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 vulnerable residents if they need to travel across areas of high footfall;

• What is the amount or type of waste you regularly produce? Does this change during the year? For example, increases at times when you may be accommodating additional clients or residents. 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 bin;

• If you don’t have much space for external containers, could you share bins with other businesses to help reduce costs and space? Just bear in mind that waste containers can’t be stored on the public highway in between collections;

• 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-run home, arrangements may be made jointly for all similar establishments in your local authority area. The Workplace Recycling Regulations are applicable 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 Sell2Wales to procure goods and services, saving you the time and effort, and possibly money too. The Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) provides a framework for the procurement of collection services for waste, dry recycling and food waste via Framework 379_21; whilst YPO (Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation) provides a range of frameworks under its Facilities Management section for the procurement of goods and services such as compostable liners, indoor and outdoor waste and recycling containers, wheeled bins and recycling services.