The Laundry

Summary

The Laundry began in 2003 as a partnership between the BioRegional Development Group and London Recycling to meet the paper recycling needs of small businesses in Soho. The Laundry currently serves over 500 businesses throughout central London.

Small businesses often have cost and space limitations that make existing waste collection systems impractical and expensive. The Laundry sells inexpensive collection sacks and provides a weekly kerbside pickup service. Once collected, the paper is sent to M-Real and made into Evolve office paper. Businesses are encouraged to “buy back” this paper, which they can purchase from a local stationer at a substantial discount.

Barriers identified include: minimum pickup requirements of existing waste collection systems (which often far exceed the amount of waste a small business produces in a week); expense of existing waste collection systems, which prevent recycling from being a cost-effective option for small businesses.

Key motivators

Convenience: businesses are not required to sort their paper and sacks are picked up weekly directly from their offices.
Flexibility: there is no minimum requirement for pickup, so businesses simply pay by the sack.
Cost-effectiveness: the recycling sacks provided by The Laundry cost the same as or less than the bags businesses have to buy from local borough councils for regular rubbish. Businesses also have the opportunity to repurchase recycled paper at a discount.

Top tips to their success

Avoid using guilt: market the project as something fun and exciting to be a part of, rather than an obligation.
Appeal to individuals: often one person is all it takes to get the ball rolling and motivate an organisation to participate in a programme.
Integrate the programme into a normal routine: The Laundry is modelled after existing waste collection systems so paper recycling seems normal and easy for businesses to take up.

Contact details

Rachel Fleming
The Laundry
BedZED Centre, Helios Road
Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7BZ
020 8404 6330
recycle@thelaundry.biz
http://www.thelaundry.biz

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