Northern Recycling Solutions

Creating community benefits

Northern Recycling Solutions (NRS) is a family-run business based in Alness and led by siblings Ewan Calder and Katie Mount. As an environmentally conscious enterprise, NRS supports clients on their journeys to achieve a zero-waste-to-landfill approach.

As the waste collection, recycling, and management provider for Inverness Campus, NRS’ contract with us shows how local SMEs can drive both community welfare and environmental sustainability through public sector contracts.

Championing employment and local growth

During the contract period with HIE, and as a result of this and other work, the NRS workforce has expanded by five bringing their team to 38. Beyond creating jobs, NRS supports other local businesses across the Highlands by sourcing vehicle maintenance, industrial supplies, and office materials from fellow SMEs. This commitment ensures their economic impact is felt across the region.

NRS is an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer, they also support prompt payment of their supply chain.

Social enterprise partnerships and community support

NRS collaborates with social enterprises like ILM Highland, subcontracting work and providing reuseable items to Blythswood and New Start Highland, which support both local and global aid efforts. They also offer free waste collection services to charities such as Oxygen Works and The Haven Centre, enabling these vital organisations to focus their resources on delivering essential services.

Education and Community Outreach

NRS actively engages with the community through educational initiatives. They’ve hosted tours of their Alness facility for schools and industry visitors to promote recycling and waste management awareness, particularly among young people. NRS has also participated in career fairs, offered mock interviews, and shared entrepreneurial insights with students, helping to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

Charitable Giving

NRS’ charitable contributions are shaped by both staff and customer input. In 2024 the company has donated over £4,500 to various local charities. Charities they have supported have included Mikeysline, Held in Our Hearts, SNAP (Special Needs Action Project), the Alness Food Bank and Highland Rugby Club. Specifically, through their contract with HIE, NRS donated to The Place, DNA Dance, and Inverness Sea Cadets.

Sharing Expertise

As part of our “Gearing Up to Sell to the Public Sector” event in November 2023, NRS shared their experience and insights on submitting successful bids, helping other businesses and social enterprises navigate public sector procurement.