Recycling Zone pilot highlights benefits of plastic bottle recycling for schools and offices << Back to Main News Page Added: Wednesday, 11 May 2005 Recoup has completed a research project, in partnership with other organisations, on recycling plastic bottles and cans from schools and offices. The final report is now available. Recycling Zone (RZ) is an innovative, branded programme aimed at promoting recycling of plastic bottles and aluminium drink cans from workplaces and secondary schools throughout the UK. It was trialed in four areas as a result of project partners Alupro, Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), Novellis (formerly known as Alcan), Recoup and WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) working together to enhance and promote recycling facilities within secondary schools and workplaces. The trial provided an understanding of the performance and economics of collection schemes in schools and workplaces and demonstrated the potential for success. RZ was piloted in four areas by established collection operators. Workplaces in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Newport and Cardiff in South Wales, and secondary schools in London Borough of Redbridge and Luton were given the opportunity to participate in the RZ scheme. Branded resources were used to raise scheme profiles and encourage participation. Recycling Zone has: Demonstrated that aluminium drink cans and plastic bottles can be recycled from workplaces and secondary schools economically, for example with savings of 10-20% of waste management costs typically reported in workplaces surveyed Enabled North East Recycling and Newport Wastesavers to offer an ‘added value’ service to their customers Highlighted the case for encouraging the development of similar collection schemes in other areas Increased the quantity of aluminium drink cans and plastic bottles collected in the target areas Reinforced personal ‘recycling behaviour’, with reports of increased use of recycling facilities at home Patrick Stokes of RZ participant Lloyds TSB in Newport said: “We would recommend RZ to other companies - not only is it good environmental practice, but it actually saves us money. If these cans and bottles were not recycled they would form part of our site refuse and we would be charged for its handling and removal. The fewer skips we need to empty, the lower our costs are.” The pilot phase has now concluded and a report on the trial is available for download from click here