of material saved
About the client
Broadgate is committed to making a positive difference to organisations, communities, and people. Like Recorra, they are committed to achieving net zero across all buildings by 2030 and have definitive targets to minimise carbon emissions. Broadgate choose Recorra as their waste management company due to our shared goal of zero waste to landfill. The estate is always looking for new ways to manage waste, such as encourage reusability which aligns well with Recorra’s own desire to develop and promote innovative and diverse waste solutions.
1,598,385kg
39,591kg
of paper recycled
1,502,996kg
of carbon dioxide prevented
81%
recycling rate achieved
Services Provided
Recorra provides waste streams for mixed recycling, glass, food, cardboard, coffee grounds, IT equipment, green waste, batteries & vapes, toners, furniture, coffee cups, hazardous waste, cooking oil, cans, plastics, compostables, fluorescent tubes, paper (white and security), and general waste. We process 300-360 tonnes of waste a month and have achieved a recycling rate of 81%.
In addition to the 19 waste streams we have provided, we also offer furniture re-use and all paper we collect goes through Recorra’s secure shredding service to maintaining client privacy.
Our clients challenge
At the beginning of the contract, Broadgate struggled with collecting accurate waste data due to how their waste infrastructure was set-up. Large compactors that served multiple buildings with each building occupied by two or more clients meant that Broadgate had to guesstimate how much waste each occupier produced.
The bin signage in the bays was inappropriate; text was dominant and said text could be difficult to read.
However, the biggest challenge has been without a doubt contamination. Specifically, glass from the public space is the worst offender and often comes mixed with plastic bags, tissue paper and food; the bulk of it comes from Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights. We had to start from nothing because the prior contractor did not segregate waste.
Our Solution
Coming into Broadgate, our first order of business was localising bin collections to improve data collection. Now each building served by Recorra has its own compactor which has enabled the estate to improve data accuracy. Another improvement we made to the ‘binfrastructure’ was introducing bin presses to each site. By compacting bins, we can reduce the number of collections which means less vehicle movements. Reducing vehicle movements does not just have the benefit of reducing carbon emissions but also noise pollution. By choosing Recorra for its waste management, Broadgate also benefits from our fleet of electric vehicles which is essential for carbon reduction.
Recorra hit the ground running by emphasising waste training. Within 6 months we have trained 56% of Broadgate’s cleaning staff and held waste awareness days for 15% of clients. Educating tenants and staff through floor walks, lunch & learns, BOH training and waste composition analysis helped ensure a smooth transition and maintain recycling rates. Since beginning the contract 6 months ago, 13% of tenants have completed floor walks.
As well as waste operations, we ensured staff had training in equipment use, environment & energy, and manual handling. The cleaning and waste teams more than rose to the occasion, and we are incredibly proud of them. One of the waste operatives has even been hired as an account manager at Recorra after his potential was recognised.
Once the bin collections were sorted, we moved on improving waste signage, replacing the text heavy signs with images. We also implemented some more niche waste streams such as coffee grounds and cups. Prior to contracting Recorra, Broadgates green waste would go to landfill but now we work closely with the landscaping teams to send it off for composting.
Achievements
We have collected 19 waste streams and achieved a recycling rate of 81%. Our emphasis on training paid off; in six months we have contacted 63% of floors, held 15 waste reviews, and trained 99% of cleaners. While is common for recycling rates to fall when switching contracts, Recorra was able to prevent that drop due to the excellence of the team on the ground.
Since starting with Recorra, Broadgate saves 2.4 tons of furniture when tenants leave and gives them to local communities and schools to be reused. Their efforts have saved 5139 trees, donated 1164 to the food charity Plan Zheroes, and secured 7 tutoring sessions to improve child literacy. 1003 homes were powered by energy from waste. Envar was able to produce 1,680 coffee logs through Broadgate’s efforts to prevent coffee waste from going to landfill.
By recycling 1,598,385kg of material and 39,591kg of paper, Broadgate has prevented 1,502,996kg of carbon dioxide.
What's next
As we continue to the future, Broadgate desires to get into the circular economy by engaging Recorra’s office supplies service, improve health and safety modules, and get their waste and cleaning staff to a place where they themselves can train others in better waste practices.
In addition to adding a waste streaming for branded and non-branded textiles, including Broadgate uniforms, Recorra and Broadgate want to expand engagement initiatives. It is our goal to hold recycle week and large tenant sustainability events in the near future.
