How Does It Work?
The cups are loaded into the machine and drinks are vended or dispensed into them. When a company is not part of the 'Save A Cup Scheme', the used plastic cup is usually thrown into a general waste bin and form part of the companies general waste, which is removed from site and probably goes into land fill.
With the 'Save A Cup Scheme' cups are placed in a purpose-designed collection bin (Beca bin) or a cup flaking machine (Flaker) sited close by the vending machine. Both options are designed to reduce the bulk of the cups for ease of storage and to isolate the cups from the general liquid waste. The cups are transferred to clear bags during the normal on-site cleaning process and placed ready for collection in a convenient storage area.
'Save a Cup' will arrange regular collections. Your cup usage and your location will determine the frequency of collection. Either a 'Save a Cup' vehicle, or a third party agent acting on behalf of 'Save a Cup', who is already making collections of other recyclables in your area, will collect the filled sacks of cups from your premises.
On joining the scheme, the service will be tailored, where possible, to meet your needs.
Where there is a storage or location problem, purchase of a Flaker is advised, as the flaked
cups can be stored in a smaller area.
After collection by 'Save a Cup', the cups are transported in bulk to a re-processor. To reduce costs, no presorting is carried out prior to re-processing. At the re-processor, bags of cups are fed onto a conveyor and through a hydrocyclonic washing system. Contaminants are removed using sink/float chambers. (Due to the similar specific gravity the greatest difficulty is in removing, foil and plastic film, one reason why we ask you not to put sweet wrappers and crisp packets in the bins). The flake is then dried and made directly into a product or heated and extruded into manufacturing pellets.
'Save a Cup' commissions a variety of items, which are then sold. Pens, pencils and rulers are just some of the products made from the processed material (recyclate). Unfortunately the material cannot be used to make cups or other food contact products. Recyclate is also sold to other manufacturers to make their own products.
What are the Benefits of Joining The Scheme?
With landfill tax escalating, real savings can be made on waste disposal costs.
Companies joining the 'Save a Cup Scheme' demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental values and ethical business practices both to staff and customers.
A step towards ISO 14001.
