DATA storage and destruction business Archivist has devised a means of letting clients know how many trees they are saving with their recycling. It will present companies with a certificate every six months to update them.

NRG International, a supplier of high-tech office solutions and products, suggested the idea and is working with Archivist to produce the certificates.

NRGI’s quality and environment manager Mark Falla said it was a great scheme to be involved in and helped promote shredding and recycling.

‘With heightened environmental awareness coupled with the need to safely dispose of sensitive documents, this is a simple and effective way of combining both.’

Archivist managing director Brian Smitheram said the initiative would help illustrate what an impact companies that recycled were making.

‘The amount of paper we collect from clients saves 36 trees a day.’

He said the Guernsey Press Newspaper Centre at Braye Road saves one tree per week.

Having set up business as a document storage company 16 years ago, Archivist quickly expanded to include shredding.

‘We recycled from the outset, but in general terms it really is a recent phenomenon in Guernsey. We are a long way behind some countries that have been recycling for donkey’s years.’

But he said people were doing their bit in the island and it was important that was pursued further.

Archivist is using an internationally recognised formula to make the tree-saving calculation.

‘If we can provide an incentive for people to recycle by rewarding their efforts, it can only be a good thing.’

In 2004 the company filled 119 containers with recycled paper, the equivalent of 3,860 trees. By 2006 that had increased to 136 containers, saving 4,411 trees.

Archivist’s latest machines extract paper dust and other allergens from the air while they are running, thus making them easier to work with.

The bins themselves are also environmentally friendly and are made completely from recyclable materials.

Archivist has contracts with a varied cross section of industries in the island, including finance, leisure, manufacturing, health care and the media.

It will issue the first certificates in the near future and will conduct audits of contracted users every six months.