Free paper recycling for Waterloo businesses

A total of 63 sacks and 115 cardboard bundles were collected on the first day of the new scheme which is operated by Borough-based firm Paper Round for the Waterloo Quarter Business Alliance.

The move follows the launch of a similar scheme earlier this summer in the neighbouring Better Bankside business improvement district. SE1's other BID, Team London Bridge, has been carrying out an audit of local recycling provision.

Waterloo Quarter hopes that by introducing an area-wide scheme more local businesses will be inclined to recycle their waste without the hassle or the cost of setting up individual contracts.

The scheme offers a free weekly collection service to all businesses in the BID area. The mixed paper and card is put out for collection in purple Waterloo Quarter sacks or taped into bundles with branded tape.

Once collected the waste is sorted into four grades – white paper, sorted office waste, newspaper & magazines and cardboard – and taken to depots around the UK to be reused and recycled.

Waterloo Quarter's original consultation highlighted a number of other waste types that businesses would be interested in recycling such as glass, plastics, cans and wood. The BID says that will be looking in to the possible options with a view to extending the service to other waste streams in the future.

The Waterloo Quarter BID covers the area to the south and east of Waterloo Station including Lower Marsh, The Cut, Blackfriars Road, Waterloo Road, the northern end of Kennington Road and Westminster Bridge Road. Following a ballot of Lambeth businesses in February 2006 and Southwark businesses in February 2008, Waterloo Quarter is one of only two BIDs in the UK to works across two boroughs. Its work is funded by a levy on business rates.