Bristol challenger brands Friska, the fast-growing healthy eating café group, and ethical advisory service Waste Source have teamed up to find new ways of reducing commercial refuse and step up its recycling.
Friska, a Waste Source customer for three and a half years, has made bottom-line savings of 7% over the past few months after benefiting from some innovative new approaches. 
Waste Source manages six of Friska’s sites, including its latest in Manchester where the firms have worked together closely to launch a new coffee recycling service.
Waste Source has also helped Friska by introducing new systems and software that gives the café chain’s management in-depth analysis of the amount of waste being produced and tracks how much has been recycled each month.
As a result, Friska has cut waste and is now recycling more. It is also actively challenging its customers to reduce their own waste and increase their recycling to promote sustainability.
Friska co-founder and managing director Griff Holland said: “Waste Source are a true waste management partner who help us understand our waste requirements, manage waste costs and help us to be as environmentally responsible as we can be within the context of a take away focused hospitality business. Their approach to account management is proactive and innovative.”
Waste Source MD Chris Holland added: “We’ve built a strong working relationship with Friska and we’re delighted that this is accelerating with the latest developments.
“For us it’s always been about coming up with fresh and innovative ideas that can benefit our customers. Friska are now able to reduce their waste output and save money.”
The partnership comes off the back of calls to reduce the amount of waste produced in the UK.
But Griff says that there has been a lot of mis-information surrounding compostable packaging.
He added: “Let’s get it on the record that we’re 100% committed to doing all we can to benefit the environment. Yes, changing to compostable packaging reduces plastic but it’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul because it never ends up getting composted. Instead it’s incinerated. 
“It’s a great idea but the infrastructure isn’t in place to support it – you need to start waste collections just for compostable materials as they don’t get included in mixed recycling.”
Waste Source was founded in 2010 by Chris Holland and Jon Free, pictured, while Chris was procurement manager for pioneering Bristol-based pie firm Pieminister. He realised the company was being overcharged for the removal of waste.
The firm now has clients across the hospitality sector including Turtle Bay, Brewhouse and Kitchen and Amber Taverns – all making month-on -month savings thanks to its pro-active account management.
