With over two decades in the waste industry, Stephen has seen firsthand how much impact the right approach can make. As Head of Municipal Development at N+P Group Crayford, his perspective is shaped by experience, responsibility, and a clear focus: doing things better, together.
In this blog, Stephen shares what drives him, from maximising recycling and improving material quality to maintaining strong safety standards across operations. He also highlights why collaboration with local authorities is essential, and why critical issues like safe battery disposal need more attention than ever.
Q: Can you introduce yourself and share your role at N+P?
"I’m the Head of Municipal Development at N+P Crayford. I’ve been in the waste industry for just over 20 years. I’ve always said that if you work six months in waste, you stay for life."
Q: What motivates you in your role?
"If I look at why I do what I do, it’s about taking responsibility for my own actions. I work closely with local authority customers, our commercial inputs, and the staff here. When we all pull together, we can make a real difference."
Q: What is your main focus at the plant?
"Ultimately, it’s about maximising the material coming into the plant. We need to operate at maximum throughput efficiency, but safely. That means working with local authorities to make sure we receive the right kind of material and helping them reduce contamination. It’s about giving them the best possible outcome and maximising recycling."
"If we all pull together, we can make a real difference."
Q: How important is health and safety in your work?
"It’s absolutely key. N+P Crayford has a really good history of health and safety, our record is strong. One of our biggest challenges is batteries. They’re a major cause of fires and very dangerous if put in general waste. They should be recycled, but in a safe way. It’s an important message we’d like to see strengthened across the UK."
Q: How do you see N+P as an organisation?
"I’ve been here three years now, and in that time I’ve seen how agile the business is. It’s quick on its feet. I genuinely believe the organisation is trying to deliver something positive, not just for the environment, but also for its local authority customers."