On July 17, a joint effort by Biffa, a recycling firm, and Mitchells & Butlers, a hospitality company, resulted in a significant cleanup of Dorset’s Southbourne Beach. The collected waste, totaling 60kg, was subsequently transported to Biffa’s Poole depot for sorting and weighing. The haul consisted of 50% glass bottles and nearly 30% plastic bottles, both of which are readily recyclable. Eligible materials, including plastics and glass bottles, were sent for recycling, while non-recyclable waste was directed to an energy-from-waste facility to generate electricity.
Mark Chapman, Biffa’s head of corporate accounts, expressed pride in supporting local sustainability initiatives and collaborating with Mitchells & Butlers on the beach cleanup. The two companies are also partnering on a food waste project to generate energy instead of sending it to landfills.
In a recent development, the new Labour government has pledged to introduce a deposit return scheme to combat litter and enhance recycling rates. This approach has proven successful in Norway and Germany, where consumers pay a small deposit for drinks containers, which is refunded upon return. Although the UK government initially committed to implementing such a scheme in 2018, technical issues and delays have pushed back the timeline to 2027. However, the environment department has announced plans to launch the scheme before October 2027.
