Attributed to Tara Crossan, Associate Director at Powerday

This week is National Recycle Week (14–20 October 2024) and Powerday is proud to support the UK’s efforts to boost recycling and reduce unnecessary waste, with a special focus on the construction industry. As a leader in waste management, we see this week as an invaluable opportunity for businesses to reaffirm their commitment to sustainability and waste minimisation.

According to the UK Construction Industry Waste Report, the construction sector is responsible for 62% of the UK’s total waste and 32% of all waste sent to landfill. While 87% of construction waste is diverted from landfills, the remaining 13% still falls short of the 99% target.

At Powerday, we are committed to tackling these challenges by providing innovative, sustainable solutions that maximise recycling rates and significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Our work in the construction sector is critical, helping to reduce the industry’s waste footprint by encouraging the reuse and repurposing of materials. As part of our sustainability manifesto, we prioritise social responsibility and environmental goals within our supply chain.

We are always actively assessing suppliers for their alignment with carbon reduction and net-zero targets and emphasising collaboration with policymakers and stakeholders to drive progress across the industry.

A key takeaway from our recent sustainability roundtable highlighted the industry’s focus on waste reduction, reuse, and closed-loop recycling – while also recognising barriers such as waste segregation, storage limitations, and financial costs.

In recognition of our commitment to a closed-loop economy, Powerday was awarded a 2024 Certificate of Recycling for our partnership with Protec. Through this collaboration, we have recycled 51,388 ProplexRE sheets, saving 130 tonnes of CO2 and diverting 196m³ of waste from landfills – the equivalent to preserving 6,475 trees.

By reducing the need for virgin materials and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative demonstrates the positive impact closed-loop recycling can have on both the environment and natural resource conservation.

This year’s Recycle Week theme, ‘Rescue Me’, aligns seamlessly with Powerday’s mission to support the circular economy by keeping recyclable materials in use for as long as possible. We encourage businesses and individuals to get involved by recycling just one extra item, proving that even small actions can drive big changes. As London’s leading family-run waste management company, Powerday remains committed to reducing waste and building a more sustainable future for the communities we serve.

This week, we are challenging everyone to reconsider their recycling habits and contribute to a cleaner, greener UK.

Recycling is a powerful tool for long-term environmental progress.