More Than 100 Double Decker Buses Avoid Landfill

A Scottish-based reuse and recycling enterprise has emerged as an integral solution in Scotland after reaching its half year target for recycling unwanted furniture.

Recycle Scotland has rerouted more than 750 tonnes of redundant office furniture – the equivalent of more than 100 double decker buses – away from landfill since January thanks to working with a diverse range of clients across the country.

The organisation has welcomed huge success in the last few months, recycling and reusing office furniture from a number of small organisations as well as more high profile companies including the Royal Bank of Scotland, NHS, Barclays Bank and Edinburgh Napier University.

As a direct result, the company has supported a number of charities, social enterprises, schools and small businesses to offer them low cost furniture.

Kevin Green, general manager of Recycle Scotland, said: “We set ourselves ambitious targets at the outset to maximise the positive impact on the environment through reusing and recycling.

“It’s simple – the less we put to landfill and more we put back into use within the community, companies and charities will save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

“We have received significant support from our partners, which include Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, providing solutions for not only their company but their clients as well.”

The organisation – which operates across Scotland – has recycled and reused more than 5,000 tonnes of office furniture since its inception.

One of the company’s partners, leading commercial property firm Space Solutions, has been supporting the firm since 2008.

Derek Binnie, director of Space Solutions, said: “Recycle Scotland is an innovative concept and we knew our involvement would be of huge benefit to our clients and beyond.

“We recognised that many of our clients faced challenges in managing the disposal of unwanted furniture and we have been able to recommend Recycle Scotland as the leading service in its sector.”

In January, Edinburgh Napier University appointed Recycle Scotland to co-ordinate and project manage the relocation of more than 600 staff from seven different locations to its newly refurbished Sighthill Campus.

The relocation and consolidation resulted in more than 95 tonnes of “waste” being produced which was diverted away from landfill. Around 40 per cent of the material was redeployed and the remainder was recycled.

(GK)