Waste is an inevitable byproduct in all construction projects, no matter how big or small. From offcuts and packaging to demolished materials, the industry generates a staggering amount of waste. In fact, the construction industry is responsible for producing approximately 40% of the world’s waste and is one of the biggest drains on the earth’s natural resources. 

Effective waste management not only reduces the environmental impact of construction projects, but also contributes to a circular economy where materials are continuously reused. We explore the importance of construction waste management and share practical strategies for managing and reducing waste on your site.

Methods for reducing construction waste

Create a Site Waste Management Plan

Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) are valuable tools for construction projects, designed to efficiently manage and reduce waste generated on-site. While not legally required, SWMPs offer a structured approach to identifying your waste streams, tracking waste quantities, and implementing recycling and disposal strategies. Through effective planning, your construction company can minimise waste, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. 

Order the correct amount of construction materials

Many construction companies are guilty of over-ordering materials, which is one of the key contributors to construction waste. It may be tempting to order slightly more materials than needed to account for any oversights, but you should always take the time to calculate the exact amount of materials required for your project. Building material suppliers can provide accurate material estimates, with some even offering to take back any unused materials.

Recycle your construction waste materials

By recycling materials such as concrete, metal, and wood, you not only divert waste from landfills, but also conserve natural resources and reduce the environmental impact of your project. Recycling also reduces the need for raw material extraction, which can have significant environmental consequences.

Many construction projects now aim for high recycling rates, with some achieving over 90% diversion from landfill. To maximise the sustainability of your site, work with a waste management company that offers comprehensive recycling services tailored to the construction industry, such as McCarthy Marland.

Which construction materials can be recycled?

Plasterboard recycling

McCarthy Marland’s plasterboard recycling services handle clean, segregated plasterboard waste, ensuring it is effectively processed for reuse and recycling. We can dispose of all plasterboard types, including demolition plasterboard, off-cuts from construction, and manufacturing excess materials.

Wood recycling

Wood recycling transforms old or unused timber into valuable resources, promoting sustainability in construction. We accept a wide range of wood for recycling, including pallets, demolition timber, fencing, window frames, furniture and off-cuts from construction. All wood is graded and processed into wood chips, before being recycled into chipboard or biomass fuel.

Scrap metal recycling

Scrap metal recycling involves the recycling of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, reintroducing them back into the manufacturing cycle. Our specialist machinery is able to extract both small and large pieces of scrap metal from construction sites, before being bulked up for recycling.

Rubble recycling

Rubble recycling processes materials from construction sites into aggregates for future use in new projects. We collect stone, hardcore, bricks, concrete, block work, demolition stone, paving slabs, tiles and ceramics from construction projects, removing any potential contaminants before it is crushed for recycling.

Types of construction waste collections 

McCarthy Marland offers a wide range of construction waste collections to match all project requirements, helping businesses of all sizes to work efficiently and cleanly, no matter the scale. Below are just a few of the options available to you and your business:

Skip hire

We provide various types of skips, including open-top, enclosed, roll-on roll-off (RoRo), and drop-door skips. Each skip comes in a range of sizes, suitable for any construction job requirement. All our skips are delivered and collected promptly, with some locations even offering same-day delivery.

Grab hire

Grab lorries are ideal for collecting large volumes of waste from excavations, including soil, rubble, and aggregates. Our grab lorries provide a practical solution for extracting waste from areas with access issues, offering same day removal of waste for up to 12 tonnes in a single load.

Asbestos collection

Specialist asbestos skip hire ensures the safe collection and disposal of asbestos-containing materials, adhering to strict safety regulations. We can collect all manner of asbestos waste using a variety of skips and roll-on roll-off containers, before being transported to a fully licensed asbestos disposal facility.

Recycle your construction waste with McCarthy Marland

Searching for a new construction waste recycling partner? McCarthy Marland’s comprehensive range of construction waste management services can help reduce the environmental impact of your construction projects, as well as minimising project management stresses. Contact us today to discover more about our construction waste management services.

Managing commercial waste is a crucial aspect of running any business; whether it be a large-scale construction site or an independent coffee shop. Incorrectly disposing of commercial waste can be incredibly taxing to the environment and your wallet, resulting in potential hefty fines and legal consequences. 

In this article, we delve into the different types of business waste and your responsibilities for waste disposal. We also discuss why McCarthy Marland should be your number one choice for commercial waste recycling…

What is commercial waste?

Commercial waste is defined as any material that needs to be disposed of from commercial operations. This also applies to any waste generated from running home-based businesses. Studies show that businesses produce nearly double the amount of waste that households create. 

