Vegware: 3 Ways to Prepare for Simpler Recycling
From 31st March, new legislation, Simpler Recycling, will come into effect. It means that businesses in England will need to separate recyclable materials from their general waste. This includes glass, paper, metals, plastic, and food waste. The aim is to make recycling less confusing and more efficient. Having an effective process for recycling will help the transition towards a circular economy.
The problem is, according to Business Waste, only 1% of businesses are aware of the legislation. Vegware are helping businesses across England to not only prepare for the legislation, but to use it to their advantage.
1) Get a free waste consultation
To help businesses prepare for Simpler Recycling, Vegware’s team of waste management consultants are providing free waste consultations. Their team of professionals will assess your site and offer guidance on how your business can not only comply with the legislation but capitalise on the opportunities it provides. With the Environmental team’s expertise, training and engagement efforts, businesses can increase their recycling rates whilst also reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
2) Switch to Vegware packaging
Recycling is great when it works. The problem is, with foodservice packaging, it often does not. The reason it does not work is because of food remnants. Recycling facilities struggle to recycle paper and cardboard that has food stains on. Pizza boxes are a fitting example of this. The cardboard is ordinarily recyclable, but the grease stains make them difficult (if not impossible) to be recycled.
Here is the contradiction for foodservice packaging. The materials may be recyclable, but the presence of food complicates that. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to avoid food remnants in foodservice packaging.
This is where Vegware’s compostable packaging comes in handy. Vegware packaging is designed to be collected with food waste. Instead of preventing recycling, food waste is a vital ingredient in the composting process. With the right food waste collection, not only can your business comply with legislation, but it can turn its packaging and food waste into high grade compost in under 12 weeks. Which brings us to the third way to prepare for Simpler Recycling.
3) Find a solution for your food waste
Vegware’s waste experts can provide their expertise at every step of the way. Whether you want to process your food waste onsite or just want a food waste collection that accepts compostable packaging, Vegware can help. Birchall customer, City of York council found a solution for their food waste and Vegware packaging in 2019. Simon Copper, the Service Manager for Cafe West at the council explained the difficulties of getting packaging recycled:
“What we find a lot of time is you think something is recyclable and then you get so far down the line and find that it’s actually not or it has to be recycled in a very specific way which just isn’t available.”
As a result of this work, the City of York Council were able to find a sustainable solution for their food waste and used Vegware packaging. Sarah Dixon, Manager of Cafe West also noted a reduction in their general waste:
“We are quite lucky because we are in the council, so we don’t pay the costs for bins to be picked up as a normal business would. But our general waste, when we take it out to the bins, is half what it would be normally.”
Get in touch
With free waste consultations, Vegware can help you establish the best solution for your business. Helping you with your sustainability efforts whilst also preparing for Simpler Recycling.
Click here to find out more.
