We’ve been more and more exposed to the advances of climate change over the last few years – and we are starting to witness a shift in mindset on the impact we can all have in driving change. So now, to celebrate all things sustainability, help share tips for smarter environmental thinking and remind each other just how much our carbon impact matters, we’re inviting colleagues, friends of the business and our peers in the wider industry to take part in this quickfire environmental Q&A.

Next up, it’s Gary Moore, sales director at UNTHA UK…

Where do you fit into the environmental sector? Tell us a little bit about your role at UNTHA…

As sales director I have specialist knowledge in the design and supply of turnkey waste management, shredding and recycling systems for the waste, alternative fuels, electronics (WEEE), tyre, metals, and plastics industries.

My role also takes me across the globe to present and speak at various industry conferences and exhibitions about the impact of waste on the environment. While I often talk about our bespoke client-centric solutions, my goal is always to encourage the audience to think about what they could do differently. My talks are therefore never sales led – I prefer to share advice and knowledge instead.

Complete the sentence – the UK is great at recycling…

Tyres!

Which sector do you think could achieve significant environmental progress this year?

We should be looking more into the effective recycling of metals. We’ve seen a sharp increase in raw material costs in recent years, so the improvement of WEEE and metal scrap recycling could be used to save money and take better advantage of this valuable resource.

What do you wish you’d known about the environment, as a child?

I’d like to have been more aware of the environmental responsibilities everyone has as a collective. If I had been exposed to these conversations from a younger age, I could have been making an impact for so much longer, rather than leaving it until later in life.

What’s the single biggest threat to the environment, in your opinion?

It must be global warming.  As a population we aren’t doing enough to reduce greenhouse gases and/or reduce our carbon footprint.  We must reduce, reuse, and recycle as much and wherever possible.

Share 1 tip to help people be ‘greener’, at work or at home:

Recycle at source as much as possible.  As a family, we practice what we preach at home, ensuring we segregate and separate all our waste, then making sure it goes in the correct wheelie-bin.

Tell us an environmental statistic that you think people need to know:

For the year 2020/21, local authorities in England dealt with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents, an increase of 16% from the 980,000 reported in the previous year.  This has got to stop!

What’s the best thing you’ve ever reused/upcycled?

Nothing too exciting – we’ve upcycled a few wooden pallets and made them into pieces of outdoor furniture in the past. This seems to have become a trend over the last few years which is always encouraging to see, and it’s easy too, so I’d urge everyone to have a go.

If you were prime minister for the day, what’s the one thing you’d do to improve the UK’s sustainability agenda?

Plant more trees! I would like to cover the globe with greenery as this has a massive impact on the environment and they contribute to a healthier wellbeing for everyone around us too.

Complete the sentence – in 100 years’ time…

I’d like to still be alive! In all seriousness, I hope for a world that is more sustainable, with a noticeable reduction in the effects of global warming. A place that our children’s children can enjoy.