Options Management embraced ‘green’ vending long before it was de-rigeur. From as far back as 1999, Options has been providing recycling facilities. In fact, the company was the first in the country to introduce reverse vending and develop smaller-scale recycling, in which users were rewarded for recycling their used cups and cans. Options remains the only business in the industry to process their vended cans, bottles, plastic and paper cups into 100% recycled products. Thanks to their closed-loop recycling concept, all processing is done in the UK, minimising the carbon footprint.
Now, two decades of sustainability on, Paul Ure’s company has further extended its recycling capabilities beyond cups, bottles and cans and into the depths of the coffee machine itself. Options has become the first UK BRITA filter recycling hub and is now accepting professional BRITA water filters, commonly used in vending machines, for recycling.
Previously, such filters have been destined for landfill, but Options is eager to put a stop to that – with the full backing of BRITA behind them. BRITA’s filters have been recyclable for many years, but rather than make the effort, many local users are in the habit of simply throwing them away.
‘It’s great to be able to encourage users of BRITA water filters to simply drop off the used filters at our offices’, Paul told PV. ‘We’ll recycle them, and as a thank-you for using the scheme, we’ll donate 20p per recycled filter to our local hospice, the Dougie Mac. We’d urge all local users to do the right thing! Bring us your used filters, Options will process them and together, we’ll reduce waste that ends up in landfill and at the same time, we’ll help the hospice to continue its work.’
Participants can use a handy ‘open all hours’ drop-off bin, located just outside the Options main gates at Silverdale Business Park in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire.
It’s a great idea – let’s hope word gets round and the numbers start growing…
More Options Management stories are on Planet Vending, HERE
