1:00 AM 23rd January 2025
business
Yorkshire Waste Firm First To Adopt Ground-Breaking Recycling Certification
![Peter Vernon and Geraldine Lear]()
Peter Vernon and Geraldine Lear
Yorwaste, a North Yorkshire and York waste management company, has become the first organisation in the UK to adopt an innovative anti-greenwashing certification service launched by European bin recycling and manufacturing specialist ESE World.
The new certification system, which provides physical proof of recycled content in waste containers, comes as ESE celebrates 25 years of recycling high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastics. The initiative aims to combat greenwashing in the waste industry by providing verifiable evidence of sustainability claims.
Yorwaste, which maintains a 97% recycling rate, has already introduced over 2,000 certified ESE bins across its operations. Geraldine Lear, principal transport services manager at Yorwaste, said: "Providing a range of services and bespoke solutions to an enlightened customer base means we are under the spotlight when it comes to sustainability. It's therefore crucial we can evidence what we're doing to make a difference – not only to set a more ethical precedent for our customers but to support the success of tender contracts too."
The certification programme builds on ESE's breakthrough 2018 research, which demonstrated that HDPE plastic could be reused 10 times through injection moulding and shredding processes, potentially extending the material's lifecycle to 200 years. Importantly, the certification is automatically revoked if companies revert to using virgin materials, ensuring ongoing accountability.
Peter Vernon, managing director at ESE, commented:
"We know this market and we know it well. More importantly, we're the only player able to offer coloured options within the closed-loop system – an area that sees many other bin manufacturers compromise on their ethos and turn back to raw materials."
The initiative represents a significant step forward in waste management transparency, with Yorkshire leading the way in adoption. The certificates, produced on 100% recycled paper, remain valid throughout the service life of ESE-manufactured bins.