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London’s businesses: together we’re stronger in recycling

Dozens of businesses in central London have pooled their recycling efforts with the twin goal of saving money and helping to improve air quality in the UK capital.

Heart of London Business Alliance (HLBA), which represents businesses in the Piccadilly, St James’s and Leicester Square area, has developed a waste management solution which co-ordinates the movements of recycling vehicles with the delivery of office supplies.

Vehicle movements

The scheme has led to an estimated cut of 2 886 waste vehicle movements since January and enabled businesses to save over £19 000 in the six months since its launch.

HLBA has recruited two preferred suppliers, Paper Round and Westminster City Council, through its waste provider Veolia, to service more than 80 businesses including Fortnum and Mason, Bespoke Hotels and The Comedy Store have signed up to the services since September.

Critical point

Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, says: ‘Air quality in London has been one of the most important topics on the agenda in recent times. In London’s West End, due to the number of restaurants, cinemas and theatres, pollution levels had reached a critical point and thus residents and businesses, with our help, have decided to take action. By streamlining the waste removal service, there has been a resounding reduction in vehicles across London’s West End.’

Alison Roe, director of Paper Round, adds: ‘We all need to play our part working towards cleaner air. At Paper Round, we are delighted to have found in Heart of London the perfect partner to tackle vehicle movement reduction by developing an innovative approach to the consolidation of waste collections.’

Mobile recycling points

In March, the partners launched a ‘Good to Go’ recycling project in which street sweepers double up as mobile coffee cup recycling points.

HLBA is a Business Improvement District, a defined area within the UK in which a levy is charged on businesses in addition to the business rates bill. This levy is used to develop projects which will benefit businesses in the local area.

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