags. The reclaimed fibre is then thoroughly and intensely cleaned, pulped into essentially a paper mâché, and turned into moulded fibre trays. The process not only diverts waste from landfills but also creates a closed-loop system. WWW.ECRL.CO.NZ | 0508 367 554 | 400 ELLISON RD, HASTINGS YOUR EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST WE ARE THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL EQUIPMENT HANDLING NEEDS. SALES, LEASE, RENTAL & HR ONSITE SERVICE PROUDLY SUPPORTING HAWK GROUP - HASTINGS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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