A RECYCLING and business waste company has expanded its operations across the South Lakes and is stepping up its recruitment drive.

Originally founded in Newcastle, Max Recycle has expanded across the North West and has opened a base in Kendal following the takeover of certain contracts from various companies around south Cumbria.

As part of the expansions, the company is recruiting six new members of staff to work across the county.

Scott Hawthorne, managing director at Max Recycle, said: “As part of our planned expansion in the North West, we are currently recruiting in South Lakeland and the Lancashire coast.

“We’re looking for a variety of jobs, both sales and HGV driver jobs, and I’d say initially we’re looking for two of each and then maybe a third if you take the Blackpool depot into consideration, so six in total.

He added: “What we specialise in is the trade waste collection rounds, and we acquired B&J Metals’ trade operation for Kendal in April last year, as they tend to focus more on skips and we did the same with JJC Waste Management in Barrow as well.

“We’ve been able to develop it from taking up work from a few smaller players and growing from there.

“We do now service Barrow and the wider Lake District area from our depot in Kendal, and we can serve the surrounding area using the depots that we currently have.”

The firm is introducing 10 new vehicles to Cumbrian roads in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Patrick Roche, operations director, added: ”We always try to operate our services from local depots close to our customers and southern Lakeland is no different. This helps the environment by giving the lowest possible carbon dioxide footprint for waste collection.

“Our new fleet of low emission Euro 6-compliant trucks give us ease of access in restricted locations in small towns and villages, and on rural roads.

“They are not only comfortable for drivers and operators, compact in size compared to conventional waste trucks, they also have got very low carbon emissions which helps reduce climate change and boosts our environmental and recycling habits.”