Case Studies

Vital statistics:

• Project: Simpler Recycling for Builders Merchants
• Client: Browns Builders Merchants
• Sector(s): Building and construction
• Material(s): Food, dry mixed recycling, card and general waste
• Services: Weekly food waste, dry mixed recycling, card and general waste, Wheelie bin and FEL collections
• Location: Derby
• Contract Start Date: April 2025
• Contract Completion Date: Ongoing

In brief…

Derby-based Browns Builders Merchants is a long-standing partner of Ward. A fellow family-run, independent business, Browns have been supplying building materials to the trade since 1990.

With new Simpler Recycling regulations coming into force in April 2025, they were looking for support to streamline their waste management services. Ward helped them to implement changes to ensure they were compliant with the new rules.

Streamlining waste services

With three depots across Derby, each with differing waste requirements, Browns Builders Mer-chants were using a mixture of brokered and Council compaction services to manage waste.

Cardboard waste was being separated out into a Front End Loader (FEL) but all other waste was collected in one place. With the Simpler Recycling regulation requiring the separation of all main waste types, Browns needed a cost-effective, space saving solution that would work for each depot and introduce a system for food waste.

Tailored waste management solutions

Following a collaborative meeting at Browns’ head office, Ward introduced 23 litre caddies and 240L wheelie bins to collect food waste and separate 660L wheelie bins for dry mixed recycling (DMR) and general waste.

The caddies meant that food could be collected in the office and then transferred into the larger bin for convenience and hygiene. The separate DMR bin enable them to recover more than cardboard and start to recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper.

Compliant waste management collections

Container sizes and weekly collections have been tailored to the volume of waste and space available on site. Access to Ward’s online customer portal also provides data on waste collected and recycling, giving Browns the chance to measure waste and monitor recycling rates. With help from Ward, Browns now has a waste management system that has improved their recycling rates and is compliant with Simpler Recycling.

Joe Wheeler, Branch Manager, Browns Builders Merchants

“When I first found out about the new legislation coming into business’s regarding segregating waste streams and all recyclable materials I panicked. It was another job that needed sorting and sounded very labour intensive and hard work.

I contacted Ward’s, and they gave me all the information I needed about Simpler Recycling. They came into the branch, we worked through all our various depots and storage yards and offered a solution for what each branch needed individually.

Ward scheduled all the various bins and delivered them in time for when the new legislation started. We agreed dates for the different wastes to be serviced so it all ran smoothly and kept disruption to a minimum.

Since then, we’ve changed the servicing requirements to be more frequent as the bins were getting full quickly and Ward’s fully understood and accommodated this.
It now runs like clockwork (bar a few members of staff our end mixing waste), but again, Ward’s understood, advised us about the contamination, and were flexible as they appreciated our situation and wanted to work with us.

Any business that is looking for a company to look after waste and recycling disposal, I would fully recommend Ward’s as they have been amazing.”

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