Elmbridge Cardboard and Paper Recycling Project
Remade South East on behalf of Surrey County Council undertook a project to research and develop commercial recycling collections of cardboard in town centre locations across the borough of Elmbridge. Targeted at retailers and office based businesses the project focused on the high streets of Cobham, Esher, Weybridge, Walton, East Molesey and Claygate.
The initial step was to establish the most useful and appropriate recycling schemes. A door step survey of each of the main high streets was undertaken to identify current waste arisings, waste management provision, recycling collection provision and collection considerations.
The findings from the survey showed there was a real need for a dedicated recycling service for cardboard as well as waste paper. A lack of storage areas and restricted access to the high streets required any service to be flexible and easy to use. In addition there was a need to focus on education to inform businesses about the restrictions of disposing commercial waste and recyclables through domestic routes.
Two main methods were outlined as possible recycling routes. The first locating a bailer near each high street enabling businesses to drop off paper and cardboard for bailing; the second was to identify and work with a local waste management company to provide recycling services to businesses in each of the town centres.
The second method was chosen as the more viable option and eight companies were indentified and asked to submit an expression of interest to undertaken collections. Hungry Recycling were chosen as the company that could offer the best and most flexible solution with agreements of a weekly collection at £3 each provided 100 businesses signed up to the scheme.
The trial scheme was launched in January 2008 with the high street of Claygate being the last incorporated within the scheme by the end of April 2008. To promote the scheme 560 businesses were hand delivered a promotional leaflet and a launch event held.
A total of 69 businesses signed up to the scheme, diverting 15.95 tonnes of waste paper and cardboard away from landfill by the end of April 2008. Although the initial target of 100 businesses had not signed up to the scheme, Hungry Recycling were pleased with the result and agreed to continue to promote and run the scheme beyond this project.
The project outlined the willingness of businesses to improve their environmental and waste practices; with recommendations to continue promoting the scheme, engaging with more businesses and possibly expanding the collections to include other materials.
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