Genuine closed loop recycling enables organisations to accurately measure how much waste they produce, recycle and re-use

(25/06/2010)

A working group chaired by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is tasked with delivering carbon emissions reductions, with individual departments’ targets set by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). Genuine Closed Loop recycling will play an important role if central government is to achieve the target of cutting its own carbon emissions by 10 per cent in the next twelve months, according to a UK procurement expert.

Andy Craig, group commercial director at office2office, believes the introduction of ‘closed loop’ recycling – where organisations recycle and re-use their own waste – will play a major part in achieving, and surpassing, the targets.

Andy said: “Genuine closed loop recycling enables organisations to accurately measure how much waste they produce, recycle and, most importantly, how much of their own waste they re-use. Many recycling schemes are incorrectly labelled as closed loop, with the source of waste having no idea how their recycled materials are used, or in what quantity.

“Government departments can make a significant reduction in the carbon emissions they are responsible for by re-using closed loop recycled products manufactured from their own waste, known as total life cycle. In genuine closed loop recycling, organisations are provided with clear management information on collected volumes for destruction, recycling, manufacture and subsequent consumption.”

Banner Business Services, the managed procurement arm of the office2office group, has recently launched its unique closed loop copier paper, supported by the Environment Agency and produced in partnership with HMRC and Ministry of Justice. Waste office paper is collected, shredded, re-manufactured into copier paper and returned to the organisations who initially supplied the waste.

Andy added: “Government organisations which continually recycle and re-use their own waste will deliver noticeably larger emissions reductions and contribute to the government achieving the 10 per cent target.”

Related categories:  Environmental technologies for offices and commercial   Paper and cardboard recycling