JD Wetherspoon to avert 11,500 tons of food waste with Veolia UK contract

Environmental solution company Veolia has implemented a new scheme to help JD Wetherspoon reduce food waste the chop and save costs.

Veolia has implemented a food and coffee ground recycling scheme that will result in approximately 11,500 tonnes of food waste avoiding landfill and help the pub company reach its 100% diversion target.

It will also provide 3,450 MWh of renewable energy each year – enough to keep 1,641 beer fridges cool or power 35,937 lights running for 24 hours a day all year round.

Veolia’s contract is set to cover the entire JD Wetherspoon estate consisting of approximately 900 pubs, hotels and bars. Services will include food waste and glass recycling as well as general waste and JD Wetherspoon will have the option to utilise Veolia’s data insight to drive resource efficiencies.

Estelle Brachlianoff, senior executive vice president Veolia UK and Ireland, said: “It is vital we treat unavoidable food waste sustainably and recognise both the environmental and economic benefits that can be produced by converting it into ‘green energy’ as part of a wider recycling scheme.

“As one of the most well-known names on the high street, we’re proud to be working with the team at JD Wetherspoon and supporting them in achieving their goals of zero waste to landfill and protecting the environment by taking care of their recycling and general waste sustainably.”

Wetherspoon’s contractor performance manager, David Willis, added: “Wetherspoon is committed to leading the hospitality industry into a sustainable future. In line with our work with the Sustainable Restaurants’ Association, we take very seriously our commitment to minimise waste and opting for recycling wherever possible.

“We are pleased to highlight our commitment to a genuinely sustainable future by entering into partnership with Veolia UK for the management of our general waste, food waste and glass recycling.”