Feel-good Friday

To celebrate Global Recycling Day on Tuesday 18 March, we’re shining a light on the waste reduction and recycling achievements of Ben Hague, RMPFS Soft Services Manager and Tom Hague, RMPFS Site Supervisor, with Sean Barraclough from Biffa.

This team at Sheffield Mail Centre have certainly ‘wasted’ no time getting to grips with waste, supporting our Steps to Zero ambitions.

Working together they’ve reduced general waste by almost five tonnes - over 15 per cent - and increased recycling by a huge 31 per cent between 2023 and 2024. This benefits the environment, helps us remain the greenest operator, and saves money – every penny counts!

At Royal Mail general waste is sent away and used to produce energy; whilst this is better than landfill, we’re still burning vital resources. As such raw materials, which could be re-used, are lost – and more of these materials are needed from our natural environment.

Recycling saves around 70 per cent of energy compared to extraction of new materials.

Ben said, ‘loads of the rubbish we throw away could be recycled and it’s been a journey of learning and discovery to find ways to reduce our general waste and increase our recycling’.

Tom said ’it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how much our general waste has reduced by working with Biffa to take action’.

Many of the actions are things we could do at every site, and are quick to implement. The team:

• updated the bin posters to make it easier for colleagues to dispose of the right waste in the right bins.
• removed general waste bins from locations in the Mail Centre where they’re not required.
• set up bin stations, where both types of bins sit side by side, making it easier for colleagues to do the right thing!
• installed a notice board sharing fun facts to get people thinking about waste and how they can help.
• Added locks to the external bins, to reduce chances of fly tipping.

They’ve also improved the facilities for baled cardboard, by covering the waste with tarpaulins to avoid it getting wet. It’s a simple step, but when it’s wet it can’t be recycled.

Did you know…

Wet cardboard costs us £221.81 per tonne – we get paid for dry cardboard, as this has a use, but we have to pay to dispose of wet cardboard, as this is useless. One bale has an approximate weight of 0.5t.

The reductions in waste at Sheffield Mail Centre are leading by example and show how small actions can make a big difference. Thank you to our Sheffield colleagues for also getting on board and using the facilities that the team have put in place.

If you’d like support to improve recycling and waste management at your site, please contact your RMPFS Soft Services Manager or the National Service Centre on 0333 999 7500.

In Wales it is illegal not to recycle, and the regulator has the power to issue fixed Penalty Notices, and this same legislation comes into effect in England on Friday 31 March 2025.

We know there are more success stories out there. Please share on Workplace or send your good news to rmcommunications@royalmail.com.