Green Omega recycling helps Armstrong Ceilings to record heights.

An expanding network of Green Omegas (specialist sub-contractors with equally specialist recycling expertise) has helped Armstrong Ceilings break its recycling records for the second year running.

The manufacturer recycled a total of 142,000m² last year during which time nine members of Armstrong’s 136-strong Omega network of approved installers proved their recycling expertise to such an extent that they qualified as Green Omegas.

That 142,000m² equates to 495 tonnes or more than 528 skips which would have cost contractors almost £100,000 in landfill tax.

All of the returned material has been or will be used in the manufacture of new mineral ceiling tiles, saving the company (which does not charge for the service) more than £28,000 in virgin materials.

And not only is the scheme saving contractors money, the Green Omega accreditation is also making them more money.

Installers PFP, based in Edinburgh, have been in business since 1997 and an Armstrong Omega since the millennium while CAP Ceilings and Partitions, based in Exeter, have been in business since 2002 and an Omega since then.

PFP managing director Boyd Sinclair said of the Omega scheme: “The benefits of becoming an Omega installer were the closer working relationship with Armstrong, PFP being recommended to clients by Armstrong for projects, and receipt of project leads from Armstrong.

“We can project ourselves better as a reputable installer of Armstrong products which is of particular benefit when we are competing against labour only sub-contractors as we do come across a number of main contractors trying to weigh up the choice between buying materials direct and using labour-only sub-contractors (self-employed operatives) versus ourselves to procure and install the materials.

“Most labour-only sub-contractors would not be Armstrong Omega certified and so if we can demonstrate to the main contractor that we are a certified installer and a Green one at that this makes a difference. It makes a difference too against those of our competitors who are non-Omegas. It just gives us a bit of an edge against the competition (albeit some main contractors are only looking for the cheapest price).”