Whether you need to dispose of excess food, paper packaging or reusable plastics, it’s vitally important to manage all commercial waste products in a legally compliant and environmentally-friendly manner.  

Here at McCarthy Marland, we can manage all types of waste material, including:

• General waste
• Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR)
• Food waste
• Paper waste
• Glass waste
• Hazardous waste
• WEEE waste

Business responsibilities for managing waste

When it comes to commercial waste disposal, there are certain regulations that your business must follow. These include the following:

• You are legally responsible for keeping business waste to a minimum, as well as implementing commercial waste reduction and recycling initiatives 
• You are required to sort all commercial waste safely, with every product securely stored in a clearly labelled container
• If you wish to dispose of your own commercial waste, you will need an up-to-date waste carrier’s licence, with a completed waste transfer note for each load of waste
• If you hire a commercial waste management company, you are responsible for ensuring they have their own waste carrier’s licence
• There are extra guidelines you must follow when disposing of hazardous waste – read more via the official UK Government website

The benefits of hiring a commercial waste recycling company

Compliance with waste regulations

One of the key benefits of hiring a commercial waste recycling company is ensuring compliance with government regulations. Environmental regulations regarding waste disposal can be complex, and vary greatly depending on the amount and type of commercial waste produced. Waste management companies such as McCarthy Marland will ensure that all commercial waste is disposed of correctly, minimising any potential fines or penalties.

Save time and resources

Managing your commercial waste in-house is a time and resource heavy task, distracting staff from your essential business operations. You may also need to invest in waste management training and access to recycling equipment. By partnering with a professional commercial waste and recycling provider, you can free up valuable time and resources, allowing you to focus on the daily running of your business.

Cost effective waste solution

Did you know that hiring expert waste management can actually save you money in the long run? McCarthy Marland offers a number of commercial waste management services all under one roof, including the supply of waste containers (i.e. wheelie bins, skips or RoRo skips), waste collection services, and disposal at one of our designated waste recycling centres. This is a more cost-effective solution than managing all these elements yourself.

Kind to the environment

Choosing an environmentally-friendly commercial waste recycling partner can help your business reduce its carbon footprint. We will segregate all your business waste and divert as much from landfill as possible, achieving recycling rates in excess of 90% across all our waste recycling centres. Recycling your commercial waste will future proof our planet for generations to come, boosting your eco-credentials.

Improved business reputation

In today’s eco-conscious world, more and more consumers are looking to partner with environmentally responsible businesses. By hiring a professional commercial waste recycling company, you can enhance your business’ overall reputation and create sustainable relationships with like-minded individuals. This could potentially lead to an increase in sales and profitability – win-win!

McCarthy Marland’s innovative commercial waste solutions

McCarthy Marland offers a wide range of commercial waste recycling services to suit all business needs. Available in sizes ranging from 2 yards all the way up to 12 yards, our skip hire is the ideal choice for premises that require reliable solutions for large-scale waste disposal. If your business produces more than 12 yards of waste in a short time period, a RoRo skip may be more suitable, as they can be made much larger than traditional skips.

Our grab lorries offer a versatile alternative to skips, allowing us to remove large quantities of waste from construction sites. Businesses who generate a substantial amount of dry packaging often opt for our compaction systems, due to their efficient and portable nature. We also provide a variety of wheelie bins from 240L up to 1100L, designed to handle all kinds of commercial waste streams. 

Contact us today for more information or to arrange a commercial waste management consultation.

Wood is an invaluable resource that can be recycled to produce a wide range of products – from furniture to animal bedding, and everything in between. However, this growing demand for wood production has led to the depletion of our forests, causing a devastating impact on the planet. 

The good news is that it’s now easier than ever to recycle unwanted materials, including wood. Discover all about what constitutes “wood waste” and the process involved in recycling wood with our handy guide below.

Is wood recyclable?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked here at McCarthy Marland. Yes, wood can be recycled! Since it’s grown organically, “clean” wood is able to naturally decompose or can be reused to create other products; for example plasterboard for construction work or pulp for producing paper. Alternatively, scrap wood can be burned to produce biomass (a renewable energy source).

However, some wood is not recyclable, depending on which grade it falls into. More on that below…

Can you put wood in the recycling bin?

Wood waste is not accepted in your general household recycling bin. However, your local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) will gladly take your wood for recycling. Many waste management companies, such as McCarthy Marland, will collect any waste wood from your premises and process this for recycling on your behalf.

