Reaching More People – Flats Recycling

The Challenge:

Research by the National Consumer Council highlighted the fact that recycling can often be a middle class affair, with people on lower-incomes frequently having less access to recycling facilities.

This situation has been made worse by the fact that estates and high rise flats are often unsuitable for doorstep recycling services.

The Solution:

In response, May Gurney Environmental Services has pioneered the use of small scale recycling facilities on estates to ensure that everyone gets the chance to recycle.

Under the Flats Recycling service, residents on estates are offered recycling banks for all their paper, glass and cans. Each facility serves between 25 to 125 households, is emptied weekly and May Gurney works with residents to ensure they are placed in the most convenient place possible.

The banks have also been designed to be vandal proof to ensure they don’t get damaged.

The Result:

The scheme has been a resounding success, with residents usually requesting further banks be installed as soon as possible. Initially, May Gurney Environmental Services developed this service for just one London borough where a high number of people live on estates but, due to its success, similar schemes are now running across the capital.