Kintyre Recycling Ltd worker profile: Jenna Campbell, 34
When a neatly-folded plastic recycling sack drops through your letter box, spare a thought for Jenna Campbell. For 12 years the Kintyre Recycling Limited (KRL) worker has dedicated six hours a week to personally folding 6,000 sacks, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Her boss, KRL business manager Amanda Card, said: ‘Jenna does other jobs as well, including producing rag wipes for CS Wind and working in the factory.’ Ms Campbell added: ‘ I also do some hoovering and keep the boys in line and I am hoping to start helping out in Longrow furniture shop when it is ready.’ It is no picnic and folding about 100 sacks in half-anhour makes the shoulders ache. Jenna says, with years of practice, she does not notice and rapidly filled a bag, on Monday morning, with 1,000 folded sacks. As she worked, Jenna spoke of her extended family of five sisters and 11 nephews and nieces whose birthdays she has to remember. ‘I like to come here to work and I like Amanda,’ added Ms Campbell. The sacks, made from recycled plastic, form some of the highest grade plastic which KRL recycles. Once they have been used to collect recyclate from householders, they are recycled again in a virtual circle. As reported last week, KRL faces a funding crunch and needs an extra £50,000 per annum, from Argyll and Bute Council, by a deadline of noon on Friday October 26. The issue was due to be discussed at the council policy and resources committee yesterday (Thursday). Speaking about wages, Ms Card said: ‘The directors have worked out a pay scale and everyone is currently paid above minimum wage but we have to pay the wage for the job. ‘It is worked out on job descriptions and roles. For instance, we have two sevenand-a-half tonne lorries which require drivers to have a Certificate of Professional Competance. ‘One thing we have not had a problem with is staff retention. Nobody wants to leave us for some reason. ‘We are nearly at the living wage but placements through funding bodies skew it. ‘All the people here are lifers. Neenie has been here 18 years and is the second longest served after my 23 years. ‘When I first volunteered, I drove a van. Recycling was in its infancy, started off by Woodlands Resource Centre. ‘They drove round with a van and collected aluminium cans but it came to the point where they could not deal with the volume of cans.’ A council spokesperson said: ‘We have spoken with KRL. Our priority now is to consider options for the most feasible, long-term solution.’