Press Release

BID COMPANY OFFERS EDINBURGH BUSINESSES
HUGE WASTE SAVINGS

Essential Edinburgh has launched an innovative scheme designed to help its levy-payers save huge sums of money.

The Zero-2-Landfill scheme will see city centre businesses save significantly on the cost of having their trade waste collected – and at the same time will bring a number of other significant benefits.

In all, the scheme will deliver:

  • Financial savings of up to 75%

against current costs for waste management. In almost all cases this will more than cover the cost of levy – meaning all other services provided by Essential Edinburgh are effectively free

  • Fewer collection vehicle movements around the city centre – as the new centrally negotiated contracts provides far greater efficiencies
  • A massive reduction in the amount of waste requiring to go to landfill through improved collection methods and greater recycling

Andy Neal, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh, said the huge improvements were possible because the BID company had carried out an extensive procurement exercise, before appointing Shanks Waste Management.

He said: “We have been able to negotiate substantial savings for waste streams.

“Not only can we save each business money – often several times what they pay in their levy to us – but we will enable the waste to be collected in the most effective manner to divert it from landfill. This is an important environmental issue, and will become legislation for businesses in the coming years so it is prudent to start now.

“Our scheme will also assist the environment by reducing the number of collection lorries making journeys around the city centre, reducing carbon emissions.

“And finally, we hope to improve the visual amenity of the area by reducing the number of bins and bags on the streets by providing shared bins when some issues with the regulations have been overcome.”

The scheme followed a lot of research work done with businesses in the area, involving more than 200 levy-payers. This identified that more than 80% of the waste is currently sent to landfill, and identified an inefficient waste management strategy for the city centre with almost 20 different collection agencies involved – all with their own bins and vehicles.

The savings will be welcomed by businesses already dealing with the impact of the economic recession. Illustrations include: 

  • Thomas Rogerson footwear – savings of more than 70% against their current waste costs have been achieved
  • Charlie Miller Hairdressing, various – savings of almost 40% have been achieved, more than offsetting the levy paid
  • Two pubs and restaurants operated by Russ Topping in Rose Street will make substantial savings – of almost 25% and more than 40% respectively


Andy Neal added: “The savings are very significant. In most cases, they would pay the levy for membership of the BID several times over, making all of the other services our members benefit from effectively free of charge.”

Shanks was chosen as their service is aligned with BID members operational needs e.g. Shanks collect 7 days a week, and because the company has invested significantly in waste recycling.

Shanks Lead, John Gilmour said: “We clearly understood that BID members were facing increasing landfill disposal costs, and by treating waste as a resource and working with Essential Edinburgh we have unlocked that value and delivered a simple and affordable alternative”.

Josh Miller, of Charlie Miller Hairdressing, said: “It is a fantastic idea, and is very much in line with legislation that is coming down the line which all businesses will have to face into. In Edinburgh, through the work of Essential Edinburgh, we are in the forefront of moving towards zero waste to landfill from city centre businesses – and we are able to make very good savings at the same time.”

Russ Topping, who operates several bars and restaurants along Rose Street, has also signed his businesses up for the scheme and expects significant savings to be made.

He said: “It is a terrific idea, and one which will make the environment in the city centre more pleasant with fewer lorry journeys being made, as well as helping us meet our wider environmental responsibilities in terms of reducing landfill. “