Partnership with Biffa saves waste

Every year, Tarmac produces less waste and recycles more non-hazardous waste. As part of our strategy to use natural resources efficiently and sustainably, in 2011 we teamed up with Biffa, a leading integrated waste management business. Our partnership uses innovative solutions to recycle, treat and collect waste, delivering environmental and economic benefits at the same time.

The programme focuses on energy recovery, diverting waste from landfill, and reclaiming valuable metals that can be reused. During our first year, we aim to increase recycling rates at our sites and offices from 30% to 50%, reaching 60% in the second year. We seek to achieve this through a technique called Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR). This means that all our recyclable non-hazardous waste goes into one container and is then processed by Biffa to reclaim materials that can be recycled or recovered as part of an energy from waste programme.

We have encouraged employees to get involved in the scheme, highlighting its environmental and economic benefits through brochures and posters. On average, we now produce 47 tonnes less waste every month, thanks to this initiative.

Biffa group sales and marketing director, Bob Barltrop, welcomed the partnership: “It is a clear demonstration of the importance that both industries place upon environmental responsibility. This also makes very good business sense for Tarmac: coupled with the increasing costs of landfill tax, integrated contracts such as this have become the most economical way for businesses of all sizes to manage their recycling.”