Rowan Wallis

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BREW Centre Workshop - Making Trade Waste Pay
RECYCLING DURING THE CREDIT CRUNCH
Rowan Wallis West Sussex Sustainable Business
Partnership
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West Sussex Sustainable Business Partnership
Was it really this bad? Or is this just a case of
tabloid speculation? We decided to find out.
RECYCLING DURING THE CREDIT CRUNCH
Have we all BIN conned? Recycling's the new state
religion but once again it's been exposed as a
sham
Council left to deal with loads of rubbish after
recycling company goes bust
Rubbish recyclers on the scrapheap
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• Free support and advice on all environmental
  business matters. Energy, water, legislation,
  funding, standards, waste.
• Environmental Reviews
• Technical Helpline
• Events and Workshops
• Recyclers List

First a little background info Funded by West
Sussex CC, Environment Agency, District and
Borough Councils and in partnership with SEEDA,
GOSE, Business Link, Sussex Enterprise,
Manufactory Advisory Service, University of
Brighton, we provide FREE environmental support
to businesses in West Sussex. Promote the
financial gains from going green to encourage
environmental activity amongst business.
Recyclers List Directory of c. 70 businesses
operating recycling services in West Sussex.
Details on materials collected and services
available. Available to businesses on request
(average 3 p.wk).
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53 businesses from the WSSBP Recyclers List
interviewed
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Results encouraging with nearly half of the
businesses interviewed reporting growth or
expansion. Comparable to stable market
conditions?
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Increasing business?? How, where?

• Diversification and Service Expansion
• Increasing material types collected
• Increasing geographic coverage of collection
• Identification of a niche market

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Business levels constant. 'Recession proof'
product. Oil recycler
Material price drops in line with world market.
But, drop in price of TVs / computers has led to
increase in turn around of such products and so
flow of recyclate through our facilities. WEEE
recycler
Initially damaging but diversified business and
now things are better than ever. General recycler
Business has improved. Companies looking to
recycling routes and phoning around for best
prices. General recycler
We have begun to accept material for
sorting. Plastic recycler
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Expanded services and diversification into
markets not so vulnerable to fluctuations. Confide
ntial waste added service value buffering slump
in waste paper prices. WEEE legislation and
increased turn around of electrical appliances
(technological advancement and lower prices)
driving WEEE market. 25 recyclers on WSSBP
Recyclers List up from 15 this time last
year. Plasterboard April 2009 legislation (no
gypsum to landfill) creating new market. Private
sector quick to respond with several companies
introducing plasterboard collection services
within weeks / months.
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Geographical Coverage businesses willing to
travel further to collect waste material, e.g.)
To rural northern areas of West Sussex.
Chichester District Council commercial recycling
scheme popular here. Niche markets Mercury
recycling, polystyrene recycling, creating
packaging from waste cardboard. Finding a
specialisation.
Increasing business?? How, where?

• Diversification and Service Expansion
• Increasing material types collected
• Increasing geographic coverage of collection
• Identification of a niche market

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Remember, not all markets collapsed. Glass prices
constant due to strong domestic demand for road
aggregate. Waste wood recession proof no
scrap value so income from whatever can be
created from the waste material profit. Wet
British summer meant a poor hay harvest and
increased animal bedding sales from wood
recyclers!
Source WRAP
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Source WRAP
Yes Mixed Paper and Card hit hard, but News and
PAMS price return to levels similar to one or two
years before. April to Sep 08 peak could be seen
as a bonus?!?
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Source www.letsrecycle.com
And not all paper prices collapsed.
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Dont forget - 26825 businesses in West
Sussex - All legally responsible for their
waste - Thats a lot of business to share
amongst 100 companies
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The Future

• Commercial Waste Recycling
• Who's responsibility?
• Market forces?
• Local authority encouragement?
• Central Government intervention?

Businesses looking to local authorities to
provide services (see next slide). Private
recycling businesses are expanding and increasing
services, but cannot be expected to grow along in
direct correlation with government targets. Holes
to plug local authorities in best position to
do so. Councils often first point of call re
waste and recycling. Majority of businesses
wanting to recycle. However aware of their
responsibilities and relevant legislation, some
unfortunately do not care, and almost ALL
struggle to FIND TIME!
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Source BREW Project 07
Call for local authority action. Collection,
disposal sites, advice and support services? What
best suits your area?
No brainer!
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West Sussex County Council Commercial Waste
Transfer Stations
Price Guide (per tonne) Single stream recyclate -
12 Mixed recyclate - 87 Green waste -
52 General waste (landfill) - 127
Commercial Waste Transfer Stations plugging
the gaps where collection services arent
viable/economic. Low minimum weight (20kg)
attractive for smaller traders. Prices set to
encourage recycling.
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Thank you, any questions? West Sussex
Sustainable Business Partnership 01243
777348 rowan.wallis_at_westsussex.gov.uk www.westsuss
exsbp.org.uk