South Devon College reaffirms it commitment to being Zero to Landfill, after signing a brand new three-year contract with Devon Contract Waste for the management of the college’s waste collection.
Devon Contract Waste is the first and only company in the South West to offer a Zero to Landfill solution, meaning that all materials that can be recycled, are. Under the new contract, Devon Contract Waste will collect mixed waste from South Devon College to be sorted at its unique envirohub in Exeter, which can handle 75,000 tonnes of waste each year. The envirohub is home to state-of-the-art sorting equipment that efficiently sorts all mixed non-food, non-glass waste, meaning every piece of waste that can be recycled is sorted and processed.
Dave Walker, Deputy Property Service Manager at South Devon College commented: “We’re really pleased to have signed a new agreement with Devon Contract Waste. It has helped the College in reducing our waste output over the past four years through talks to our students and being part of our sustainability ‘Go Green’ week. The College produces 353,767kg of waste each year, and by employing Devon Contract Waste we have been able to save up to 95% of our waste from going to landfill. It’s even better that we only have to put waste into one bin before it’s taken away and sorted at the envirohub.”
Dave continued: “We undertake a number of initiatives to ensure we operate as environmentally friendly as possible, including running sustainability courses as part of the College’s offer and the principles are embedded into all practical courses.”
The Paignton-based education centre joins an environmentally-conscious group of schools and colleges in the West Country that have chosen to become Zero to Landfill, including Exeter College, Bicton College, Exmouth Community College, Trinity School, St Peters Lympstone, South Dartmoor College and Bramdean School.
Simon Almond, managing director of Devon Contract Waste commented: “We’re delighted to be working with South Devon College – it’s great to see another college choosing to boost its green credentials and reduce its impact on the environment by using our Zero to Landfill service. Educating the younger generation is essential for creating a greener West Country, so we hope many more will follow in the footsteps of trailblazing establishments like South Devon College.”
Devon Contract Waste’s Zero to Landfill solution ensures up to 68% of waste materials are sorted, baled and sold for onward processing to create new materials and products in a wide variety of industries. The remaining materials that cannot be recycled – 30-35% – are sent to energy from waste plants so nothing is landfilled.
For more information about Devon Contract Waste’s Zero to Landfill service, visit www.dcw.co.uk or call 01392 361300.