What is waste wood?

Waste wood refers to any wood-based products that are no longer needed. This waste can be grouped into one of four classifications:

• Grade A: “Clean” wood. This is non-processed, uncontaminated wood from pallets, crates and packaging waste. It is highly recyclable and can be used to produce chipboard, animal bedding, or biomass fuel.
• Grade B: Industrial feedstock. This includes all materials within grade A, plus waste from construction or demolition sites. Grade B wood waste can be recycled to make panelboard.
• Grade C: Fuel grade. Wood waste from chipboard or fibreboard that has been mixed with other materials such as plastic or glass falls into this category. It can then be recycled into wood pellets or burned to produce biomass.
• Grade D: Hazardous waste. Dark-looking treated wood that has been contaminated with creosote or chlorophenols, such as fencing and trackwork, is classed as hazardous. This type of wood cannot be recycled and requires waste disposal at a specialist facility.

How is wood recycled?

Wood recycling involves collecting wood waste and processing it into new materials. When scrap wood is collected, it is taken to a recycling plant and separated into categories. This is then processed to extract potential contaminants, such as nails or metal. The newly processed wood is placed in a wood shredder and broken down into smaller pieces. 

Larger pieces of recycled wood can then be reused to make furniture, whilst smaller fibres may be used to produce animal bedding.

The benefits of wood recycling

Protect the environment

By choosing to reuse recycled materials within your construction or demolition project, you’ll help to protect our forests from further damage. Less trees will need to be cut down, which are vital in producing all-important carbon dioxide.

Reduce waste sent to landfill

Recycling your scrap wood equals less waste sent to landfill. This allows you to cut down on hefty landfill taxes, make more space in your regular waste bins, and prevents an unsustainable approach to construction waste management.

Prevent fire risks

Piles of wood waste can present a fire hazard. Free up space and lower the risk of a fire breaking out on your land by taking your wood waste to an experienced waste collection or skip hire company.

Improve your reputation

Many modern consumers now look to partner with companies who openly adhere to green practices. Showing that you engage in wood recycling practices will help improve your business’ reputation, leading to a potential increase in customers.

Recycle your scrap wood with McCarthy Marland

Do you expect to produce excess amounts of wood waste within your upcoming construction or demolition project? McCarthy Marland accepts a wide variety of wood waste including pallets, timber, fencing, furniture and wood off-cuts. We offer a range of skips and container sizes to transport your wood waste to one of our transfer stations, before being recycled into chipboard or biomass fuel. Contact us to find out more about our reliable wood recycling services.

Commercial wheelie bin hire is a cost-effective choice for many business owners who wish to streamline their waste management processes. Whether you’re managing a small bistro or a large multi-project construction site, selecting the right size and type of bin will keep your site clean and compliant with regulations. 

In today’s blog, we share how to choose the right bin for your business and best practices for commercial wheelie bin hire, so you can ensure that your hard-earned cash doesn’t go to ‘waste’…

Why hire a commercial wheelie bin?

Commercial wheelie bins are ideal for collecting various materials such as general non recoverable waste, dry mixed recyclables, glass and food waste. Their robust construction makes them sturdy enough to reliably store your waste, whilst their wheels and lids allow them to be transported and placed both indoors and outdoors. What’s more, they can also help improve your business’ recycling rates, boosting your eco-credentials. 

How to select the right commercial wheelie bins for your business

Types of waste

Before hiring a commercial wheelie bin, you need to determine which kinds of waste your business generates. Materials such as cardboard, paper, food and glasses can all be recycled, whereas items made from non-recyclable plastics, metals and polystyrene are all classed as general waste. It’s important to note that if your project is expected to produce hazardous waste, this is not suitable for commercial wheelie bin collection and must instead be disposed of at a specialist facility.

Once you’ve established the types of waste your business needs to dispose of, you can then select the correct bins. McCarthy Marland provides the following types of commercial wheelie bins for hire:

• Our general waste service is ideal for all non recoverable and recyclable waste.
• Dry mixed recycling & recovery bins. Our dry mixed recycling service is suitable for all recoverable and recyclable waste disposal, excluding food and glass waste. 
• Food waste recycling bins. Our environmentally-friendly food waste wheelie bins ensure that all food is recycled, minimising the amount of waste sent to landfill.
• Glass recycling bins. We offer dedicated commercial waste bins specifically for glass, allowing us to directly segregate glass bottles upon collection.

