Solihull is one of five areas to pilot a new business support programme to inform and prepare businesses for the new business recycling regulations which are coming soon.
These will require all businesses, healthcare establishments and academic institutions to separate for recycling, glass bottles and jars, metal food and drink cans, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, paper and cardboard and food waste from their general waste.
SWM are working with our members Solihull Council and WRAP, a global sustainability charity, to deliver the pilot, which will take place for 10 weeks between 13 February and 21 April 2023. The pilot will promote the launch of a new Business of Recycling website which will provide a waste calculator tool to help businesses learn how much waste they generate and how recycling can help save money. It also features step by step guidance to ensure they are compliant with the regulations and free downloadable communication resources to promote recycling in the workplace.
In addition, dedicated business advisory support will be provided in Cranmore and Monkspath, Birmingham Business Park and Elmdon Trading Estate, in the form of 1-2-1 meetings with SWM, to help businesses understand how the regulations will affect them, what they need to do and what resources are available to help them. As this will be a regulatory requirement, it’s likely that in future an enforcement officer will undertake checks and ask to see evidence that businesses are complying with the new rules.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said:
“Businesses can be ambassadors for championing a sustainable future for Solihull. Through communicating messages to employees and reducing their carbon footprint, they can help accelerate the low carbon transition and encourage their employees to be more sustainable. Building on our close existing relationships with businesses, this new support programme delivered in partnership with WRAP and SWM, helps them to get ahead of the curve when it comes to recycling.
“By embracing the incoming changes to recycling, businesses will be able to increase their recycling rates and save money on waste disposal costs too, something which is particularly welcome for many businesses at the moment.”
Anna Bright, Chief Executive at Sustainability West Midlands, said:
“We’re excited to work with our members Solihull Council to test the new Business of Recycling website and provide practical advisory support to businesses. We know from our engagement with businesses that there can be perceived barriers to recycling in the workplace including lack of information, concerns around costs and procurement of recycling services. The pilot will help WRAP understand how best to engage with businesses, determine the effectiveness of the website and identify where improvements can be made before it is rolled out nationally.”
Kamran Saleem, Managing Director at MotorServ-UK, said:
“We’re grateful that WRAP have selected Solihull as a pilot area to roll out this important business support programme. Like many other businesses on the Monkspath / Cranmore estate, we’re keen to get ahead of the incoming changes to recycling legislation so the transition can be as seamless as possible.”
To learn more about the scheme and incoming regulations, local businesses are encouraged to attend the next Solihull for Success networking event hosted at MotorServ-UK on 28 February from 18:00 to 20:00 in Monkspath Business Park, where you will hear from SWM Chief Executive Anna Bright and others.
