|
reduce, reuse, repair, recycle
|
- Waste: general (Solid Waste)
- Waste: electrical and electronic equipment (Solid Waste)
- Waste: paper (Solid Waste)
- Waste: metal/plastic drink containers (Solid Waste)
- Waste: furniture and furnishings (Solid Waste)
- Reduce landfill waste per customer account by 48% on 1998 levels by 2005; a four-fold improvement on the UK
Government's 'Making a Corporate Commitment 2' indicative target. ACCEPTABLE PROGRESS
- Increase paper recycled by 5%. TARGET NOT ACHIEVED
- Increase metal cans recycled by 5%. TARGET ACHIEVED
- Increase plastic cups recycled by 5%. TARGET ACHIEVED
- Increase used toner cartridges recycled by 5%. TARGET ACHIEVED
|
|
|
performance
|
GENERAL WASTE
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
PAPER
DRINK CONTAINERS
In addition to the 6.2 tonnes of plastic cups recycled, the bank also recycled
just under half a tonne of plastic bottles during 2001.
|
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS
| RECYCLED FURNITURE USED DURING REFURBISHMENT |
| Chairs and soft seating |
15 |
| Tables and desks |
33 |
| Cupboards |
9 |
| Drawer units |
6 |
| Cabinets and pedestals |
6 |
| Lockers |
3 |
| Workstations |
19 |
| Canteen furniture |
3 |
| Management Suite |
1 |
| (Source: Purchasing and Facilities 2002) |
| FURNITURE DONATED TO CHARITABLE CAUSES |
| Chairs and soft seating |
80 |
| Tables and desks |
21 |
| Cabinets and pedestals |
4 |
| (Source: Purchasing and Facilities 2002) |
|
|
commentary
|
Background Commercial businesses in England and Wales
produce 30 million tonnes of waste each year. Although about
a third of this waste is recycled or composted, about twothirds
still goes to landfill. This not only carries an
environmental impact, but also represents a massive waste of
resources i.
General waste As a result of the bank's increased recycling
initiatives, general waste leaving the bank reduced by 2.9%
compared with 2000 ii, and waste generated per customer
account fell by 6%. Compared with 1998, general waste
leaving the bank and waste generated per customer account
has fallen by 16.3% and 36% respectively. All general waste is
landfilled with the exception of Prescot Street, where it is taken
to the South East London Combined Heat and Power plant
and incinerated. Despite exhaustive research, and discussions
with a number of environmental campaigning groups, the bank
has been unable to utilise alternative waste disposal routes.
Green Genie Groups The increase in the bank's recycling
initiatives can largely be attributed to the tremendous efforts of
its Green Genie groups (environmental action groups located
at each major site). These groups, supported by the
Purchasing and Facilities Department, continue to raise
awareness and encourage waste reduction and recycling.
Based on waste minimisation and recycling activity per
member of staff, the winner of the Green Genie Award for 2001
is the bank's Stockport site. Acknowledgement is also due to
London, as the most improved location. At Stockport, the
Green Genie groups have introduced external recycling
facilities in the car park for paper and clear, green and brown
glass.
Electrical/electronic In addition to the 1,068 items of
electronic equipment that the bank recycled during 2001, the
bank's contracted recycling company, Greencare Ltd iii also
collected: 95 mobile telephones, 79 computer tapes, 27 boxes
of cables, 17 boxes of software (discs and manuals),
320 telephones, 1 telecommunications cabinet and 171
miscellaneous items (modems, microfiche, adding machines,
note counters, encoders, fax machines). A further 16.5 tonnes
(17 small and 9 large computer storage cabinets) were
recycled by NECP Computers Ltd. Electronic equipment is
transferred to Silver Lining Industries Ltd iv. If the equipment is
of sufficient quality for reuse, data is removed and hardware
refurbished prior to resale. Where this is not possible, heavy
components and magnetics are removed and recycled as
scrap metal. Precious metal concentrates are removed,
assayed and any hazardous components are removed (e.g.
batteries) and sent for specialist disposal.
Recycling The bank's cans, cups, plastic bottles, fluorescent
tubes and electronic equipment are passed to Greencare Ltd.
for recycling. Cans are segregated by type into aluminium and
steel. The bank's plastic cups are passed to Save-a-Cup, and
subsequently flaked and reprocessed, producing items such
as pencils, rulers and coasters, as well as being used as a
wood substitute in garden furniture. Plastic bottles are
converted into containers, which in turn are used at Greencare
for the storage of fluorescent tubes. These tubes are passed to
Mercury Recycling Ltd vi. The components of the lights are
separated for re-use and the toxic mercury is distilled from the
phosphor powder. Paper recycling is undertaken by three
firms, Derby & Laurel Co. Ltd, Capital Security Shredding Ltd
and the Co-operative Group. In the case of the Co-operative
Group, paper is recycled into Co-op 100% recycled toilet
tissue and Co-op 100% recycled kitchen towel for sale in
Co-op stores.
Branch network For the first time, it can be reported that
branch network staff recycled 37.2 tonnes of paper.
 By comparison, according to their 1999/00 Environmental
Report, Credit Suisse Group recycle 77% of waste (cf. 59% at
The Co-operative Bank). |
|
- Waste Strategy. DETR, 2000
- With the exception of 'General Waste' (which describes waste arising at the
bank's major occupancies, incorporating two thirds of staff), data covers all
bank premises.
- www.greencare.co.uk
- www.silverlining.co.uk
- www.cygmamanufacturing.co.uk
- www.mercuryrecycling.co.uk
To follow any of the links mentioned within the Partnership Report 2001, please visit the links page.
|
|
ethical and ecological value analysis
|
- Annual cost of recycling activities (including third party contracts and capital investment) – £61,000
- Since 1998, general waste leaving the bank has reduced by 890m3, leading to an annualised saving of – £8,000
- During 2001, 95 items of furniture were reused by the bank, resulting in an annual saving of – £45,000
- Annualised saving resulting from switch to recycled toner cartridges – £77,000
|
|
|
new target
|
- Reduce landfill waste per customer account by 48% on 1998 levels by 2005; a four-fold improvement on the UK
Government's 'Making a Corporate Commitment 2' indicative target.
- Increase paper recycled by 5%.
- Increase metal cans recycled by 5%.
- Increase plastic cups recycled by 5%.
- Increase used toner cartridges recycled by 5%.
Alan Green, Operations and Compliance Manager, Property Management/Andy Farrell, Facilities Manager
- Ensure that paper recycling is implemented across the entire branch network.
Jon Bowen, Customer Services Manager, Planning and Service Management
|
|
|