Size of wheelie bins

Choosing the right commercial wheelie bin size will help your business save money and maximise space, whilst ensuring your bins aren’t constantly overflowing and producing unpleasant smells. Your ideal bin size should equal your predicted waste output, so we recommend closely monitoring your waste production over a typical week to assess the volume of waste. 

McCarthy Marland offers a whole host of commercial bin sizes to suit your business needs. These include:

• 240 litre wheelie bins. Our 240L bins can comfortably accommodate between 3-5 bin bags, making them suitable for businesses that generate a limited amount of waste. Due to their smaller size, these bins are ideal for premises with tight spaces that require frequent collection services.  
• 360 litre wheelie bins.  Our 360L bins can house between 6-8 bin bags of waste, making them the ideal choice for small businesses that produce a moderate amount of waste. 
• 660 litre wheelie bins. Our 660L bins are perfect for mid-to-large businesses, with the ability to handle between 8-10 bin bags of waste. Factories, hotels and shopping centres that generate a moderate amount of waste may benefit from commercial wheelie bins of this size.
• 1100 litre wheelie bins. This is our largest wheelie bin size, suitable for bigger enterprises who generate a substantial amount of waste. Our 1100L large wheelie bins can hold the equivalent of 15-18 bin bags, making them ideal for restaurants, industrial estates and communal office areas.

Read our previous blog post for more advice on how to choose the perfect wheelie bin size.

Best practices for using a commercial wheelie bin

Bin placement

Once you’ve chosen the correct types and sizes of commercial wheelie bins for your business, you’ll need to think about their positioning. They should be placed in locations that are easy to access, with sufficient room for safe storage and manoeuvring during bin collections.

Lockable bin lids

Lids are key to deterring pests and keeping thieves away from your commercial wheelie bins, as well as preventing unwanted smells and littering. McCarthy Marland’s wheelie bins all come with lockable lids for added security, giving you total peace of mind when it comes to your waste.

Waste segregation

Implementing a stringent waste segregation system is a vital step to minimising the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. Ensure that your employees separate all waste according to the type of material and place it in the correct bin, carrying out simpler recycling practices wherever possible. 

Frequency of collections

Finally, you’ll need to consider how often you require your wheelie bins to be collected via your chosen waste management company. You may want to arrange more frequent collections during peak periods. Our commercial waste collections are available weekly, fortnightly and monthly, and can be scheduled to cause minimal business disruption.

Choose McCarthy Marland as your commercial wheelie bin partner

McCarthy Marland offers a wide range of wheeled bins to suit your commercial needs. We are committed to 100% landfill diversion, with our commercial wheelie bin hire services achieving recycling rates in excess of 95% across all our facilities. Get in touch with one of our waste management specialists today to discuss your business’ wheelie bin requirements.

Food waste is an ongoing global issue that has a detrimental impact on the environment. In today’s eco-conscious world, sustainability incentives are no longer just a “nice-to-have”. If your business isn’t currently working to recycle and reduce food waste, you risk wasting money, turning away paying customers and harming the environment. 

Much of your food waste goes to landfill, where it releases the harmful gas, methane. By recycling your food waste, this gas can be extracted to generate renewable energy, which is then used to power waste collection vehicles. 

Why is commercial food waste a problem?

Did you know that a third of all food produced globally goes to waste, generating almost 3.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide? Over 40% of the UK’s food waste comes from businesses, with the remaining 60% produced by individual households. 

From the initial production and distribution of food to its eventual disposal in landfill, wasting food can seriously harm the environment. Food waste releases methane when broken down in landfill sites: a greenhouse gas that is more harmful than carbon dioxide. It traps the sun’s heat within the atmosphere and increases the temperature of our planet, leading to a global warming disaster.

As part of the Environmental Act 2021, the UK government will require all businesses with 10 or more full-time employees to separate dry waste and food waste for recycling by 31st March 2025. Businesses with under 10 employees will have until 31st March 2027 to comply with this new legislation. Therefore, it’s vitally important to start thinking about commercial food waste collection for your business now.

Different types of food waste

Food waste is typically divided into four categories:

• Food by-products. This refers to any by-products that are generated when manufacturing food. This accounts for trimmings from fruit and vegetables, scraps from meat products and crops that are spoiled in adverse weather conditions.
• Expired food products. Any products that have become rotten or surpassed their sell-by/best-before dates in shops and supermarkets fall into this category. They are not safe to sell to customers and must therefore be thrown away.
• Leftover food products. This covers food products that are left over in your household or within restaurants/food preparation processes.
• Bakery and packaging food products. Unsold food items that may spoil quickly can no longer be sold and are often wasted. Packaging waste would also meet this criteria.

