Recycling company Paper Round have partnered up with Vegware to launch a dedicated compostable packaging collection service for London and Brighton.
The new service will see Paper Round collect Vegware’s compostable packaging as a separate waste stream and sent to an in-vessel composting facility, enVar, in Cambridgeshire where it is transformed into compost in a 7-week cycle.
Used in agriculture, horticulture and landscaping, the compost will provide soil with a slow release of vital nutrients and improves soil structure, reducing flood risk.
As well as providing a separate waste stream, the partnership will focus on educating businesses on compostables and best practice recycling which the pilot found was key to making the service work.
For instance, although leftover food residues are accepted, contamination from other recyclables and waste must be kept to minimal levels to meet the requirements of composting sites.
Bill Swan, Paper Round’s Managing Director added, “We are excited to launch this new product after successful trials with several Vegware customers. Our trials uncovered the importance of engagement and education to keep contamination levels low.
Before launching a composting service, we wanted to make sure that we had a system that would deliver a viable waste stream for processors. After testing with a range of customer types we are now confident that this is possible.
“Before launching a composting service, we wanted to make sure that we had a system that would deliver a viable waste stream for processors. After testing with a range of customer types we are now confident that this is possible.”
Commenting on the new service, Vegware’s Environmental and Communications Director Lucy Frankel said: “Caterers can only return to work with a major focus on safety and distancing. In the current environment disposables are in greater demand than ever, and sustainability is still paramount.
“We share Paper Round’s focus on quality source segregation and are pleased to see clients engaging with this issue. We are proud to launch this new composting solution to enable London, Brighton and Sussex to compost used Vegware disposables.”
Andy Sibley, Managing Director of enVar Composting Ltd received the waste from the trial scheme: “I am pleased with the way Vegware’s products work through enVar’s composting process and with the quality of the material we have received. Working together with Vegware, Paper Round and customers, we continue to reduce contamination through this exciting new waste stream.”
Join the free webinar Collecting compostable packaging in London, Brighton and Sussex on Wednesday 27 May at 11am to hear more about the learnings of the trial collections.
This 1-hour webinar is for any business in London, Brighton and Sussex who is interested in learning about compostable foodservice disposables and how they can be effectively composted.