St Austell Brewery has launched a recycling initiative — in partnership with waste management company Biffa — to reduce the general waste in its managed pubs by 80%.
Waste bins at St Austell’s Pier House, in Charlestown, Cornwall
The initiative includes the introduction of a streamlined waste system across the company’s 45 managed pubs.
Teams across the pub estate are aiming to double the amount of waste being recycled, with a goal of hitting the 80% target by the end of this year.
From educating and engaging colleagues on correct recycling, through to minimising food waste, St Austell Brewery is aiming to reduce its environmental footprint, while also rewarding teams for hitting their targets.
All of St Austell’s managed pubs now have colour-coded bins which are divided into three sections:
- dry mixed recycling, for tins, cans, paper, dry cardboard, foil, magazines, plastic containers and metal lids;
- food waste, for tea bags, coffee grounds, bones, and uneaten food; and
- general waste for anything else.
In addition, St Austell is rolling out a supporting employee encouragement plan, to help drive engagement and participation. This includes a leader board for pubs, where the team with the highest reduction in waste overall will be rewarded with online vouchers to spend every quarter.
“One of the first things we did when we started the project was to engage our pub teams about proper recycling,” said Helen Sprason, area manager and member of the sustainability steering committee at St Austell Brewery.
“For some team members, this involved a trip to Biffa’s Redruth [mixed recycling facility] to get a first-hand look at the importance of thorough recycling. We recognise that, given our scale, we have a huge opportunity to really make a difference.
“Last year, we successfully reduced total waste in our managed pub estate by 40%, and we are now aiming for an even greater impact. We’re confident this is one of the biggest waste management schemes to be undertaken by a pub company.”