Benefits of food waste recycling for businesses 

Saves you money

Recycling your food waste via a reputable company will help your business save money. If waste is discarded in landfill, you will need to pay taxes that are based upon the quantity you’re disposing of. Therefore, the more food waste your business generates, the higher the cost for waste disposal. By monitoring your business’ waste and limiting the amount of food you purchase, you’ll create an efficient and cost-effective supply chain.

Reduces your carbon footprint

It’s a common misconception that, as food is biodegradable, it will harmlessly decompose. This isn’t correct however, as organic waste can only become part of the soil via composting. Successful composting requires airflow, which cannot be achieved in landfill sites that are already brimming with waste. Correctly recycling your business’ food waste will help lighten the burden on landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Creates renewable energy

As we have discussed above, sending waste to landfill releases methane. Recycling food waste uses various processes but the most commonly utilised one is known as anaerobic digestion, which allows methane to be extracted in a controlled environment. This harmful gas is then blocked from entering our atmosphere and can be reused as alternative fuel for the collection vehicles that collect the food waste in the first place. So, by choosing to recycle your business’ food waste, you’ll generate renewable energy for future generations.

Enhances your business’ reputation

People are increasingly conscious of their impact on the environment and prefer to support businesses that demonstrate eco-friendly practices. Showing that your business is operating with sustainability at the forefront can help attract eco-conscious customers and improve your overall brand image. Recycling your commercial food waste is just one of the ways you can achieve this.

McCarthy Marland: your commercial food waste collection partner

Reduce your waste and be kind to the planet with McCarthy Marland’s commercial food waste bins. Our environmentally-friendly business food waste recycling service ensures that no waste ends up in landfill and is instead sent for anaerobic digestion – a much greener option for your waste.

Contact us today at sales@mccarthymarland.co.uk to organise your commercial food waste recycling bin hire.

Event season is upon us once again. With thousands upon thousands of the British public all flocking to one single location over a day or weekend, we can expect to see masses of waste generated. 

Effective festival waste management is vital for any event to run smoothly, whether it be a music festival, outdoor concert, farm show or sporting occasion. Fostering a litter-free environment will pay dividends for your event, allowing guests to enjoy themselves without the distraction of unwanted sights and smells. 

So, which event waste management strategies should you implement to correctly dispose of waste at festivals? We share our top tips below…

Best practices for correct event waste disposal

When organising any event, you should first focus on creating a responsible event waste management plan. Your festival waste management plan should include details about the following:

Placement of bins

It’s vitally important to ensure that any event wheelie bins are visible and placed in convenient locations. Most attendees will not want to waste time hunting for bins. If they don’t find one quickly, they will be more likely to discard litter on the ground. All types of bins should be placed in a similar area to encourage recycling wherever possible.

It’s a good idea to position your wheelie bins in equal distances throughout the event space. For example, you may decide to place one within every 50 or 100 feet. You should always ensure that there are plenty of event wheelie bins near food stalls, toilets and exits/entrances, as requirements are greater in these areas. Don’t forget about areas outside the festival site too, such as car parks and surrounding roads.

Clear labelling of bins

Much more is required than just simply dotting event wheelie bins around your premises. You need to ensure that bins are clearly labelled and ideally colour-coded, so they can be easily identified. For example, you could use black for general waste, blue for food waste and green for recycling. That way, visitors know which litter to place into which bin, ensuring the correct disposal of waste.

It might also be worth fixing a list of permitted materials onto the event wheelie bins themselves. This will help educate those who are less experienced with recycling to make smarter choices.

Monitoring of waste levels

You’ll need to keep a close eye on the levels of litter in your bins throughout the duration of the event to ensure they don’t end up overflowing. You could hire dedicated event waste management staff members or volunteers to help monitor these spaces. They can then arrange waste removal for full bins and help correctly sort litter prior to collection.

If you don’t have the budget to hire additional staff members, you could consider investing in a waste bin level monitor. They can quickly notify you when bins need emptying, as well as identifying when the wrong type of litter has been placed into a bin. This will make the waste sorting process much easier.

Event waste collections

It’s all well and good to focus on the correct disposal of waste during your event, but don’t forget to organise your event waste collections, too. If your event is set to take place over one day then you can organise collections for the next day. However, you may need to organise regular collections during the event for weekend-long festivals.

Make sure all waste can be quickly picked up from a single collection point. Communicate with your event waste collection company and create a simple route with easy access, which passes every wheelie bin on the site. Organising a clear route in advance is likely to save you both time and money in the long run.

