Managed.IT - issue 60

6 01732 759725 Pedal power A UK-first, carbon- free battery collection service implemented by environmental specialist Valpak Ltd, in partnership with logistics company Zedify and battery recycler Ecobat Logistics, won the Partnership Excellence award at January’s National Recycling Awards. Under the scheme, cycle couriers collect used household batteries from workplaces in Cambridge and London at the same time as dropping off parcels, providing a carbon-free alternative to Valpak’s existing battery collection service, which has been running since 2009. Following the success of the scheme in London and Cambridge, which to date has collected more than 348,700 used batteries (weighing 6.97 tonnes), Valpak is hoping to extend it to other areas of its national collection network. Until then, businesses can order battery collection boxes from Valpak for free collection in the normal way at https:// www.valpak.co.uk/recycling- waste-services/free-battery- box. Around 40,000 tonnes of portable batteries are sold in the UK each year, of which only 8,000 tonnes are recycled (2018 figure). www.valpak.co.uk bulletin PPE recycling Internet provider KCOM has become one of the first organisations to make use of a new single-use PPE recycling service launched by fellow Hull-based company ReWorked. It has installed collection boxes for employees’ used face-masks, gloves and visors, which ReWorked takes away and turns into new products. Every element of the PPE is recovered, including metal nose strips and elasticated ear bands. After washing and shredding, the raw material is pressed into solid plastic boards that can be used as construction material or to make furniture, including bins, collection boxes and sanitising stations. Mark Blenkinsop, KCOM head of CSR, said: “Our engineers have been out and about helping to build vital new broadband infrastructure since the start of the pandemic, as well as visiting homes across the region to connect new customers, generating a lot of waste PPE that must be disposed of safely. This scheme is a great way for us to make sure our PPE doesn’t contribute to the mountain of PPE waste that’s one of the unfortunate side effects of the pandemic.” ReWorked is now planning to introduce PPE recycling schemes on the High Street and in NHS hospitals and other medical sites. It is estimated that 129 billion face masks & 65 billion plastic gloves are used worldwide every month. www.reworked.com Safe to touch Premier League football club Wolverhampton Wanderers is helping to keep its Molineux stadium, training ground and corporate facilities safe and hygienic by applying Veraco anti-microbial film to doors, handles, rails, touch screens and other surfaces. Veraco products, tested to BS ISO 22196 and BS ISO 21702:2019 standards, contain silver ion technology, which is claimed to kill 99% of common bacteria and superbugs on touch. www.veraco.co.uk Winning formula Aston Martin’s return to the F1 track on March 28 after an absence of more than 60 years is being supported by EPOS, provider of high-end audio and video solutions for business professionals and gamers, and cybersecurity company SentinelOne. As Global Audio Partner, EPOS is providing the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team with cutting-edge sound and communication tools for use in the factory and at trackside, while SentinelOne, as Official Cybersecurity Partner, will use its AI-powered Singularity XDR platform to protect the team’s data and systems from advanced cyber threats. SentinelOne’s partnership with the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team builds on an existing relationship with Aston Martin Lagonda, which, in 2018, selected the Singularity XDR platform to protect every Aston Martin cloud workload, IoT device and endpoint. www.eposaudio.com • www.sentinelone.com/lp/f1-racing/ Integrated video Video collaboration company StarLeaf, already used by more than 100 NHS organisations, and workflow software provider Flabba have created a bespoke video platform that will enable NHS trusts and GP practices to deliver remote care more efficiently. The messaging, meeting and calling platform removes the need for healthcare providers to navigate multiple online tools and workflows (e.g. email, Microsoft Teams and Attend Anywhere) by integrating everything needed for video-based patient consultations, multidisciplinary meetings, education and training. This includes scheduling, bookings, document management and useful features, such as auto- transcription and one-way HD video for patient triage. www.starleaf.com