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About Recovery InsulationThe Recovery Insulation Project is an initiative of the Schools & Homes Energy Education Project to manufacture a safe, environmentally friendly and durable insulation material made from a proprietary process of recycled cotton textile fibres. It is soft to handle and installed without safety equipment because of the elimination of health hazards in the manufacturing process. During 1997/1998 funds were secured from Sheffield Community Enterprise Development Unit (SCEDU), with support from the Regional Supply Network of Yorkshire & Humberside [re:- ‘The World Textile Industry -UK Textile Overview’] Yorkshire Forward and Sheffield First for Investment [re:- ‘List of 389 Textile companies in Yorkshire & Nottinghamshire’] to establish the availability of textile waste in the South Yorkshire & Humberside region in order to validate UK manufacture of the insulation material. The results of this work [re:- ‘List of Recovery/recycled cotton waste suppliers’ - 21st February 2000’] showed "there would be no problem in the supply of waste, but more detailed specification was necessary to identify specific suppliers, quantities, suitability and associated costs to manufacture the insulation material. As a result of this prior feasibility work and additional R&D opportunities can arise to reduce a fraction of the 487,500 tonnes per year of textile waste. In the immediate locality of South Yorkshire there is potential to reduce an estimate of 15,000 tonnes per annum. Furthermore, in Yorkshire and Humberside this figure would increase to an estimate of 50-55,000 tonnes. Most of the arisings of textile waste come from household sources; waste textiles also arise during yarn and fabric manufacture, garment-making processes and from the retail industry. Together they provide a vast potential for recovery and recycling. The insulation material is now manufactured by Ango Recycling Ltd. - the facility is located in Rochdale, Lancashire. In the short term, the recycled textile fibres, primarily of denim industrial waste, currently sourced Europe/worldwide. Recovery Insulation is fully committed to sourcing the recycled fibres from within the UK charity and clothing recycled sources - and is investigating the feasibility of achieving this as quickly as possible. This material was approved by the British Board of Agrément BBA on 14 May 2003 as being fit for the purpose of building insulation. The company Recovery Insulation Ltd was established by the Schools & Homes Energy Education Project in December 2002 with the following aims:
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