Eco-friendly strategies

Consider implementing eco-friendly strategies at your event to reduce waste that is non-recyclable. Banning single-use plastics and encouraging attendees to bring their own reusable cups or water bottles is a logical place to start. Make sure you offer plenty of water refill stations and water fountains to keep everyone hydrated.

You could encourage vendors to serve food in sustainable containers or packaging which can then be recycled. Cutlery is also a key consideration, with wooden knives and forks making for a more eco-friendly alternative. You should also aim to reduce paper usage and opt for digital event guides and posters wherever possible.

Why choose McCarthy Marland as your event waste management company?

McCarthy Marland offers a wide range of event waste management services including wheelie bin hire for events. We provide food, glass and recycling and recovery bins from 240 litres all the way up to 1100 litres to event organisers throughout the South-West. We even offer event wheelie bin covers and lockable lids if required. Contact us today to discuss your wheelie bin requirements for your upcoming event.

Here at McCarthy, we strive to provide the best customer service possible to potential and existing customers across the south-west. 

The more we know about our potential and existing customers, the better service we can provide. That’s why we’ve invested in two brand-new CRM (customer relationship management) systems: Salesforce and Docusign. This new system will help to make your experience with us seamless, allowing us to provide waste management solutions that truly deliver. Win-win!

Introducing: Salesforce & Docusign

Salesforce is our new CRM system of choice. This allows our operations software and new CRM system to be fully integrated and work hand-in-hand with Docusign, allowing us to better understand our customers’ needs – more on that below…

Understanding Our Customers’ Needs

Salesforce, working alongside Docusign, will allow us to scale our services and boost growth by providing all-important information about our customers. The system captures all relevant contact details, including individuals with significant control for making decisions within the business. We can also gather information about the business’ existing waste contractor, competitor prices and frequency of ordering.

In response to this detailed information, we can now push specific, relevant services to targeted customers. We can also preempt sales and orders by capturing contract renewal dates and setting reminders for when to contact customers – helping to make sure that you’re never caught short. Quotations, direct debits and contracts themselves are totally controlled for sales and compliance, leaving us with more time to focus on scaling the business.

Much More Than Just Skip Hire

As Paul Danks, our Head of Sales, remarked: “gathering the correct information about your potential customers and their needs in the first instance makes the sales process more tailored. This allows us to deliver the best solution for their waste management requirements”. 

With the help of Salesforce and Docusign, we’re now able to provide a more joined-up approach and offer additional services that will help to benefit your business.

Skip hire is McCarthy’s bread and butter, but after a shift in the business strategy, we now offer a whole host of other waste management services, such as  wheeled bins, compaction solutions, grab/tipper hire, third party tipping and roll-on roll-off skip hire.

If you’re searching for waste management with a difference, look no further than McCarthy. With sites covering most of the south-west across Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, Somerset and Oxfordshire, our dedicated team are ready and waiting to assist with all your waste disposal needs. Get in touch via 01666 505800 or email us at sales@mccarthymarland.co.uk to discuss your upcoming project today.

Summer festival season is now in full swing. Any large outdoor event requires careful planning and preparation – from catering to security and everything in between. Whether you’re hosting a large annual music festival or a small community get together, it’s vitally important to find a reliable waste management partner. After all, you want festivalgoers to be discussing the acts on stage, not the pungent smell coming from the bins!

Keep reading to discover how you can effectively manage waste at your upcoming outdoor event, paving the way for a cleaner and more eco-friendly experience.

Festival Waste Facts & Statistics

• According to Powerful Thinking’s ‘The Show Must Go On’ report, UK music festivals with camping generate approximately 25,800 tonnes of waste each year. 68% of this waste goes directly to landfill.
• Glastonbury Festival estimated that around 2,000 tonnes of waste is produced at each year’s event.
• EighthPlate reported that 400 tonnes of food waste is generated at UK festivals annually, which is the equivalent to around 1 million meals.
• The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) found that 250,000 tents are discarded at UK music festivals each year. Up to 90% of these end up in landfill.
• UK music festival attendees only recycle around 30% of all waste generated.

You can avoid adding to these shocking statistics by following our top tips for responsible waste management…

Our Top Tips for Responsible Event Waste Management

Create a Clear Waste Management Plan

The first step to hosting an environmentally responsible event is creating a clear waste management plan. Information such as the site location, ticket sales, maximum capacity, the amount of vendors and staff on site, and any statistics from previous events can help inform your plan. 

