Recycling & Waste Management

Recycling & Waste Management A positive change the pandemic has highlighted

So much has changed to the way in which we work due to the pandemic, causing us to pause and assess how we conduct our operation. We have all adapted to new business models to protect our customers and those who with work us, impacting many areas of our daily life. Now, as pandemic restrictions are eased across the UK, businesses will go through a transition to determine the new working practices which are most suitable and effective for their operation. Although some of the pandemic measures were restrictive to our work, there were some elements which improved our business performances, and it is these aspects we will adopt into our new normal working practices.

Two of the major changes business have needed to navigate were around social distancing and managing a reliable supply chain. This has led many businesses towards HIPPO as a provider of their waste management services, due to the unique model we can offer. Our HIPPOBAGs can be stored on site or with a field operative, ready to be used when the waste is generated. During the pandemic this reduced contact points with third parties either delivering skips or moving the waste by hand, or a field team carrying waste back to a central site causing further cross over of operatives.

The HIPPO proposition also offers a reliable supply chain, unlike other areas of the waste industry where there has been high demand for skips leading to longer lead times and

higher prices, the HIPPOBAG collection service remains accessible and efficient. We maintain a large stock holding in the UK of HIPPOBAGs which are ready to be delivered to warehouses or operatives with short notice, giving confidence that there is a reliable solution readily available. We also carefully manage our fleet of customised vehicles to optimise routing to provide customers with a reliable service, whilst reducing the environmental impact of each collection.

Aside from the benefits in the current climate, using HIPPOBAGs to deal with your irregular waste streams and ad hoc waste events will provide a number of other benefits too. Whilst regular bins are simply too small, large skips can take up too much space, take too long to fill and can be costly, HIPPOBAGs can provide the balance you need. Our service need not be fixed such as a regular scheduled waste collection, you can also use us for unexpected waste events whenever you need us. And instead of you needing to have multiple contracts you can benefit from one simple solution with standardised pricing and a standardised service nationwide.

Alternatively where access to waste is restricted, or when you want us to clear the waste for you, our Man and Van service (known as ‘Here to Clear’) is the perfect solution. Our branded Transit Tipper vans are double manned with our professional HIPPO employees and can hold up to 14 yards or 1 tonne of waste.

This solution can often be ideal for reactive waste requirements too, our Here to Clear Reactive provides rapid removal of unplanned waste – such as fly-tipping, emergency repair or site clearance. This form of waste can cause a number of issues, but with one nationwide solution and standardised service you can rest assured knowing that the waste will be swiftly and professionally removed.

We work with organisations of every size so rest assured that whatever your requirement we can offer a fantastic solution to meet your business needs.

Further information can be found on our website www. hippowaste.co.uk/business. If you have any questions or would like any more information on the services HIPPO can offer then please feel free to contact our sales team at enquiries@hippowaste. co.uk or call 02393 871911.

Recycling & Waste Management Beyond net zero, don’t ‘waste’ the opportunity

Recycling company Paper Round calls for the industry to look ‘beyond net zero’

In recent years, the push to deliver ‘net zero’ has grown remarkably. But is it enough? Not according to leading London & South East recycling company Paper Round.

They have launched a brand-new campaign, their SustainABLE Pathway, which goes beyond a net zero ambition. A series of ten commitments set out how the company will actively reduce their carbon emissions and help their customers with their own carbon reduction initiatives.

The company’s ten commitments include: • Reducing their carbon emissions, being the UK’s first waste company focused on the commercial market, to set Science Based Targets • Committing to be a net zero company by 2030 • Innovating and investing in new technologies, such as using AI in their MRF, to further improve recycling outcomes • Decarbonising their infrastructure by electrifying their fleet and continuing to operate clean energy buildings and equipment

And to help their customers reduce their carbon emissions, they will: • Offer enhanced carbon reporting, allowing clients to report on their scope 3 waste emissions, and demonstrate the benefits of avoided carbon emissions • Bring to market a range of lower carbon recycling services and circular economy products

As the first campaign of its kind in the waste and recycling industry, Paper Round hope that their commitments to carbon reduction will spearhead change in the industry and encourage businesses to adopt circular economy principles.

According to a report by Circle Economy, just 8.6% of the global economy is considered circular – that’s less than 10% of the 100 billion tonnes of materials extracted for use are re-used or recycled each year. Each of these materials have their own carbon stories. This brings recycling and the circular economy to centre stage.

The waste and recycling industry is unique in that recycling removes the need for energy intensive creation of new materials, thereby reducing the generation of greenhouse gases. These are known as avoided emissions. For example, paper emits carbon if it’s burnt, but avoids over half a tonne of CO2e for each tonne of paper recycled (source: Scottish Carbon Metric).

Companies across the UK have rushed to make net zero statements since the Government declared a climate emergency and set legally binding targets. But that’s the easy part. Actually implementing change and achieving real carbon reductions is where it starts to get interesting.

In light of this, Alison Roe, Director of Paper Round comments: ‘The need to reduce carbon emissions has never been greater and recycling is a critical process in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. We have now moved from our planning to action phase, for example we have just started to operate London’s first electric RCV dedicated to commercial clients’ collections. We’re actively encouraging our clients to not ‘waste’ the net zero opportunity and take action right away. We are very excited to be on our SustainABLE Pathway to go beyond net zero, to a lower carbon and circular economy future, for our company and our clients.

Join the PSSA - Launching the Public Sector Sustainability Association

The Public Sector Sustainability Association (PSSA) provides a professional association and network for all those working in the Public Sector who have a common interest in sustainability. The aim of the association is to bring together a wide group of people working across all areas of the Public Sector – to help educate, train, support and connect as we work towards a more sustainable future.

Never has there been a more pressing need and indeed, requirement for individuals and organisations to turn their attention to sustainability and take stock of their environmental impact on our world.

An increasing number of UK local authorities have declared a climate emergency. But having made this important step, what happens next? Well for many sustainability professionals working within these authorities, they simply do not know. Logically, the first step that can be taken is to develop a strategy to address the challenge of the emergency they have declared. However there are a number of pitfalls and issues which can arise when doing so and there is a need for the individuals tasked with creating such a plan to be given the knowledge and support they need to do so.

Similar issues are faced by professionals working in the NHS (the health and care system in England is responsible for an estimated 4-5% of the country’s carbon footprint), Universities, Schools and of course central Government.

Through the PSSA we hope to provide these individuals with the support, guidance and knowledge that will assist them and by extension, the entire country in tackling the climate emergency and recuding their organisations carbon footprint. The assocation will provide the latest news and developments, best practice, case studies, white papers, reports and guides to this aim.

There is no charge for membership to those working within the Public Sector and we are now open to new members. If you are interested in joining, please visit our website where you will find more detailed information about the association and also a membership form to join.

www.pssa.info