Retail surgery: Is recycling cost effective?

It’s a surprisingly common myth that being green requires effort for no return. In terms of recycling, the cost is lessening all the time. Steve Lee, chief executive at the Chartered Institution of Waste Management, says: “As recycling volumes have gone up and markets for recycled materials have developed, the cost of recycling has come down.”

He adds: “Couple that with the fact that the Government is committed to increasing landfill tax by another 43% by 2014 and it’s easy to see that, no matter what type of waste your business is producing, recycling is becoming a more cost- effective option than disposal.”

But recycling can also help retail businesses in other ways. It can boost your corporate responsibility credentials and demonstrate to your customer base that you are committed to an environmentally responsible business model.

In addition, by reducing the amount of waste that is sent to landfill, businesses are able to cut their carbon footprint. Lee adds the location of stores doesn’t matter either: “As the recycling sector has developed, both local and national waste contractors have expanded the services they provide to businesses.

“Whatever your waste, recycling or recovering the energy from it makes sense.” Greater collaboration will also reap rewards. Lee adds that finding out more about how other businesses are managing their recycling will vastly improve waste management.