From 1 January 2014, the Waste (Scotland) Regulations will require all organisations in Scotland to separate waste for recycling. With just over seven months to go, an Every Can Counts survey of all 32 local authorities in Scotland and 101 Scottish businesses has revealed that there is still a sizeable challenge ahead to get private and public sector organisations recycling in time for 2014.
The research highlighted that, with seven months to go …
However, businesses and organisations still have time to take action. Every Can Counts can set any organisation up with a drinks can recycling scheme in less than a week. They offer free help and advice with all aspects of setting up and promoting a recycling scheme, either as part of an existing programme or as a standalone scheme.
Every Can Counts is now eight months into its programme to help organisations meet these regulations by making it easy to start, or increase, recycling of drinks cans. Over 145 organisations across 162 separate sites around Scotland have already benefited from the free materials offered by Every Can Counts. 85 of these sites (58%), signed up to the programme through their existing recycling service provider.
The Every Can Counts programme is funded by drinks can recyclers and manufacturers, receiving additional funding support in Scotland from Zero Waste Scotland and soft drinks manufacturer AG Barr.
Andrew McFarlan of Every Can Counts said: “Our figures tell us that an office of 50 people in the Glasgow area will, on average, go through 3,000 cans per year. The energy saving from recycling every one of these cans is enough to run everybody’s computer in that office for a week.
“We’re really pleased with the positive level of interest and support for the Every Can Counts programme in Scotland so far, but with only a matter of months to go until the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations, we’re urging more businesses to take advantage of the free services on offer to ensure they’re fully prepared.
“We all know that recycling makes sense: it cuts down waste, saves energy and natural resources. By recycling more, businesses and local authorities can significantly reduce their impact on the environment and Scotland can make a major step towards achieving its Zero Waste ambitions.”
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