The scheme, also backed by Marks and Spencer, has been launched in four UK cities and is already proving a popular move. It is estimated that up 80 per cent of all waste generated in an office can be recycled and food packaging waste forms a large part of this. The Closed Loop Recycling scheme gives local companies the opportunity to recycle the tonnes of sandwich wrappers, soft drinks bottles and salad trays that are thrown in general waste bins every day, as well as the usual waste paper and cardboard.

Solo Cup Europe Managing Director, Tony Waters, says: "We are the first UK manufacturer to recognise the significant environmental benefits this will deliver. We are delighted to back this scheme which offers office based workers a genuine ‘closed loop' response as we are taking 20 per cent of the RPET raw material produced by the Closed Loop plant in London to use in our range of RPET single-use cups and tumblers.  This scheme is simple, easy to put in place and will mark a step change in attitudes to recycling at work - which is lagging behind domestic recycling."

Solo Cup Europe offers four tips to encourage recycling at work. Firstly, appoint a recycling co-ordinator or team to oversee the process; secondly, consult with staff about what is required to ensure cooperation; thirdly, make it clear what can be recycled - paper & cardboard, plastic salad trays, drinks bottles, aluminium and steel cans; and fourthly, have clearly identified recycling bins that everyone can use.

It is estimated that Closed Loop London will take 35,000 tonnes of recovered plastic every year and turn it back into recycled food grade raw material ready to be made, by manufacturers such as Solo Cup Europe, back into new food and drink packaging.

http://www.closedlooprecycling.co.uk/

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