Government urged to use recycled parts on blue fleet vehicles

The Government could help cut the deficit if all public sector fleet vehicles used recycled parts, a Gloucestershire business owner told ministers this week.

Jason Cross (pictured) and his team from Gloucester-based FAB Recycling report that they received positive feedback from a number of high-profile Conservative figures at the Party’s national conference.

Home Secretary Teresa May, Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling and Minster for State and Policing Damian Green, all attended the company’s trade stand and spoke at length with MD Cross.

FAB Recycling has already saved 40 Police forces £1.5 million during the past 18 months—the equivalent cost of 50 officers on the beat – through its My Green Fleet vehicle recycled parts service. 

My Green Fleet removes non-safety parts from damaged and written-off Police vehicles, which are then sold back to the donor fleets as and when required.

Cross believes Government encouragement for Police forces to engage fully with the MGF scheme nationally could potentially save the UK’s Police fleets £5 million per annum, enabling more repairs to be undertaken using recycled vehicle parts.

If the scheme were entered into fully by the ambulance service, fire and rescue, the NHS, and local councils, savings could easily reach tens of millions of pounds a year, suggests Cross.

Cross explained: “We have had a really remarkable experience at the conference, which we felt was overwhelmingly positive towards what we had to say and the savings messages that we were conveying to politicians. 

“The Home Secretary was at our stand at least twice as long as the others, we very much believe we have laid the foundations for a good relationship with some of the Government’s top decision-makers.

“They seemed very interested in the potential savings to be made by supplying quality-conscious public sector customers with non-safety, warranted recycled vehicle parts. 

“It’s a win-win solution for public sector fleets and taxpayers alike.”

Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean, said: "Jason and his team at FAB Recycling has shown great entrepreneurial spirit developing a successful business, with customers around the country.

“Their business has the potential to save consumers and the taxpayer money while delivering environmental benefits, without impacting on safety.”