2023 New Regulations around Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
From 1st January 2023 new legislation from the Environment Agency came into effect regarding the storage and disposal of waste upholstered domestic seating containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
From this date, upholstered furniture containing POPs cannot be safely disposed of in general waste or in landfill sites and should be treated as a separate waste stream. This means that these items must be safely disposed of through incineration.
POPs are poisonous chemical substances that remain intact in the environment for long periods and are harmful to the environment, wildlife and humans if they are not disposed of safely.
Investigative work carried out by The Environment Agency has identified quantities of POPs and other hazardous chemicals in the foam of upholstered seating.
Upholstered waste domestic seating examples, this includes any part made of or containing leather, synthetic leather, other fabric, or foam:
- Sofas
- Sofa beds
- Armchairs
- Kitchen and dining room chairs
- Stools and foot stools
- Home office chairs
- Futons
- Bean bags, floor and sofa cushions
The following items of domestic seating are unlikely to contain POPs:
- Items that are not upholstered, without cushions.
- Deckchairs
- Wastes from manufacturing new domestic seating (and the manufacturer can demonstrate do not to contain POPs)
- Mattresses, curtains, blinds and beds are not domestic seating and are not covered by this guidance.
POPs may also be found in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), this may include:
- Office equipment – non-household types such as photocopiers and printers
- Printed circuit boards
- Cables and granulated cable plastics
- Plastic cases from display devices (flat panel displays and cathode ray tubes)
For more details on WEEE that may contain POPs please visit the .gov website for further details.
Customers must inform us if they have any upholstered furniture containing POPs so we can arrange safe and legal collection. Please note we are no longer able to collect any of these items if they are left outside as part of your general or other waste.
For further information about the new regulations, visit .gov.
Looking after you at Christmas
On behalf of all us at Footprint Recycling, we would like to thank all our customers and suppliers personally for our continued success in 2022, and take this opportunity to wish you and all your families a fantastic Christmas and New Year.
We'd also like to extend our thanks and Christmas wishes to all our colleagues at Footprint Recycling for their support throughout the year.
We'll be taking a few days off over the holidays but will be open in and amongst, if you need to contact us we'll be open🌲 on the following dates:
Friday 23rd - our offices will close at 3.30 pm
Monday 26th - Tuesday 27th - our offices are CLOSED
Wednesday 28th - Friday 30th - our offices are OPEN
Monday 2nd January - our offices are CLOSED
Tuesday 3rd January - OPEN AS NORMAL.
We hope 2023 brings success and prosperity to you all.
Clare & Robyn
HOMELESSNESS IS ON THE RISE
As darker, colder, and wetter nights set in, we’ve received more reports from suppliers and industry colleagues about people taking shelter or sleeping in and around waste bins.
With surging homelessness in the UK, there has been an increase in people taking shelter and sleeping rough in waste bins. Unfortunately, this has resulted in several deaths of vulnerable people over the years. It’s not just homelessness that forces people to take shelter in bins. One in 10 cases of someone sheltering in a bin involves people on a night out.
Homelessness is a serious issue that we should all be aware of, both professionally and privately. We all need to play a part in helping others stay safe, everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, so please be alert to those in need this winter
If you have a waste bin or large container on your premises please:
Check, Look, Think
- Check your locks on bins – are they broken/working
- Is there evidence of someone using the bin as shelter, take a look around the bin ie, makeshift steps, open lids
- Raise awareness amongst staff by creating a company campaign.
If you suspect or are concerned about someone sleeping rough, please contact your local authority or one of these charitable organisation for advice.
Shelter
Crisis
Your Local Authority
StreeLink
PANTHER PARTNERS WITH FOOTPRINT RECYCLING TO TAKE SUSTAINABILITY PLEDGE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Leading two-person white glove delivery specialist Panther Group has joined forces with total waste management firm Footprint Recycling to help them reduce their carbon footprint, taking them a step closer to achieving their Net Zero pledge.
