Under the guidance of the 3-strong energy team comprising of Andy Kershaw, head of group facilities, Chris White, energy manager and Jon Davies, waste and recycling co-ordinator, the team recognised an industry need for more sustainable solutions as a major pub co in the hospitality sector. Since 2016, the team, on behalf of Marston's, have been working in partnership with UKWSL (UK Waste Solutions LTD) to help implement innovative sustainability solutions that have both long term environmental and financial benefits to operations.
In line with recognised environmental standards for Zero Waste to Landfill, Marston's set the goal of achieving a 99% diversion rate across the bussiness. As a group, 99.5% of generated waste is now being diverted from landfill. Currently 100% Zero Waste to Landfill is unachievable under current legislation and technology, as some residual waste from energy recovery facilities and hazardous substances are required to go to landfill.
With an average 60,000 tonnes of waste per annum across its estate, including everything from food waste to cardboard and plastics; Marston's worked on executing a 'Resource and Waste Management Action Plan' (RWMP) across their pub estate in 2016 recognising an opportunity to be more efficient and sustainable in an approach to waste management. Within the first 9 months of RWMP, Marston's was able to increase its average recycling rate from 60% to 73% and have gone on to systematically change its management culture down to operations further improving its overall recycling rate to 77%.
UKWSL's Managing Director, Max Kanda, said "We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Marston's team in order to change attitudes from waste to resources and develop increasingly circular solutions for these materials, which optimise both their commercial and environmental value."
Andy Kershaw added: "We have been the first to action a number of initiatives which have been through exhaustive testing and are now active across several areas of the business, from plastics, to energy, to carbon footprint."
The partnership between Marston's and UKWSL is part of a wider drive for sustainability solutions across the business. As part of the Energy Teams work within Marston's PLC, the team have also been driving developments in –
· Circular Economy – using plastics destined for landfill in fencing, decking and garden furniture
· Reducing plastic waste across sites – including developing 'first to use' bio-degradable non-plastic straws
· Water efficiency – Marston's operate self-supply licence to provide water to its pubs and breweries
· Cardboard recycling – including installing balers to improve segregation and quality of cardboard and reduce collections
· Energy efficiency – 100% LED lighting in all new build pubs and all internal lighting in existing sites
· Environmental training – for all employees as part of wider training developments
