Up to 6 tonnes of commercial waste could be diverted from landfill every week thanks to a new retailer recycling scheme from Plymouth City Centre Company, launched this week (Monday 24 May).
The new recycling scheme for retailers will collect paper and cardboard waste on a weekly basis. The service is being offered free of charge by Plymouth City Centre Company to retailers in the city's business improvement district (BID) as part of the new five year business plan, launched in April 2010.
Over 70 retailers have already signed up for the scheme which could divert around 300 tonnes of waste a year from harmful landfill and save them money on commercial waste collection.
Clint Jones, Plymouth City Centre Manager said: "Our new recycling scheme for retailers will help both financially and environmentally. Firstly it will help reduce business costs by diverting paper and card away from the commercial waste collection they pay for, making collection of residual waste cheaper. Secondly, it will help reduce their environmental impact by ensuring as much retail waste as possible is recycled.
"This really is a win-win for everyone involved and I'm delighted so many retailers have signed up so early on in the scheme."
Cllr Vivien Pengelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council said: "Plymouth residents have benefitted from a fantastic household recycling scheme for many years. It is wonderful to see a recycling service now being offered to city retailers, which will help lower their overheads and keep waste out of landfill."
Richard Duddridge of Lawson's said: "It is great that the City Centre Company is supporting BID retailers in this way as it really will help to lower our costs. It is also good to see that the BID is supporting environmental issues which are important to many of our staff and customers."
Retailers who have already signed up to the recycling scheme have received their bins this week. The first collections will be made on Wednesday 26th May. To sign up for the BID Retailers' Recycling scheme please contact Kathy Davey on 01752 304054.