Southampton: Lili Waste invests £1m in Hampshire operation

Waste management specialist Lili Waste is challenging businesses to cut costs and help limit the amount of rubbish sent to landfill as it announces a new depot serving Southampton.

The company, already a success story in Hull, Sheffield and Leeds, has invested £1 million in a new operation with a depot in Eastleigh - creating jobs and giving businesses an independent alternative to established rivals in the region.

Lili Waste is marking its launch in the south with a 'Take the Waste Test' campaign, urging businesses to think about how much of their waste could be ending up in landfill, while also finding out whether they are overpaying for their waste collection services.

Lili Waste, which estimates that it is usually around 20% cheaper that its rivals, has committed to collecting Dry Mixed Recycling, which can be sent off to plants to be turned into environmentally-friendly Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).

Cost pressures, the falling pound and increases in fees have led to fears that some waste operators will not seek to renew existing arrangements with RDF providers, leading to a rise in the amount of waste going to to landfill sites.

Managing director and Lili Waste owner, Matt Miles, said: “A rise in the amount of waste going to landfill, as recyclable waste mixed with general waste, is a real problem that could have serious environmental consequences – and it’s a problem that many businesses will be unaware of.

“At Lili Waste we are completely committed to the continued collection and recycling of dry mixed recyclable waste, and totally opposed to the use of landfill.

”Trade waste isn’t very glamorous and as long as the bins are emptied each week it’s easy for a business to just let a contract roll without challenging their provider or investigating what the other options are. Large waste management companies take advantage of this and charge extra for their services just because they can.

“These costs are especially pertinent for small and medium sized business who are still operating in a tough economic climate and where such savings go straight to the bottom line.”

Lili Waste will offer every company which Takes the Waste Test a full waste audit to help them cut waste and find the greenest and most cost-effective package for them.

Matt Miles said: “We have devised the Take the Waste Test campaign to encourage companies to look at how their waste is handled while making a positive impact on the environment and on their own bottom line.

“Really it’s not a question of why you should Take the Waste Test – it’s a case of why wouldn’t you?”

He added: “We are delighted to be making this investment in the Southampton region, creating employment and offering businesses a credible alternative to larger rivals.

“We put the customer at the heart of everything we do, and our feedback from existing companies is that it is customer service as well as cost that sets us apart from others.

“We are very much looking forward to playing our part in the success of the region’s economy and making a positive impact on the business community in Southampton.”