West Sussex extends Community Food Hubs to 2027
West Sussex County Council has confirmed an additional year of funding for its Community Food Hubs, extending the scheme until April 2027.
Run in partnership with UKHarvest, the hubs have redistributed over 106 tonnes of surplus food since April 2023, helping to reduce waste while supporting residents.
Launched as a six-month pilot in 2022, the initiative now operates across the county’s districts and boroughs, offering a wide selection of rescued food for a voluntary £5 donation.
Alongside redistribution, the hubs provide practical advice on food waste prevention, recipes and information on local services such as recycling, wellbeing and Citizens Advice.
Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Food waste continues to make up a staggering 40% of the average household’s general waste bin in West Sussex.
“Reducing this is an important part of supporting Our Council Plan’s theme of protecting the environment.”
Simon Thresher, Head of Operations, Logistics and Compliance at UKHarvest, added: “By working closely with West Sussex County Council since 2022, we’ve been able to expand our Community Food Hubs across the county, reaching and supporting more people.
“The response so far has been excellent, and we’re excited to keep building on this momentum.”
Clearpoint Recycling launches Certified Broker Scheme
Clearpoint Recycling has introduced a Certified Broker Scheme, aiming to offer a new trading platform.
Participants in the scheme can utilise Clearpoint’s compliance knowledge, logistics networks and trading infrastructure, while gaining visibility of available materials through a dedicated marketplace.
The company says the approach reduces risk for smaller operators by linking them with the resources of a larger recycling firm, while maintaining brokers’ role in the supply chain.
With site closures, cheap imports and legislative delays putting pressure on businesses, the initiative is designed to provide brokers with greater stability.
Will Lee, Founder of Clearpoint Recycling, said: “We’re seeing businesses failing daily, margins tightening and cash flow under strain, the risks for small independent brokers has never been greater.
“The market needs a revamp and we’re here to help, which is why we have launched the Certified Broker Scheme to give brokers the tools and support they need to survive and succeed in this evolving market.”
Grundon wins Innovation Award for sustainability-led initiatives
Grundon Waste Management has been named winner of the Innovation Award at the Thames Valley 250 Awards ceremony, held on 17 September at Easthampstead Park in Wokingham.
Hosted by The Business Magazine in partnership with Insider Media, and sponsored by Crowe UK, the award recognised Grundon’s recent advancements in sustainability and resource management.
Judges highlighted a range of initiatives, including the use of customer waste to power electric collection vehicles, AI-driven driver training to cut fuel use and circular economy solutions such as reusable sharps containers and the UK’s first nationwide inhaler recycling scheme.
Accepting the award, Grundon’s Risk & Sustainability Director, Toni Robinson, said: “We have always sought to lead from the front, to literally go the extra mile when it comes to investing in new technologies and new ways of working.
“Innovation is in our DNA and we are absolutely committed to driving the business forward in a way that harnesses new ideas for the benefit of our customers, our employees, our communities and the planet.”
Birmingham Council visits CWR to prepare for food waste collections
Cheshire West Recycling (CWR) has welcomed Birmingham City Council representatives to share insight from its kerbside food waste service.
CWR, which has delivered its current food waste collection service since 2022, hosted six representatives from Birmingham for a day-long visit to explore how the system operates in practice.
The programme included discussions on operating procedures, health and safety, household participation rates and round capabilities.
Birmingham officers also spent time on the ground observing CWR crews in action.
The delegation heard from CWR how the company has identified and addressed operational challenges to ensure consistent food waste collections.
The visit concluded with a tour of CWR’s Leslie Road materials recycling facility, offering insight into weights, tipping and transfer arrangements, and the handling of food waste once collected.
Operations Director of CWR, Jody Sherratt, said: “Welcoming Birmingham colleagues gave us the chance to share how our modern, data-driven approach underpins the success of food waste collections at CWR.
“By openly discussing what works and where we’ve refined our service, we can help others build reliable, effective recycling systems that deliver for residents.”
Renew marks four years of restoring and reselling
Greater Manchester’s reuse and repair initiative, Renew, has celebrated four years of operations.
Run through Suez and local partners, the programme restores and resells donated goods, with proceeds channelled into the Renew Community Fund.
Since 2021, the fund has awarded £1.1 million to 110 local projects, supporting charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises.
The initiative also provides practical skills and employment pathways, with organisations such as Recycling Lives helping 20 ex-offenders into full-time jobs, 13 of them with Suez.
Furniture, bikes, clothes and kitchen equipment have been repaired and redistributed to households in need, while apprentices and skilled upcyclers at the Trafford Park Renew Hub continue to expand the project’s reach.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, visited the Renew Hub to meet community groups who have benefited from the Community Fund to mark the occasion.
Burnham said: “It was inspiring to watch the repair experts at the Renew Hub breathe new life into furniture and bikes knowing that these items would have been thrown away in the past. Now they’re being sold to raise money for our VCFSE sector which plays such a foundational role in people’s day-to-day lives.”
John Scanlon, CEO of Suez, added: “When we fix something, borrow something instead of buying it, or buy second-hand instead of new, we’re keeping these items in use and saving precious resources.
“Renew has been at the forefront of this movement for four years, and we’re incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished. Their efforts have not only kept countless items from going to waste but have also created tangible benefits across Greater Manchester.”
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