Case study
Dobbies Garden Centres
Consolidated, insight-driven services, embedded long term improvements.
The challenge
Dobbies is the UK’s largest garden centre retailer with 53 stores around the country. They wanted to improve waste management performance, boost recycling across all their sites. and divert more waste from landfill. What they needed was a strategic, data-led approach to unlock and realise these ambitions.
As onsite routines changed, some recycling streams were being underutilised, behaviours had shifted, and valuable materials weren’t always being captured. Each site had balers and storage for bulking cardboard and plastics—materials that attract valuable rebates but our analysis showed bale collections were significantly lower than forecast.
The solution
We introduced a fully consolidated, insight-driven service designed to reset onsite practices and embed long term improvement.
A smarter, streamlined system
- Segregation at source was introduced and reinforced, ensuring recyclable materials were captured correctly from the moment waste was generated.
- Rebate optimised collections were implemented through a UK leading recycling network, increasing value from high quality baled materials.
- Realtime monitoring of recycling performance allowed continuous improvement and rapid identification of inefficiencies.
Support where it mattered most
To ensure consistency across all garden centres, our detailed onsite audits and desk-based analysis identified general waste skips as a major focus area. Many were removed or replaced with recycling-led alternatives, complemented by carefully planned bin provision to support better segregation without compromising operational needs. Our tailored support, education and guidance helped teams adapt, stay aligned with best practice, and keep sustainability momentum strong.
Data-led optimisation
Collection data was routinely analysed to ensure all services, particularly baler collections were being fully utilised. This enabled Dobbies to capture more value from cardboard and plastics, reduce general waste, and improve operational efficiency at scale.
The results
1,131 - Tonnes of general waste reduced
47 %- Reduction in general waste to landfill
468 %- Increase in rebate value from material
Our partnership has delivered outstanding progress, directly supporting Dobbies’ long-term sustainability goals
SWRnewstar have provided a service that allowed us to enhance our recycling, reduce our costs and obtain best value for our material generated. They worked with Dobbies team members to introduce procedures that increased segregation and this significantly cut the amount of general waste we produce. With general waste volumes currently around 33% lower compared to previous years, this is aligned with our sustainability objectives and ensured we can invest these savings into our core business. We continue to work with SWRnewstar on innovative solutions with a long-term view of achieving a closed loop plant pot and tray recycling solution. Our team at Dobbies are very pleased with the results.
Case studies
-
Edinburgh Airport
Logistics
11% reduction in general waste by tightened access to tip areas and clearer processes for managing bulky waste.
Read more >> -
Dobbies Garden Centres
Food non-retail
1,131 tonne decrease in general waste by Improved segregation, clearer procedures and more value recovered from recyclable materials.
Read more >> -
Savills
Property Management
£333,000 saved in the first two years through a tailored strategy to reduce waste, manage costs and streamline operations.
Read more >>