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12.
February
2016.
North East Businesses Lead Green Revolution

Press Release

12 February 2016

North East Businesses Lead Green Revolution

A north east waste management firm has attracted a variety of businessesin its bid to recycle 100,000 tonnes of the region's food waste by the end of 2016 as part of its Food Fuel initiative.

A Michelin-starred restaurant, a popular shopping centre, 200 local schools and one of the north east's most popular wedding venues are just some of the organisations backing the innovative Food Fuel scheme.

The pioneering scheme is the creation of award-winning County Durham waste management firm Warrens, and has already attracted a high-profile list of members, including: 

  • Michelin-starred restaurant, The Raby Hunt
  • Matfen Hall Hotel and Spa
  • Taylor Shaw
  • Manor Walks shopping centre

    Each of them has signed up to Food Fuel and committed to recycling all their food waste.

    The Food Fuel initiative allows businesses to help generate clean and green energy for the north-east and divert their food waste from landfill.

    Adam Warren, co-owner and director of Warrens, said: "Food Fuel has been developed to help businesses large and small commit to a sustainable future. By the end of 2016 we want to help Food Fuel members recycle 100,000 tonnes of north east food waste - that's enough to power 4,000 homes a year.

    "Waste is our business and being able to put our systems and infrastructure to work in helping reduce the region's carbon footprint makes sense.

    "The methane gas released by decomposing food matter is 21 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. The Food Fuel scheme is helping reduce this impact.

    "Customers want to pay for services that minimise environmental impact. Food Fuel does that, and membership tells your customers you're innovative, forward thinking and making a commitment to act sustainably.

    "Our members can save thousands of pounds in landfill tax plus, by opting to recycle food waste with the Food Fuel initiative, they're helping to generate green energy and diverting tonnes of waste from landfill."

    All the food waste collected is converted into green energy at the Emerald Biogas (Warrens' sister company) anaerobic digestion plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

    Warrens currently collects 50,000 tonnes of food waste from across the north east and converts it into energy - enough to power 2,000 homes.

    Craig Malcolm, restaurant manager at the Raby Hunt, said: "We signed up to Food Fuel because we wanted to move away from sending waste to landfill. It's initiatives like Food Fuel that help to do this and highlight the importance of recycling and sustainability. I'd urge any business owners thinking of recycling their food waste to sign up to Food Fuel - they won't be disappointed."

    Lynda Walker, General Manager of Taylor Shaw, a catering business that supplies food to more than 200 schools across the north east, said:

    "Separating waste allows kitchen staff to see what's popular and what's not. If you monitor the waste you produce, you produce less waste. Food Fuel allows you to put efficient procedures in place, and helps you save money too."

    Martin Green, Financial Controller at Matfen Hall Hotel and Spa, said: "Not only is this good for the environment, it's also massive time saver. The chefs say it makes their jobs quicker as they spend less time separating waste. I think other businesses should consider joining Food Fuel."

    To find out more about the Food Fuel initiative and its benefits, please visit:www.warrens-foodfuel.co.uk, or contact Warrens on 01388 488225.

    Notes to editors:

    To arrange an interview with Adam or Antony Warren please contact Chris Sealey on 01287 610404 / 07786 512833

    The Food Fuel scheme is the idea of brothers Adam and Antony Warren, owners and chief operators of Warrens, an award-winning waste management firm that has run successfully since 1946.

    Warrens helps businesses divert 50,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year and has ambitions to quadruple this to 200,000 tonnes - a quarter of all waste produced by the north east each year.