Why we care about waste

Sustainable waste management is an evolving priority in the UK. With a growing population and the accumulated threat of climate change, businesses must adopt sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management practices. 

Procurement plays a crucial role in this. By carefully selecting suppliers and contractors who prioritise sustainability and ethical waste management, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and minimise the impact of waste on the environment. 

One key aspect of sustainable waste management procurement is circular economy principles. This involves designing products and materials with reuse and recycling in mind instead of disposing of them after one use. 

Meet Cheerye Honeyghan

We spoke to Cheerye Honeyghan, a category buyer for waste management in Ground Control's procurement and finance division.

Cheerye has been a procurement professional for eight years, dedicating the last three to driving ethical and sustainable supply chains at Ground Control. However, she has been passionate about re-using and recycling materials for much of her life.

From rags to renewables

Since childhood, Cheerye has been interested in giving old clothes a new lease of life. In 2015, her entrepreneurial spirit paid dividends in producing and selling upcycled textile products, making profits that funded her master's degree in procurement, supply chain, and logistics management. So, you could say that recycling for a circular economy is in Cheerye’s DNA. 

The circular economy theme is featured again in Cheerye’s final thesis.  It was based on using suppliers to close the loop on supply chains for sustainable impact. Cheerye worked for the NHS then and was inspired to explore the unique supply chain of human hair used to create wigs for patients suffering from cancer, alopecia, and other conditions leading to hair loss.

Modern times

Ground Control’s commitment to innovation and corporate social responsibility matches Cheerye’s talent, skillset, and ambition. This is something that drew Cheerye to work for Ground Control and equally why Ground Control embraces Cheerye's contribution to empowering a sustainable supply chain agenda. 

Since 2021, Cheerye has managed the waste management category within Ground Control's procurement team and is a key stakeholder of the company’s Net Zero steering group.

Since 2022, the procurement team has saved approximately £120k across the waste management category, aligning with industry-leading suppliers. 

Cheerye tells us what waste management means to Ground Control and a more sustainable supply chain

What are the macroeconomic factors impacting waste management?

"The industry's landscape has changed in three years. In April 2024, the Welsh Government implemented New Workplace Recycling regulations.

Mandatory digital waste tracking should be effective by April 2025, replacing the current EDOC (electronic duty of care) regulations.

The UK government has pledged to reduce  GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990.

H M Treasury has announced that landfill tax rates for England and Northern Ireland will increase from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026."

What does this mean for Ground Control and its suppliers?

"Gone are the days of using the cheapest skip service to dispose of waste from maintenance works. The UK regulatory changes for sustainable waste management, align directly with Ground Control’s values which means the ethos is already there.

The way we manage our waste has a direct impact on our client’s scope three emissions and can therefore determine whether we deliver outstanding customer service or not.

We innovate and embrace change by aligning our culture with an effective supply chain ensuring we set new standards and are first responders to the latest legislation and certified advice regarding waste disposal and recycling.

Our Net Zero targets are important to us. By supporting changes required to fulfil this target, we can all act with integrity and honour our commitments to achieving our target of being Net Zero by 2038."

An ethical supply chain and circular economy

"We know the level of service required by Ground Control is beyond transactional, so, we aim to add value by:

• Listening to and engaging in our suppliers’ and clients' feedback
• Cultivating a compliant and agile supply chain
• Ensuring supporting processes are in place and followed
• leading operations with sustainability in mind
• Encouraging our subcontractors to use the suppliers we choose for ethical reasons.

We believe inspiring these behaviours across the supply chain will help us all to embrace change and promote a prosperous business and circular economy."

What are our suppliers saying about us?

Working with us since late 2021, waste disposal supplier Biffa said: 

Anita Clarke – Regional Account Manager. 

What is the vision for the future?  

As part of our Carbon Net zero master plan, the goal is to achieve 100% diversion from landfill for all our waste streams, and field teams. So far this year, through our bin provider, we are currently at a 93% diversion from landfill rate, generating 56,867 kilograms of CO2. By consolidating our waste management services to one supplier, we’ve been able to track our waste better. Currently, we are sitting at a 96% diversion from landfill rate, generating 17,894.68 kilograms of CO2 between September 2023 - September 2024. We look to build on this success as we account for our field team’s waste to reach our Net Zero goals. 

We are partnering with a new supplier Reconomy for services outside of bins. Reconomy is an industry leader and regularly works closely with the Environment Agency on all things waste. We will be using their app-based solution which allows for easy use of their transfer station network. This app prepares us for the transition to digital waste documentation and brings our field teams on the compliance journey with us. This supplier will also assist us with any site segregation plans.

Watch this space for more about our progress with Reconomy."

By supporting companies that value social responsibility, and prioritising the circular economy, the UK can reduce the amount of waste that might end up in landfills and incinerators, and conserve valuable resources.