We are excited to be rescuing and recycling again this September, as part of the 2026 Recycle Week. Read on to find out all about this recycling scheme and what we have planned…
As part of our wider ESG strategy, we are well on track to be Net Zero by 2035. There’s lots of hard work ongoing behind the scenes to ensure the team continue to hit this goal, but at the core is our commitment to doing our bit to protect the planet. As a large company, we are well aware of how our activities and initiatives help shape the world we live in, whilst leaving a lasting impact.
That’s why it was a no-brainer for us to promote Recycle Week once again, across both internal and external platforms. Over recent years, we are proud to have adopted schemes and initiatives that centre around reducing waste, from organised litter picking in local communities to being early adopters of ‘Simpler Recycling’ frameworks. Formally introduced in March 2025, this guidance looked to standardise waste sorting, mitigating confusion and making recycling much more straightforward. We chose to make a stance and started segregating recycling at the source early on, rather than relying on commercial waste partners to sort and separate.
Rescue me, recycle!
From the 14th to the 20th of September, we’ll be reintroducing teams to the “Rescue me, recycle!” campaign – however, this year with the addition of “Rescue your Recyclables”. Following the same objectives of last year, it’s all about inspiring smarter sustainable decisions and highlighting the need to recycle more of the right things. We’d love for everyone to feel encouraged to take what they learn and introduce it into their working routine and household habits – and maybe even teach friends and family along the way.
To kickstart the week, there will be delivery of a Toolbox Talk to office and operational teams, which will include key performance statistics from last year and open discussions around what actually happens to waste once recycled. Take food waste for example, able to be burnt and used as an energy source. This type of conversation is really beneficial; once people feel more connected to the process, they are more likely to complete the action and, in this case, recycle!
Spreading awareness around recycling is really important, especially considering there are still some grey areas. For example, last year’s campaign focused on toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles and loo rolls – three household items which are commonly thrown away, despite being suitable for recycling.
The Battle of the Bins
This year, we are excited to introduce a new challenge: The Battle of the Bins. With this, the plan is to encourage all staff and their families to collect recycling from home or work and use it to build a tower or bridge – it is the engineering industry after all. The most impressive creation will win!
Speaking about the initiative, Victoria Yates, our Head of Change & Transformation, said: “It’s going to get competitive! We want to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this year’s Recycle Week – the more the merrier.
“We’ve already made some fantastic progress in terms of reducing waste, and that’s credit to everyone’s efforts company wide. In 2025, 430 tonnes of waste was generated, 95% of that was diverted from landfill and 66% of it was recycled – almost doubling the 2024 recycling rates! All offices and yards at Mabey Hire have separate recycling waste bins, including glass and food, ensuring that these standards are continuingly met. With the help of these waste bins, 2025 saw us separate and recycle 1.3 tonnes of waste food and 7.3 tonnes of glass. That alone is equivalent to a large African Bush Elephant or even a large male Orca!”