Summary
A third generation, family-owned business, A&E White produces food for its eight shops in Barnsley and retail chains. The company has reduced their landfill waste (and landfill tax) by 30% through a combination of recycling and donating excess food to a local charity.

Background
A third generation, family-owned business, A&E White produces food for its eight shops in Barnsley and retail chains. The company is involved with the Green Business Support Organisation Project and has received free advice from Meltzer Consultants, a small environmental consulting agency, on how to reduce costs by implementing environmentally friendly policies.

Responsible business objectives

• Reduce costs by reducing waste. After an initial consultation with Meltzer Consultants, the company was surprised to learn how much they could save by taking simple steps to reduce their waste.
  "Meltzer identified two areas where we could save money: waste disposal, and energy use" explains A&E White owner, David White, "We concentrated on the waste aspect first of all, because we found we could make savings straight away, without any cost to ourselves."

• Recycling cardboard.  The bakers were throwing away hundreds of cardboard boxes, paper linings and flour sacks every week.  This amounted to almost five tonnes of waste each year, waste that could be reused and not deposited in a landfill.  By simply negotiating with their waste contractor to remove the cardboard and sacks separately, A&E White made an immediate saving of 20% on their pick-up costs and landfill tax.
  
• Donating food waste.  In addition to recycling, A&E White arranged for much of their food waste to be delivered to a local foodbank, the Crisis Fair Share charity.  By donating excess food the company was able to further reduce their waste volumes by 10%.

What impact it has

• 30% reduction in landfill waste. By recycling cardboard and donating food waste, A&E White reduced their waste by 30%.
• Food donations. Now, instead of being added to the local landfill, excess food is used by a local charity to feed those in need.

Business Benefits

• 30% Reduction in landfill tax.
  
• 20% Reduction in waste pick up charges.
  
• Community goodwill. In addition to cost savings, A&E White also benefits from increased community goodwill as a result of their ongoing food donations to the Crisis Fair Share charity.