In a manufacturing setting, even small scraps and extra materials can add up. At Datum, we take a straightforward, hands-on approach to recycling: metal offcuts, packaging, and other consumables are routinely recycled rather than thrown away. For example, steel can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality, and aluminium is the world’s most recycled nonferrous metal. With these facts in mind, Datum’s daily operations include simple steps to collect and return materials to use before they become waste.
Metal Recycling
- Metal Offcuts: Datum captures every nickel, aluminium, and steel scrap produced by our precision cutting and machining. Offcuts are sorted by type and kept clean (free of oils or coatings), then returned to suppliers or sold to certified metal recyclers. This means valuable metals are constantly fed back into the supply chain.
- Steel Coil Inners: When we uncoil steel stock, we save the inner core (the metal tube at the coil’s centre) instead of discarding it. After uncoiling the sheet material, we set the coil inner aside so it can be reused for another coil or returned to the mill. In this way, even the coil’s packaging stays in use and avoids creating waste.
Packaging and Pallets
- Wooden Pallets: All wooden pallets brought into the warehouse for material shipments are kept and reused whenever possible. Instead of throwing away damaged pallets, we recycle them.
- Cardboard Packaging: Datum separates cardboard and paper packaging from general waste and sends it to recycling. Clean cardboard (such as sheets or boxes from incoming materials) is stacked and collected for pickup.
Gas Cylinder Refill Program
- Gas Cylinders: The industrial gas bottles (oxygen, nitrogen, etc.) used in our facility are not disposable. We participate in a cylinder exchange program: when a gas cylinder is empty, it is returned to the supplier and exchanged for a refilled one.
These practices are part of Datum’s everyday culture of efficiency. By sorting and reclaiming materials at the source, we keep valuable metals and packaging in use instead of in the waste. This practical approach – from recycling offcuts to reusing pallets and gas bottles – ensures that Datum minimises waste as an integral part of our manufacturing process. Clients can trust that our focus on recycling helps keep material costs in check and demonstrates our commitment to responsible production.
