Hutchinsons

Operating across multiple sites, Hutchinsons faced three key challenges common within the agriculture sector:

• Inconsistent costs: Each site had its own waste contract, pricing structure, and service arrangement, resulting in inefficiencies and making cost control difficult.
• Limited visibility: Using multiple suppliers meant there was no centralised reporting system. Tracking waste volumes, recycling rates, or sustainability performance required time-consuming manual requests.
• Low recycling performance: Without standardised segregation or recycling streams, large amounts of recyclable material were leaving sites as general waste. 

The company required a streamlined, transparent, and compliant approach that would improve oversight and support sustainability goals.

To bring consistency and clarity, Business Waste carried out a detailed benchmarking exercise across all sites in the Hutchinsons portfolio. This identified inefficiencies and the potential to deliver a 35% cost saving through consolidation.

Key steps included:

• Centralising services: Consolidating all sites under one supplier with unified billing, reporting, and customer care.
• Introducing recycling streams: Adding dry mixed recycling (DMR) and food waste services to replace general waste collections and ensure on-site segregation.
• Standardising operations: Implementing a consistent bin and collection strategy across all locations, reducing missed collections and service discrepancies.
• Ongoing performance review: Regular audits and data analysis to identify further efficiency and recycling improvements as the contract progressed. 

This setup provided Hutchinsons with a single point of contact, consistent service standards, and improved compliance across all sites.

Our partnership has delivered measurable outcomes for Hutchinsons:

• £30,000 annual saving. Equivalent to a 35% reduction in waste management costs.
• Streamlined communication. One supplier, one invoice, one consolidated report for every site.
• Improved compliance. Full documentation for audits and complete traceability of waste movements.
• Higher recycling rates. Through the introduction of DMR and food waste collections.
• Simplified reporting. Access to clear waste data for sustainability tracking and internal reporting.

This unified approach not only reduced costs but also helped Hutchinsons align with Simpler Recycling legislation and strengthen its environmental credentials.

The transition was completed over 12 months, aligned with the anniversary dates of Hutchinsons’ existing supplier contracts. This phased approach ensured:

• No disruption to daily operations
• Smooth contract handovers
• Time to educate site teams on new segregation practices

By the end of the rollout, all sites were fully integrated into the Business Waste system, with consistent recycling and reporting processes in place.

This project highlights how multi-site agricultural businesses can benefit from:

• Centralised waste management – giving total visibility and cost control.
• Standardised recycling processes – reducing general waste and increasing compliance.
• Dedicated account management – improving communication and responsiveness.
• Data-led reporting – enabling accurate sustainability tracking and decision-making.

Having a signed Letter of Authority (LOA) from Hutchinsons allowed Business Waste to manage supplier transitions directly, removing delays and ensuring a seamless changeover.

By consolidating all waste services under one supplier, Hutchinsons now benefits from a simpler, smarter, and more compliant waste management system.

The result is a leaner operation with better recycling rates, lower costs, and clear visibility across every site. We’re committed to helping the business continue its sustainability journey with confidence.