Cutting waste costs at Tonbridge Grammar

04 August 2011

Tonbridge Grammar School in Kent, has recently slashed their waste disposal costs, whilst improving their recycling rates, by installing a waste compactor, and cardboard baler from Orwak Environmental Services.

Two Sixth Form pupils took the initiative to research ways in which the school could recycle more of their waste, and cut the cost of disposing of general waste. Joanne Griffin and Annabelle Wilkins were instrumental in developing a proposal that was then presented to the School’s Board of Governors. The proposal involved installing a 4100 waste compactor, which reduces the bulk of general waste, in order to minimise the number of waste containers on site, and also minimise the number of waste collections needed. The second part of the proposal recommended the installation of a 3100 baler for neatly and securely baling cardboard waste, in preparation for recycling.

David Wells, Bursar of Tonbridge Grammar School, was thrilled with the success of the project, “We’ve been really happy with how the project has panned out. It’s not only provided the 6th Form with some further knowledge about the subject of waste reduction and recycling, but also saved the School a significant amount of money in waste disposal costs, even when taking the machine rental into consideration.”

John Sweetland, area sales manager at Orwak was also pleased with the results, “We’ve seen a great improvement in the amount of waste that’s being recycled at the school since the start of the baler and compactor trial. The girls set a great example with their proposal, and it’s great to see the positive results coming through to show it’s been worthwhile.”

Now that the cardboard is being baled, it can be sold for recycling, having previously been sent to landfill at £56 per tonne. So not only is Tonbridge Grammar saving money on waste disposal, it’s also able to generate revenue from selling baled cardboard.
David Wells continues, “We hope that other schools will follow our example and introduce such a scheme, and be able to reap the same benefits it has brought us.”