Usel and Oxfam recycling partnership to reduce tons of waste 

Ulster Supported Employment Ltd (Usel), which operates a licenced recycling facility in Belfast has been working with the anti-global poverty charity Oxfam since September 2021 to reduce its packaging waste going to landfill from its two distribution sites in Greater Belfast.

This has resulted in up to five tonnes of paper, cardboard and plastic being recycled from the Oxfam sites every month.

Usel Sales Manager, Laura Warrington, speaking during Recycle Week, said: “As a leading circular economy employer we are committed to raising awareness of the importance of recycling. Our partnership with Oxfam is a great example of what can be done to reduce the environmental impact of materials that would normally end up in landfill sites.

“During Recycle Week we are taking this opportunity to ask other local employers to join us to increase their levels of recycling. If waste materials can be recycled, then we should be recycling as much of it as we possibly can”

Oxfam Distribution Centre Manager, Gary Stewart said “We are always looking for ways to enhance our environmental sustainability. We’re working with Usel to improve our recycling rates by sorting and separating waste so that our cardboard, paper and plastic can be 100% recycled.

“Working with Usel advances our charity’s purpose by reducing the volume and cost of our waste disposal as well as the environmental benefits of not throwing away recyclable materials and not contributing to landfill.”

Usel is the largest provider of disability employment support in Northern Ireland and its licensed recycling facility in Belfast provides supported jobs for disabled people and people with long term health conditions.

Oxfam operates two distribution sites in the Greater Belfast area that services their shops across the island of Ireland. The re-use of clothing and other items ranks second highest on the waste hierarchy, with Oxfam’s charity shops delivering huge environmental benefits by providing a sustainable and ethical option for the community to dispose of unwanted items that are then sold and reused.

Recycle Week was taking place from 17-23 October. This year’s theme was ‘Let’s Get Real’ and the aim was to challenge perceptions and myths around recycling, and target contamination to improve recycling behaviours.