In recent years, as a part of its ESG pledge, Panther has vastly increased its commitment to improving its environmental impact by keeping its waste unpolluted and to a minimum by following best practices. They have increased recycling measures, conserved energy more efficiently, and used environmentally friendly technologies.
To take its commitment one step further, the business has even set a target to implement a zero-waste culture throughout every aspect of its operations.
Having provided a comprehensive range of sustainable waste and recycling solutions to a wide range of sectors since 2008, Footprint Recycling is passionate about helping businesses manage their waste, reduce their carbon footprints and achieve their sustainability goals.
Since partnering with recycling specialist Footprint, Panther has greatly improved their recycling and environmental credentials. To date this year alone, Panther has recycled more than 453 tonnes of cardboard, plastic, and expanded polystyrene, 226 tonnes of general waste, 144 tonnes of TVs, and over 50,000 old mattresses collected and recycled on behalf of its customers and 25,000 tonnes of metal from washing machine bodies also recycled. The company’s carbon footprint by installing energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the depots has also improved by 60%.
And ever mindful of the need to provide a ‘green’ ethical service, Panther provides a furniture recycling service and closely adheres to the WEEE Directive.
Panther can now boast that 80 percent of its waste is recycled – with an aim to increase that figure to 90 percent over the next 12 months.
As part of its long-term sustainable energy programme the company is collaborating with Ev3power and is considering solar, wind turbine, and hydrogen options to power its operations and are also considering electric and hydrogen options for its fleet.
In recent weeks Panther has conducted a number of electric vehicle trials and now boasts a forklift fleet that is 60 percent electric.
Guy Burgess, Logistics Director commented: “With combatting climate change currently at the forefront of the global agenda, we have chosen to partner with Footprint Recycling to further improve our environmental impact and make a positive difference to our ecosystem.
“As a business, we are already making huge strides in making long-term and sustainable changes by pushing sustainability in every aspect of the business. Ingraining environmental consciousness within the company’s culture and Footprint Recycling will be a fundamental driver in helping us to facilitate this.
“No longer is it acceptable for companies to provide a 'sustainability statement' as consumers are far savvier and more discerning about how they spend their money and what businesses they’re willing to support and trade with.
“More than that though it’s vital that as a growing business we respond to the current climate crisis and act accordingly. The government has set a pledge for the UK to achieve Net Zero status by 2050, and as a company that strives for sustainability, we want to join the fight against global warming by driving down our environmental impact over the coming years.”
Robyn Brook, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Footprint Recycling commented: “Our business is built on a foundation of helping our customers embrace the circular economy and improve their sustainability with a focus on achieving zero waste to landfill through recycling and reducing emissions.
“With pressure on businesses, like Panther, to do more to minimise their environmental impacts, our aim is not only to manage waste but to challenge the industry norms by developing processes bespoke to each client and introducing new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
“We’ve been working with Panther for several years, over which we have developed a fantastic relationship that allows us to continually strive and look at new ways to help them improve their environmental credentials and assist with their sustainability journey.”
Bank Holiday Monday 19th September, 2022
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Hugely respected and loved by people worldwide, Queen Elizabeth was our longest-serving Monarch with 70 years of commitment, dedication, and service to our Country and the Commonwealth.
Having only ever known one Monarch, the Queen has been the strength and stay of our nation for generations. The Queen once said of her late husband, Prince Phillip, "He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."
Wise words that translate to how we feel today.
Our Queen always acted with remarkable grace and composure, she was patient and wise, she was a beacon of light in dark times, she was our pillar of strength and stability, she was steadfast and unwavering, compassionate and understanding. For these qualities and more, she inspired genuine affection from across the world.
She will be long remembered, and we are thankful for all she has done. Our thoughts go to The Royal Family during this challenging time.
Please note as a mark of respect, our offices will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday 19th September to witness and honor our late Queen. R.I.P Should your scheduled lift fall on the Bank Holiday, PLEASE BE AWARE that we will not automatically reschedule your service. Should you wish your services to be rescheduled please contact our customer services team on 01484 660770.
