Cawleys Shortlisted for Food Waste Recycling Award with Waitrose

Published - Monday, 08 February, 2010

The award recognises the retailer that has made the best contribution to food waste recycling, also demonstrating innovation and best practice which could be adopted by any company, large or small.

Waitrose was the first retailer extensively to recycle its food waste via anaerobic digestion (AD). Starting with a trial in three stores, the programme was such a success that the retailer launched a rapid rollout programme and by the end of the 2009, 48 stores were sending their waste to AD.  

By May 2010 Waitrose will be sending the food waste from 50 per cent of its estate exclusively to AD through Cawleys.

Commenting on the Awards Kate Cawley, Business Development Manager at Cawleys, said:

“Waitrose is the ‘gold standard’ in food waste management and we are delighted that this has been recognised. The system can be adopted by any company large or small and through our extensive work with Waitrose, Cawleys has created a blueprint for best practice that any organisation can adopt -  that’s the beauty of the scheme.”

Working with Arthur Sayer, Waitrose’s Environmental Manager who is nominated for this award, Cawleys developed a tried-and-tested blueprint that has ticked all the right boxes: exceeding environmental compliance and engaging and motivating staff.

A three-month trial was conducted at five Waitrose branches where the following targets had to be met:

1. Time efficient - recycling food waste must take no more time than throwing it away.
2. Easy to adopt and follow – staff can segregate the food properly.
3. Cost efficient – doesn’t cost more than existing waste contracts. 

The AFOR Award acknowledges the successful processes which Mr Sayer and his team at Waitrose applied working in partnership with Cawleys.  These included research through time and motion studies, staff engagement through training, and clear communication and positive feedback through reports and staff feedback.

All these steps meant that between October 2008 and September 2009, the food Waitrose diverted from landfill generated electricity equivalent to boiling 83,675 kettles for an hour, as well as liquid digestate to fertilise arable land. 

Commenting on the nomination, Arthur Sayer from Waitrose said:

“Environmental best practice is essential to Waitrose and we are thrilled to be shortlisted as it recognises our work in this area. It feels right to turn waste food into electricity and fertiliser and AD is our preferred route.  Our Partners tell me how much better they feel using this process and I would like to thank all of them for so wholeheartedly adopting our new working practices.”

The Awards ceremony is taking place at AFOR’s annual conference at the Hilton Metropole, in Birmingham on February 11 and will be hosted by Ray Georgeson, founding director of WRAP and waste and recycling expert.