This month, we’re proud to celebrate a remarkable milestone for Mick Clifton, our Health, Safety, Environment & Facilities (HSEF) Manager, who has reached 20 years of dedicated service.

Mick first joined Stanton Recycling in 2005 as a foreman and machine operator, becoming the first non-family member to join the business, which had been founded just a year earlier. Over the years, his role evolved from delivering skips and sorting waste to taking on leadership responsibilities in health, safety, compliance, and environmental management.

Mick describes his journey as a continual process of growth and learning, from mastering regulations in waste management to becoming a mentor and advocate for the company. His typical day is as varied as his career path, involving everything from ensuring compliance and meeting with regulatory bodies to checking in on staff wellbeing (and, he notes, always being available to make a brew).

Following Willshee’s acquisition of Stanton Recycling in 2024, Mick has continued to be a driving force in the business, helping to deliver projects, implement new systems, and support the company’s ongoing family-oriented culture.

Reflecting on his proudest achievement, Mick highlights ‘helping to build a business from the ground up, with a family-owned company, to be a well-known and respected waste operator.’ Over two decades, he has also witnessed huge industry changes, particularly in recycling, repurposing, and the role of new technologies in waste management.

Looking ahead, Mick is excited about the growth of the business, the security it offers for the future, and the opportunity to keep making a difference. His advice to anyone starting out in the industry is simple: ‘Do your best, strive to better yourself, and every day is a learning day.’

Thank you, Mick, for 20 years of dedication and commitment to making a positive impact to our industry!

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