BALLYMENA'S Fairhill shopping centre has partnered with waste management company RiverRidge to achieve its overall goal of zero waste to landfill and to extract value from its various waste streams allowing for cost savings associated with efficiencies in recycling.
As part of Every Can Counts campaign, which is supported by Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Fairhill has since October recycled 5,370 drink cans which is making a real difference to the environment.
The energy saved by recycling these cans compared to making new ones can be equated to charging a mobile phone for 14 years or even boiling a kettle 21, 480 times.
Centre manager Natalie Jackson said: “Fairhill is focused on our environmental performance including both reducing and disposing of the waste we create in a sustainable way.
“Each of our eateries who produce waste has a bespoke food waste wheelie bin, which is collected separately and finally composted. Cardboard is recycled, as are aluminium cans and the general waste is now being sorted and recovered as well.
“Working with RiverRidge has meant we can capitalise on opportunities to develop innovative solutions to improve resource efficiency.
“As a result of RiverRidge’s full suite of waste management services, Fairhill shopping centre is fully compliant in relation to waste segregation and waste management and achieving our zero waste to landfill target.”
Independent waste management operator RiverRidge offers a broad range of collection, treatment and diversion from landfill solutions.
Pamela Jordan, its business development manager, said: “We work with customers to help reduce their impact on the environment through implementing integrated waste management strategies focused on driving material away from landfill and identifying value in waste.
“RiverRidge has the ability to collect waste directly from 95 per cent of Northern Ireland’s postcodes. Our standard and bespoke treatment solutions ensure waste is fully recycled at one of our three waste recovery facilities.
“As a result, the company is able to divert significant tonnages away from landfill through a variety of customer focused diversion solutions. The company’s commitment to landfill diversion is supported by its multi-site treatment infrastructure, as well as its Belfast based Energy from Waste facility.”
