Waste & Environmental Services

We were tasked with maximising the number of resources that could be extracted from a medical organisation’s waste streams, ensuring zero waste to landfill.

We helped them reduce their carbon impact by cutting the amount of waste destined for landfill, and instead creating energy from waste. We developed a long-term strategy to extract reusable materials from waste streams and use them for new products.

The organisation has now achieved ‘zero to landfill’ accreditation that has been independently verified. Their on-site recycling rate now averages 41% and total recycling is 85%.

Regular deliveries of ten tonnes of bananas were arriving at a supermarket distribution centre in crates. Transferring the produce to the supermarket, and then sending the empty trays back to the warehouse, was creating a lot of waste from transit packaging.

The supermarket was fed up with this waste, so asked for our help. We produced a returnable box for the bananas to travel in. This could be placed straight on the shelf in-store, and then returned for cleaning and re-use. Thanks to our solution, transit packaging was eliminated.

The airport decided that there was too much waste going to ground. With over 18 million passengers each year, it’s little surprise that waste levels were soaring. We committed to help the airport achieve optimal waste practices on-site, including the introduction of a recycling practice, with an aim to achieving zero waste to landfill.

We analysed the waste data from site and suggested improvements. We sourced local service suppliers to reduce vehicle movements – and therefore carbon emissions. And we bulked most recyclable materials to achieve maximum revenues.

Our manufacturing client blends dry mixed spices, which are used as flavourings for domestic and business use. Traditionally, any food waste material was collected and placed into the general waste stream, which was sent to landfill. However, our client enforced a zero landfill policy and subscribes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our solution included placing Dolav boxes next to the general waste bins to segregate food material at source for it to be processed separately. Then, we secured an anaerobic digestion route, in which bacteria breaks down food waste without oxygen, to divert 100% of the waste away from landfill.

Over the first year, we have diverted 481 tonnes of food away from landfill, saving 3,292 tonnes of CO2 with a cost reduction to the client of over £19,000.