We’ve saved enough metal to make 27 cars!

Helena Housing is recycling tonnes of scrap metal and glass rather than sending the waste to landfill - saving money and helping the environment.

Scrap metals and waste glass, from our refurbishment of 13,500 homes, was dealt with by a waste management company which charged £77 per tonne for its removal – costs set to rise with proposed rises in Landfill Tax.

We sought help from the Groundwork Trust (an 'iN business for neighbourhoods' Supporter), who recommended how we could improve our waste management, recycle more, and earn income from our waste.

All scrap metal, copper and glass which is removed from properties during repairs or refurbishment is now returned to Helena’s building services depot where it is separated into recycling skips.

Glass is removed by a local glass company for a small fee, while we are now paid £50 per tonne to have scrap metal removed and £1400 per tonne for waste copper.

We estimate our new sustainable approach to waste and recycling has saved £15,000 since its introduction in April 2007.

More than 44 tonnes of scrap metal and ½ a tonne of copper have been recycled – equivalent to the weight of 27 family sized cars. 23 tonnes of glass has also been recycled.

We were shortlisted in this year’s Groundwork Merseyside Environmental Awards, in the Community Stewardship Award for the Public Sector.

For more information contact Mark Lupton, at Helena Housing, on 0161 224 9162.

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