Wolseley hits zero target

Plumbers merchant group Wolseley has announced that its entire Leamington Spa site is now zero waste to direct landfill.

Following a complete change in the way waste is handled, 99.8% of waste at the National Distribution Center and 97.5% of waste from the Wolseley Center is now recyclable, meaning that just 2.7% of the site’s entire waste total is compacted and sent for incineration to generate electricity.

Wolseley UK worked with waste management and recycling specialists Biffa to analyse its waste and then implemented a system to achieve zero wasteto direct landfill ambitions, while also receiving the maximum levels of rebate on recycling.

Centralised bins were introduced throughout the premises, allowing separation of cardboard, plastic, paper and vegetarian food waste at the point of disposal.

Additional processes at the NDC were also implemented to recycle ceramics, timber and metal – along with backhauled recycling waste generated by branches. Worm farms were installed to process the site’s vegetarian food waste, which is turned into compost and used on plants at Wolseley UK’s Sustainable Building Center.

“It’s a complete loop. We produce the waste, process the waste, and then use the waste,” said John Page, site facilities manager at Wolseley UK.

“All recycled waste is collected by Biffa and taken offsite to process and rebates are received for recyclable materials – meaning that the process runs at nil cost to the NDC part of the business and substantial cost reduction to the Wolseley Center.”