You’ll need to establish the types and amount of waste you expect to produce and evaluate your current event waste disposal systems. Then, you can create realistic goals that will help to manage event waste, which can be measured by key performance indicators (KPIs).

Choose Your Event Recycling Bins 

Once you have a clear waste management plan, you can choose which bins will best suit your event. All containers need to be completely secure, as this will prevent waste from escaping in the wind, getting wet from the rain, and experiencing any other external damage. 

Many festival sites opt for bins of varying sizes to help suit all requirements. You could consider placing smaller wheelie bins onsite for visitors to use, which can be emptied into larger bins located backstage. Here at McCarthy Marland, we offer a wide range of wheelie bins for hire in sizes ranging from 240 litres to 1100 litres.

Prioritise Waste Segregation

Prevent littering and encourage recycling by setting up separate bins for waste disposal. Use different coloured bins and make sure they are clearly marked according to the type of waste i.e. food waste, plastics, cardboard. 

Signs should be distributed throughout the site to point towards recycling bins. We recommend placing event recycling bins next to general waste bins, as visitors will be more likely to think twice before discarding any materials. Focus on keeping these areas tidy, as festivalgoers who see litter on the floor will be likely to follow suit. 

Arrange Waste Deliveries & Collections

All bin deliveries should be booked well in advance of the festival. This will ensure they are placed on site in plenty of time, minimising the disruption caused to site setup. 

Commercial waste collections should then be carefully arranged to suit the needs of your event; for example, collection services for one-day events should be arranged for the following day, but multi-day festivals will require collections throughout the weekend. These should be booked for quieter periods when access routes are likely to be clearer, avoiding delays and potential additional costs.

Implement Sustainability Initiatives

Finally, you should spend some time implementing sustainability initiatives that will encourage visitors to dispose of their waste in a responsible manner. For example, many vendors now provide reusable cups that can be exchanged for money if returned to the bar. You could also ban specific materials such as glass bottles, as this will ensure that all waste brought into site can be sustainably disposed of. 

Ensure that all incentives are clearly outlined within any relevant marketing channels, such as leaflets, social media posts, and promotional videos. 

Responsible Wheelie Bin Services for Your Event

Searching for a reliable waste management partner for your upcoming festival? Look no further than McCarthy Marland. We provide a comprehensive range of event waste management services, including wheelie bins, to sites across the south-west, allowing us to remove, recycle and dispose of all waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Get in touch via customerservices@mccarthymarland.co.uk to discuss your event management requirements today.

As we step into 2024, the urgency to address our environmental footprint is more critical than ever. McCarthy, a leader in waste management, deeply understands the repercussions waste can have on our planet. With over 20 years of dedicated service, McCarthy is not just about managing waste; it’s about reducing it at the source and finding sustainable solutions that benefit our communities.

Understanding Waste Impact

The journey towards waste reduction begins with awareness. Every item discarded thoughtlessly has a life cycle of negative impacts—on landfills, wildlife, and even our climate. McCarthy champions the cause of not just managing but minimally generating waste, aligning with global efforts to preserve our environment for future generations.

Strategies for Reducing Household Waste

Minimising Food Waste: 

Planning meals and shopping smartly can drastically cut down food waste. Innovative apps like Olio connect communities, allowing us to share surplus food instead of disposing of it, embodying the adage, “One person’s surplus is another’s supply.” =

Not only can planning meals help reduce food waste, but it can also help reduce your overall food bill, meaning you are wasting less food and less money.

Recycling and Composting:

Recycling at home is getting easier with more opportunities from councils. DEFRA plans to make recycling even simpler in the next two years. 

By properly sorting your recycling, you can significantly reduce the landfill burden. While many councils now allow more plastics to be recycled at home, most do not take soft plastics such as crisp packaging and bags. These can now be recycled at local recycling centres and supermarkets. 

Composting is a great choice for organic waste such as vegetable and fruit peels and green waste from around the garden. Composting organic waste not only turns potential methane into nutrient-rich soil but can also help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. 

Donating and Repurposing:

Many of us have clutter in our homes. When we decide to clean up, our first instinct is often to throw things away. But instead of tossing everything, consider donating or selling items you no longer need. This could include clothes you don’t wear or furniture that is taking up space. By doing this, you can declutter your home and possibly help someone else in need. 

Donating to a local charity not only can help clear some space but can help to improve someone’s life making you feel even better. 

Sustainable Consumer Choices:

Opt for products with minimal packaging, reusable over disposable, and items made from recycled or sustainable materials.

