| Award winning
paper recycling project, The Laundry, is looking for new partners
to expand its innovative scheme into new areas of the country. Councils
and paper collectors are urged to get in touch to reap the benefits
brought by the London pilot project.
Earlier this month, The Laundry’s
innovative kerbside paper and card recycling service, which collects
from small businesses in central London, received a special commendation
from the National Recycling Awards. The project currently operates
in Westminster, Camden, Islington, City of London and Tower Hamlets,
has recruited 350 small businesses since May 2003, and is expanding
rapidly.
The scheme has been a great success
but it must not stop here. The Laundry wants to talk with councils
and paper collectors around the country who could benefit from a
similar scheme being set up in their area. Small businesses offer
a vast and untapped market because most recyclers target larger
companies.
It is important to target small
businesses because…
Most paper recyclers have a minimum collection of 6-8 sacks of paper,
far too much for a small business to generate or store so it’s
cheaper and more convenient for them to throw it away. Often they
do not have waste management staff and may think that the waste
they generate is so small that the cost of throwing it away is minimal.
Additionally there is little incentive for small businesses to recycle
paper as they are not big enough to be financially penalised by
either the Landfill Tax or the Packaging Directive. Collectively
the level of waste is disastrous.
What is The Laundry doing
to help?
Environmental group BioRegional launched The Laundry kerbside recycling
service in May 2003 with no minimum collection.
- It is cheaper for small businesses to recycle paper with The Laundry
than to throw it away in council waste sacks.
- The Laundry has expanded over the last year and a half and now
covers a large part of central London.
(see www.thelaundry.biz/where.htm)
- The Laundry has an innovative and fresh approach to recycling
which even appeals to green cynics.
- The Laundry estimates that of the companies that recycle, only
a third buy back recycled paper. The paper The Laundry collects
is turned into EVOLVE recycled paper, and businesses who recycle
with The Laundry can buy this back at a reduced rate from local
stationers, therefore closing the loop on recycled paper.
- More information about BioRegional’s paper recycling projects
can be found at www.bioregional.com
Give The Laundry a call so you
can start reaping the benefits of a small business paper recycling
loop in your area. Telephone Jessica Hodge or Luke Watson on 020
8404 6330 or email recycle@bioregional.com
The Laundry pilot project
is funded by Shanks First Fund, WWF, The JJ Charitable Trust, Mark
Leonard Trust and The Corporation of London. Collections are run
in partnership with London Recycling.
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