Press Release Sep 22 2014
SHOPPING CENTRE STAFF LEAD BY EXAMPLE AHEAD OF NEW 2015 LEGISLATION
Leading drinks can recycling programme, Every Can Counts, has released research demonstrating how the retail sector can prepare for the new Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, which will be introduced on January 1st 2015.
The research shows that implementing Every Can Counts has helped to ensure that over 80% of waste is recycled by participating shopping centres, with retailers setting their own long term waste objectives to ensure that staff recycle daily.
With 12 shopping centres throughout the UK registered with Every Can Counts, the programme is working closely with centre management and retail tenants to educate almost 14,000 staff and 110 million shoppers about the importance of recycling drinks cans whilst at work and when on-the-go.
The new Waste Regulations mean that businesses, including shopping centres and retail outlets in England and Wales, will be required to separate waste paper, metal, plastic and glass for collection. In line with this, Every Can Counts is helping centres to ensure that drinks cans are collected as part of their wider responsibility for recycling.
Neil Grice, operations manager at participating centre Freshney Place in Grimsby, said: "Our aims for our recycling programme are simple: we want to maximise everything we do to improve both our environmental impact and reap financial rewards. As a result, we are constantly striving to improve our facilities and not only are we driving recycling heavily, we also actively encourage the reusing of materials."
Rick Hindley, executive director of Every Can Counts, said: "The introduction of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations next year means that it is more important than ever for businesses to consider their recycling policies in order to achieve zero waste targets.
"By offering insight and advice, along with free supporting communication materials to create highly visible recycling points, we are working with shopping centres to improve recycling facilities, infrastructure, and education, ensuring that retailers and staff are well placed to comply with the new legislation."
Following the introduction of similar regulations in Scotland in January 2014, the programme has worked with a number of Scottish partners to enable businesses to achieve compliance, and has already seen a significant impact on the attitudes towards recycling in the area*.
Launched in 2009, Every Can Counts is a partnership between drinks can manufacturers, leading brands and the recycling industry, focusing on increasing the number of cans recycled in workplaces or by people when they are 'on the go'. The programme now has 1,729 member businesses, and has installed more than 10,000 can recycling points nationwide.
To read the report, find out more information on how Every Can Counts could help you and your business, or to sign up to scheme, please visit www.everycancounts.co.uk or call 01528 597757.
*www.everycancounts/Scotland
