Gloucestershire Cricket has teamed up with waste management firm Grundon for a further three years after their existing partnership resulted in a steady improvement in the club’s recycling performance.
Recycling rates at the club’s Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol have bounced up by almost 60% over the past three years – from just 28% in 2021 to 43.8% this year.
The club has recycled more than 30 tonnes of waste so far this year – from glass and mixed recyclables to food and green waste.
The improved rates are down to better provision for spectators on matchdays – more on-site bins in more locations with clearer instructions on their usage.
Now Gloucestershire, which was the first UK cricket club to sign up for a number of environmentally sustainable initiatives, including the UN’s Sports for Climate Action framework and its Race to Zero campaign, has awarded Grundon a further three-year contract to help bring additional improvements to its sustainability operation.
Next season fans will see improved signage and new external bins in different locations, among other measures, to help minimise rubbish being sent to energy-from-waste facilities.
Grundon regional sales manager in Bristol, Daniel Peacey, pictured, above left, with Gloucestershire chief operating officer Neil Priscott, said: “For a venue which is so heavily reliant on public engagement, anything above 40% of recycling is a really good figure.
“We’re proud of exceeding that target in our work with Gloucestershire so far and we’re looking forward to helping them achieve even better results over the next three years.
“Since being involved, we have introduced internal recycling containers as well as facilitating more segregation of waste on site and around the ground, on match days and day-to-day.
“Clearly it’s impossible to police what food and drink people bring into the ground, or how it is packaged and disposed of.”
Grundon manages waste streams at major events and sporting occasions ranging from Royal Ascot and the British Grand Prix to music festivals such as Valley Fest, staged near Chew Magna each year.
Daniel said the firm knew from these events that education and communication were key elements of good recycling performance.
“We have recently introduced our dedicated sustainability engagement manager to the club, and together she and I will be working with the club to look at further improvements next year,” he added.
Since becoming established in Bristol in 2020, Grundon has set up several key sustainability initiatives, including a depot in the St Philips area of Bristol and introducing a £300,000 electric collection vehicle onto the city’s streets this summer.
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club chief operating officer Neil Priscott said: “It’s fundamental for us to have a reliable waste management partner because it is a relationship which is at the heart of our whole operation.
“On matchdays, we want our customers to have a seamless experience where they can enjoy everything they’re doing – the cricket, the facilities and the food and drink.
“So the challenge is doing that with a capacity crowd and to help us meet those goals we need strong partnerships with good people.”
He said over the past three years Grundon had proved to be an ideal partner.
“We feel we’re reflecting the community in Bristol, which is at the heart of the sustainable movement.
“Over the past few years we’ve had incredible feedback from our members and fans about our environmental initiatives, from our community growing space that we run with a local school to the installation of electric charge points.
“We’ve been able to make so many small adjustments that all help us with our carbon footprint.
“Waste recycling is another important piece in the sustainability jigsaw so we’re pleased to have Grundon on that journey with us.”
As well as hosting Gloucestershire County fixtures, the Seat Unique Stadium in Ashley Down staged a growing number of one-day and T20 internationals over recent years.
Gloucestershire Cricket confirmed last week that it is looking to sell the ground and move to a purpose-built stadium on the outskirts of Bristol.
Grundon, which was founded in 1929, has reduced its carbon emissions by 80% since 2000 through a series of measures, including an ongoing energy self-sufficiency programme and investment in state-of-the-art technologies.
The Berkshire-headquartered firm works with customers across the South of England to provide a total waste management service for the reduction, reuse, recycling, recovering and disposal of waste.
