UK: A better way to recycle

A new study entitled ?A Better to Way to Recycle: co-operative and community approaches to recycling? reports that consumer co-operatives, working in partnership with community waste groups, are strongly placed to succeed in the recycling market. The study arose from work led by the Sustainability Working Group of the New Ventures Panel – a committee of individuals drawn from across the wider co-operative movement charged with the task of thinking about innovation in existing co-operative businesses, new opportunities for co-operative colonisation and ways in which the co-operative advantage can make a difference to business performance and the delivery of services. The panel?s aim is to identify new opportunities in appropriate areas of the economy that have the potential to be successful co-operative ventures. Written by Erik Bichard of the National Centre for Business and Sustainability, the study looks at how existing and new social businesses can be developed to succeed in the dynamic recycling sector. It also aims to raise awareness about the business opportunities in the sector and determine the feasibility of developing co-operatives in the recycling sector. ?A Better to Way to Recycle? provides an introduction to the scale of the waste problem in the UK, the sources of waste, and what happens to waste at the moment. It also explores the recycling opportunity, examines how government policies on waste management are shaping market opportunities, and it features case studies of existing recycling co-operatives including: ? Magpie Recycling Co-operative – an employee-owned co-operative based in Brighton that offers subscription and fee paying recycling services to local homes and businesses. ? Tower Hamlets Community Recycling Consortium – a co-operative that delivers recycling services for households in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ? WasteCap food waste co-operative – established by WasteCap, a non-profit public-private partnership in Boston, USA. The aim of the food waste co-operative is to encourage better waste management and to help businesses reduce their disposal costs. The study concludes that through the development of joint recycling ventures, consumer co-operative societies and the community waste sector can deliver recycling services that will create social, economical and environmental gains for themselves and the communities they serve. It also suggests that joint ventures are likely to be successful because by working in partnership consumer co-operatives and community waste organisations can offer: ? A shared understanding and experience of working with the public sector ? A combined ability to achieve the economies of scale that are necessary for commercial viability ? The membership base and know-how to organise community involvement in recycling initiatives ? The scope to provide direct benefits to members and customers who engage in recycling activities, and tangible evidence of the broader benefits to the community. ?A Better to Way to Recycle? is available from helen.seymour@cooperatives-uk.coop