The beginning of a new era for Footprint Recycling
It's the beginning of a new era for Footprint Waste Management as we launch our new brand identity, company positioning, and, soon, a new website.
Our new brand represents our continued commitment and investment in our company. We have seen significant growth over the past few years, a growing team and new major contract wins. We've also expanded our service offering, which now includes Carbon Neutral, complementing our existing offering of complete waste management and recycling.
As we develop and expand, everything we do still revolves around our experiences and customers. The new brand represents our simple company ethos of providing services to promote a circular economy - Waste Management - Recycling - Carbon Neutral.
Robyn Brook, Director, said: "Our business has gone from strength to strength but we couldn’t have done it without our fantastic customers and staff. I thank you all for believing in us and I thank our wonderful team who make every day possible. Clare and I are inspired (and regularly saved!) by you all.
"Our waste management vision is simple, to be the best and never give up. We started Footprint because we believed we could do better, be faster, more creative, find a better solution, make our clients more money, save them money, be useful, be supportive, be honest, think outside the box, add value to their business by understanding their business, offer the best waste solution and results for sustainability, find the ‘how can’.
"We review, we learn, we set targets, we train, we drive, we track, we deliver results then we review and re-set the goal posts.
"We want to grow our business and our network and we want to learn more. We have many customers who we’ve helped to reach 97%-98% recyclability with as much of that as possible going to re-use.
The new brand represents where we stand as a company today; it's a simple formula, but we feel it's the perfect fit for us, it unifies our services, and it was necessary to reflect and establish ourselves now and in the future."
If you'd like to chat to us about your current waste management, recycling, or reducing your carbon emissions, give us a call on 01484 660770 or drop us an email, and we will give you a call.
New Service Offer 2022 – Start your journey to net-zero emissions
Start your journey to net-zero emissions
2022, and we are all under pressure to reduce our carbon emissions. While it’s been at the forefront of our minds over the years, it is now reaching an emergency state with worldwide leaders and climate change organisations working together and applying pressure to governments, countries, and companies to act. But where do you start?
Over the past 15 years, we’ve been on a journey to help businesses dispose of, reduce, and recycle their waste and increase sustainability. As part of this journey, we are now offering a new service that provides a path to help you identify, plan and reduce your carbon emissions. Our process is simple:
- Consultation and planning – help you understand and plan
- Measure your carbon emissions – collect the data and identify
- Reduce your carbon emissions – ways to reduce your carbon emissions
- Compensate your carbon emissions – offset your business footprint.
Helping you calculate your climate footprint including scope 3 supply chain emissions
Carbon emissions are identified under three scopes, it’s a way to categorise the different kinds of carbon emissions you create. An estimation of your carbon emissions under each scope will result in a “carbon footprint”. Therefore, a phased approach to identifying the company’s carbon emissions under each scope is recommended, with a short-term carbon-neutral goal, and a longer-term net zero carbon goal (based on delivery of a carbon reduction plan).
Establishing a baseline for your Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions will enable the business to understand the carbon impact associated with its energy use.
Scope 1 covers the Green House Gas emissions that a company directly makes — for example, running its boilers and vehicles.
Scope 2 are the emissions it makes indirectly – like when the electricity or energy it buys for heating and cooling buildings is being produced on its behalf.
Scope 3 is a little more complicated as it covers all the emissions associated with your business, even those you are indirectly responsible for. For example, buying from suppliers and its products when customers use them.
We work with a range of carbon standards, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol; PAS 2060 for carbon-neutral organisations; PAS 2050 for carbon neutral products; Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting; ISO 14064-1 for greenhouse gas inventories; ISO 14064-3 for verification of greenhouse gases; and a range of sector-specific guidelines as appropriate. Your carbon ambitions (e.g. carbon neutrality), and what is important to your stakeholders will determine which Standard is most appropriate to work with for you.
If you’d like to start your carbon-neutral journey get in touch clare@footprint-recycling.com