Valpak and Bower collaborate on recycling reward app
Valpak has partnered with the Scandinavian company Bower to launch a ‘reward app’ in the hopes of “driving recycling and brand advantage”.
Bower entered the UK six months ago and as part of the deal with Valpak, the app will link to Valpak’s recycle-more website. Companies and brands signed up to Valpak’s compliance service will receive free integration for 50 products and will be able to add product recycling instructions and packshots to the app that show up when consumers scan other products.
The Bower app educates and rewards consumers for recycling more packaging as well collaborating with companies and brands to reach their sustainability goals.
Steve Gough, CEO at Valpak, said: “Bower ticks a range of boxes for business. As well as meeting the demands of Plastic Packaging Tax by driving greater levels of recycled plastic into the system, brands gain access to valuable insights and a direct way to promote products to customers.
“With over 58 million items recycled through the app already, Valpak is keen to bring Bower to our customers as it expands into the UK. It’s another demonstration of Reconomy Group’s drive to enable the circular economy through technology and partnerships.”
Staffordshire’s recycling centres celebrate ‘major success’
Staffordshire council has hailed the decision to bring the management of its household waste and recycling centres (HWRC) in-house last year.
The contract was held by FCC who withdrew from the agreement in 2020, being replaced by Amey before being brought in house in 2022.
The council says that since this decision was made more than 45,000 tonnes of material has been recycled, a £5,0000 investment into a single site has been made and just 1% of waste has been sent to landfill.
Simon Tagg, Staffordshire county council’s cabinet member for environment, infrastructure and climate change said: “We’re extremely pleased with the success of our household waste recycling centres since we brought them back in-house last year.
“Taking over the management and day-to-day running of our sites means we can maintain the best service for residents, be sustainable and provide good value for money.
“The team have worked extremely hard to be able to provide the best service possible and I would like to thank them. I’d also like to thank our customers too for their efforts in recycling as much waste as we possibly can. Reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfill is key to a sustainable Staffordshire and our commitment to reduce the county’s carbon footprint to net zero by 2050.”
Veolia and Merseyside grant £165,000 to community groups
Veolia and the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority have granted grant a share of £165,000 to thirteen community groups in Merseyside to help reduce waste in the Liverpool region.
Using the funding the community groups are launching various initiatives to reduce waste. Some these initiatives include a tool lending library, cookery lessons to reduce food waste, clothes repair clubs, upcycling and restoration of unwanted furniture, food growing and community composting, amongst other things.
Chief executive of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, Lesley Worswick, said: “Our Community Fund – which has been running annually since 2006 – gives groups the opportunity to look after the environment, bringing benefits to all of us. I think in this day and aged people appreciate items as valuable resources rather than something which might be just thrown away.
“I wish all our projects the best and look forward to seeing the impact they have.”
Register for free to comment