Commercial waste management Case Study: Macfarlane Packaging
                                                                                         
Waste management control and recycling improvement

Macfarlane Packaging is a packaging and label manufacturer and the leading UK distributor of packaging consumable products.

The business operates through 15 Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) and 2 Manufacturing operations supplying customers on a local, regional and national basis.

With their multi-site operations across the UK, Macfarlane Group required:

• Consolidated central control over waste spend
• Improved reporting on waste and recycling
• Expertise to provide flexible, cost effective recycling solutions to all sites

Recycling Services was contracted by Macfarlane Group to manage all waste and recycling as a single supplier for Macfarlane’s UK operations.

Review of Current Waste Management Procedures

Our team of Project Managers completed waste audits at all of the UK sites, discussing operational waste concerns with site management to assess their requirements and develop a tailored solution for each site which maximised recycling of Macfarlane’s waste.

Implementation of New Waste Management Plan

Through its national operations centre, Recycling Services consolidated existing waste collection contracts for Macfarlane, ensuring efficient management of all suppliers from a single contact point, before rolling out tailored recycling solutions to all sites, in conjunction with site management.

“Cory’s commitment to continuous improvement has meant that we have been able to reduce waste management costs while improving our recycling rates”
Brian Inglis, Operations Director at Macfarlane Packaging

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Waste management Operations Management

All sites now have a single telephone number for managing and organising collections for all waste and recyclables.

Continuous Improvement of Waste management and recycling

A continual review mechanism is in place with all sites, as well as through central operational reviews, to explore and exploit opportunities and initiatives which can improve recycling levels, reduce waste and enhance cost efficiency in the service. As Macfarlane’s operations have evolved, these have ranged from changing and reducing collection schedules to the recycling of a wider range of waste materials.

We have since reduced average monthly costs by 15% even with annual price increases for all disposal routes, through increasing recycling.

We also carried out detailed audits again at all DCs and both manufacturing locations in 2010 to reduce costs and increase recycling across the board, taking the recycling rate from 64% in 2009 to 85% in 2010.

Reverse Logistics – reducing wasteful travel with empty vehicles

The most significant initiative for Macfarlane has been the trial of a reverse logistics solution, allowing empty vehicles returning to their manufacturing sites to carry dry recyclable materials back from their RDCs. This material can now be bulked up for a more centralised collection, providing a more cost effective use of the spare resource and recyclable materials.

Measurement and Reporting of recycling and Waste Management effectiveness

Consolidated management reporting now allows Macfarlane greater visibility of waste activity across their sites and supports the drive for further efficiency and recycling improvement across their UK sites.

Benefits of the Recycling services Waste Management Plan

Consolidation and recycling-focused waste management of Macfarlane Group’s sites through Recycling Services has given the company:

• Simplified, efficient control over all areas of waste and recycling across their sites
• 85% of all waste produced being recycled
• Support for the successful rollout of ISO14001 across their sites
• A fully regulated and compliant waste management service provided by a major national waste management company.

Further Information

If you are interested in finding out more about Macfarlane Packaging products and services please visit their website at www.macfarlanepackaging.net

For further information or queries concerning this or other service solutions from Cory Environmental please contact our National Operations Centre in Telford: 0870 850 3074