From Rubbish to Reusable

When hundreds of plastic recycling bins across Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campuses reached the end of their usable lives, throwing them into landfill was not an option. The damaged and decommissioned bins could not be reused or repurposed, but the plastic itself was far too valuable to waste.

To solve this puzzle, the Grŵp partnered with local North Wales recycling experts Parry & Evans to give the old bins a new start, while keeping transport miles low and supporting the local economy.

The journey from campus to new product

The broken bins were collected and taken to Parry & Evans’ facility in nearby Deeside. The bins went through a specialist recycling line where they were shredded and cleaned then processed into high-quality raw plastic pellets. These pellets can now be returned directly to the plastic manufacturing market to be turned into brand-new products.

By opting for a local partner, the Grŵp simplified a logistically challenging cleanup, kept transport emissions down, and put the circular economy into action – keeping materials working for the planet rather than sitting in the ground.

Building a greener campus environment

Sharon Bowker, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, said:

“Managing campuses naturally comes with waste challenges, but finding sustainable solutions is at the heart of how we operate. Partnering with Parry & Evans turned a major disposal challenge into a real environmental success story. By keeping our recycling local and giving old equipment a second life as raw material, we're taking another practical step toward our sustainability goals and making a genuine difference across North Wales.”

This project is just one of many ways Grŵp Llandrillo Menai is delivering on its Strategic Plan. Guided by our commitment to ‘Our Role in a Sustainable Wales,’ the Grŵp continues to demonstrate how everyday procurement and waste decisions can create a greener future for our campus and their local communities.