When you need help, we’re here

No matter what choices you make, there will always be times when you need to clear a lot of waste and you need it gone fast, and for these times we at McCarthy have a number of solutions to help. 

Skip Hire. 

For bigger jobs, like house clearouts or big improvement projects, hiring a skip is not only a great way to get rid of all your waste in one time but can also be a fast way of clearing the waste so you can get on with the job. 

We offer a range of skips perfect for a wide range of jobs, from traditional builder skips for most jobs to drop-end skips, great for clearing heavier materials and using a wheelbarrow, or an enclosed skip for those times you want to make sure no one else is dropping their waste in your skip. 

Cage Tipper Hire

Our Cage Tipper Hire is great for jobs that are too big for the car but don’t require a skip. These can be single items or maybe a room clearance. Our Cage Tipper Hire can be booked the same day from as little as 30 minutes, and even better for you, our professional team will load the waste onto the tipper. 

If you are unsure what you need or just to discuss your options, just get in contact with our specialist team, and they will be more than happy to help.

Homeowners are often obliged to remove any residential waste in a safe and legal approach. Hiring a skip service provides customers with efficient and cost-effective removal services for hazardous waste and general rubbish where needed. 

There are plenty of benefits to hiring a skip removal service and in this blog, we discuss the reasons why a skip hire could be the best option for you and your waste.

Eco-friendly methods are the way forward

Skip hire services are a much more eco-friendly alternative to waste disposal and provide proper waste management, rather than do-it-yourself routes that could be hazardous for the environment. For example, some homeowners may get rid of their waste by burning it, causing a risk of toxic smoke that could harm other residents and the environment. 

The use of a skip ensures that all waste will be disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner. All litter is sorted into allotted skip bins, and most are recycled to prevent further pollution. Most services will also provide several waste treatments that are designed to remove toxic substances. 

Endless versatile solutions

Skips come in an extensive variety. There are many reasons as to why someone would choose to skip hire, and not everyone requires the same size or type of skip when it comes to waste removal. Some may be looking to dispose of a huge amount of waste suited for construction sites, while others may need a small skip for the removal of smaller appliances. 

Both open and closed skips are on offer, and open types are most suitable for removing non-hazardous waste that poses no threat to the environment, animals or humans. Closed containers are designed to safely dispose of hazardous materials that may risk causing harm. 

Time-saving results 

Skip hire professionals are well trained in taking over the entire waste removal process, saving more time for other tasks, such as moving home or work relocation. The process of sorting waste and disposing of it at the nearest landfill takes time – and this could be taken off your hands. 

Health and safety comes first 

Some people may resort to placing waste in their gardens as a way of storage – however, this solution can be harmful to the health and safety of homeowners and pets. Broken glass, metal, or even an excess of general rubbish can cause tripping hazards or even release toxins into the atmosphere. Skip services can remove any unwanted junk from your garden and keep it stored neatly before transporting it. Professionals are trained in handling all kinds of waste without causing injury or harm to the environment.

No litter, no legal problems

Fly Tipping is sadly a very common issue, but it is one that thankfully comes with repercussions. Improper litter disposal is something that the government does not take lightly and there are serious rules to follow when it comes to these procedures. You must abide by such regulations – and that includes properly removing waste. Hiring a skip service is the best way to not get in any trouble if you are unsure of what is acceptable and what is not. The last thing anyone needs is a hefty fine and stern telling off. 

Cost-effective outcomes

Vehicle rental for waste removal is more costly than hiring skip services. Equally, using your vehicle to make continuous trips to landfill would be more expensive than hiring a professional. 

Often, you will have to make many trips due to the need to separate different types of waste. 

What can go in a skip?

Or…more importantly, what can’t go in a skip? Here are some examples:

• Medical waste
• Asbestos
• Paint or cans of paint
• TVs and other technical appliances
• Batteries
• Fridges and freezers
• Air conditioning units
• Plasterboard
• Oil
• Petrol
• Diesel
• Tyres
• Any liquids

If your skip is placed in an open or public area, it is advised that you keep an eye out on whether any of the above items are found in your skip. Even if it wasn’t your doing, you are responsible for all waste that it contains.

We have a wide range of skip hire solutions to suit every requirement, from domestic skip hire to commercial. From mini-skips for those small jobs, 6 Yard skips for remodelling your home, 8 and 10 yard skip for construction projects, right through to roll-on roll-off skips and large 35/40 yard containers for those bigger jobs. 

McCarthy provides flexible skip hire solutions in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and the surrounding areas. Get in touch with us today for your instant quote.