How to arrange a new recycling service

If you need to organise a new recycling service, it’s worth thinking about the following:

• Whether you need to have collections at certain times or days of the week to accommodate changes in waste volumes and ensure site safety. Remember, waste collection vehicles can be a hazard to pupils or students if they need to travel across areas of high footfall;

• Whether the amount or type of waste you produce varies throughout the year, for example, consider whether you need collections during end of term or half term holidays;

• What is the amount or type of waste you regularly produce? Does this change during the year? For example, decreases over Christmas or school holidays. Your recycling collection service, including the number of bins and how often they need emptying, may need to be flexible;

• Maybe little and often works better for you. Most waste collectors offer different container sizes, including sacks for some waste. Once you start recycling you might be able to reduce the size of your general waste bins;

• Speak to your existing waste collector about your new recycling needs. They will need to be aware of the new law and ensure the services they offer will be compliant and

• You could also get quotes from a range of collectors to get the best price and the most suitable service for you.

If you are a local authority school, arrangements may be made jointly for all schools in your council area. The law applies to all local authority premises, so procurement may occur corporately to reduce time and effort across various departments or buildings.

Public sector organisations can utilise framework contract agreements procured by professional buying organisations such as the Wales Collaborative Procurement Hub to procure goods and services, saving you the time and effort, and possibly money too.

Universities and Higher & Further Education establishments can access contract frameworks procured by the Higher Education Purchasing Consortium, Wales or through pan-UK agreements set up by other regional University Purchasing Consortia or the UK University Purchasing Consortia (UKUPC), an entity created by the eight UK purchasing consortia supporting collaborative procurement within Higher and Further Education.