Policy Scope:

This policy affects all staff.

Policy Aims and Objectives:

• To maximise efficiencies in waste paper recycling that are workable and achievable.

• To implement effective systems of recycling into the working environment.

• To reduce trade waste quantities.

• To evaluate and monitor performance.

Associated Procedural Instructions:

This policy is supported by the following procedural instructions:

Facilities Management Waste Paper Recycling Guidance

Purpose of Recycling

While there are many aspects of recycling we all can implement and ways to reduce our carbon footprint, we should identify the most workable systems to implement and develop a system of work that we can all progress to maximise our individual impact.

In general, office functions generate waste paper products that are usually collected and placed in the normal trade waste. This as we all are aware has a large impact on the environment in the present climate of our disposable society.

Waste Paper is by far the most prominent at 46% and given this factor we can develop further to maximise our efficiencies in recycling systems at work. The confidential nature of our paper waste and disposal obviously must not be breached where alternative disposal methods are in place these must reflect the requirements of the content to be disposed of.

Present Waste Disposal System

Presently we have normal refuse bins for general office waste paper, trade magazines and packaging/food products etc and these are collected (usually daily) and go into the general trade waste.

Non staffed kitchen areas have refuse bins with food waste and paper waste products.

Confidential waste paper is shredded either in office based shredders which then go into general waste for disposal or in a central point where an external company shred and dispose of the waste products.

The majority of our waste has been previously placed for general trade waste disposal.

Trial Recycling  - Progress to date

Over the previous 12 to 18 months a system of waste paper recycling has been trailed at several sites for effectiveness and application within the workplace. The removal of individual printers and photocopiers and replacement with multi-functional printers has generated a specific area where large quantities of waste paper are normally generated.

A contract has been reviewed and established with Violia the waste collection service to have specific external waste paper collection green bins situated at specific sites where we have introduced the recycling system on trial. These must only have waste paper products retained inside to be effective and are placed at a cost to the service.

Specific Violia cardboard collection bins have been purchased for all these sites. The purpose of the specific bins is to ensure segregation is possible by the users and only waste paper products are deposited in these bins.

The Violia bins are cardboard with a green plastic liner this is to aid the segregation of waste paper from normal trade waste at the point of collection by our operational staff.

These bins are placed at multi-function devices and other specific high waste paper yielding areas as requested.

Trial Recycling  - Problem Areas

The paper products can often become very heavy if deposits of large quantities are made into the cardboard/plastic containers all at once (ie a large number of trade magazines, old documents/file papers etc).

Please arrange specific collection through our Facilities Managment staff on site or the helpdesk 3832 or deposit in stages rather than all at once.

The deposit of non paper items (foods, plastics etc) contaminating the waste paper recycling points.

Please use normal trade waste bins and manage control measures on site.

What can we place in the Recycling Bins situated on site?

Clean Waste Paper - Cardboard - Trade Magazines - Leaflets

Please Note:

Paper from toilet areas and kitchens cannot be recycled due to possible contamination issues.

How will we monitor and share our development in recycling?

To identify how we are improving our recycling of waste paper products, we will publish on our Facilities Management web page Performance indicators that will show the variance on recycled products and active sites month by month throughout the year.

• 1. The number of sites with the Facilities Management/Violia recycling systems in place.

• 2. The number of external bins in use.

• 3. The number of internal bins on all sites.

• 4. The quantities in kilogrammes of recycled waste collected each month.

Further Development

The locations presently encompassed within the trials are listed in the link below and this may be expanded further to larger sites that would benefit from the waste paper recycling system.

The system has proven workable and effective if managed on site by the users and operated within the Facilities Management structures on site.

It would not be practical to place this system at all sites however we should consider each area on its own merits and would appreciate your involvement in working together to maximise the possible efficiencies to environmental waste disposal of waste paper products.

Further Information or Advice is Available Through:

Facilities Management Web Pages - Waste Paper Recycling

Facilities Management Help desk - 3832

Equality Act 2010:

The Act creates a statutory requirement for all Functions and Policies (Including Procedural Instructions) to be analysed for their effect on equality, diversity and human rights, with due regard to the General Duty.

In principle, this document has been assessed for discrimination, which cannot be justified, among other diverse groups.

Human Rights/Discretion:

The purpose of providing policy is to give an indication to staff of the expected course of action.  However it is not possible to cater for every possible combination of factors that would justify a departure from stated policy.  The Human Rights Act 1998 requires the proper use of discretion at all times and nothing within this policy and associated procedural instructions prohibits the proper use of discretion in appropriate circumstances.

Where action is taken that has the potential to interfere with an individual's Human Rights, the reasons behind the making of the decision to act in that way should be recorded on the appropriate forms, or where this is not practicable, in pocket books or policy logs.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Exemptions do not apply to this statement of agreed policy under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Management of Police Information (MoPI)

This policy falls within MoPI:  No

Review Arrangements:

This policy together with its Equality Analysis will be reviewed every 3 years

Rights of redress for members of the public:

Anyone who feels that a member of staff has behaved incorrectly or unfairly, or who is dissatisfied with organisational matters, service delivery or other operational policing issues, has the right to make a complaint.

Initial action should be taken in one of the following ways:

• Complain in writing or in person to the Senior Officer at the appropriate police station or to the Chief Constable of the force concerned.

• Visit a local Citizens' Advice Bureau

• Contact a Solicitor

Rights of redress for South Yorkshire Police personnel:

South Yorkshire Police personnel who feel they have grounds for concern in relation to the implementation of policies may, as appropriate:

• Pursue concerns through their line manager.

• Contact a First Contact Advisor.

• Pursue a grievance formally through the South Yorkshire Police Fairness at Work Procedure.

• Seek advice from their staff association or trades union.

• Use procedural instruction D50241 Management of Complaints, in the section entitled Handling Complaints relating to Direction and Control. 

Start Date:

1 June 2009