Green Gown Awards 2014 - Facilities and Services - South Coast Affinity Group (SCAG) - HC

Not just another “rubbish” acronym; but a partnership made in heaven

The snappily named ‘SCAG’ consortium is an innovative shared services project delivering significant environmental benefits through sustainable waste management. The group and contractor work together through a partnership approach to deliver an innovative pay by weight contract with the focus on recycling rather than waste management.

Since its inception, the consortium contract has led to increased recycling rates at all of the member sites. The contract has delivered financial savings of over £830K to date and has diverted 6,900 tonnes of waste from landfill. By 2012/13 the member organisations were recycling 55% of all the waste generated on their sites. By the end of the 2013/14 academic year this had increased further with some members achieving rates of over 70% and climbing.

The contract is a great example of universities working together for mutual benefit with professionals from the sustainability, operational, procurement and financial areas working together.

SCAG formed in 2008, represents five universities: Southampton, Winchester, Solent, Bournemouth and Portsmouth.

Top 3 learnings

1 Working in partnership is very successful in terms of both the institutions and working with the contractor
2 Mixed recycling can yield significant improvements in recycling rates
3 Conversion factors for bin weights are not representative of SCAG member institutions.

What the judges say ...

Regognition of the longevity and success of this initiative. There is great collaboration with a
robust and sustainable model that could and should be adopted more widely.

What it means to win ...

“On behalf of SCAG Members, it is an honour for us to win this award. The technical and contractual innovation in this contract for recycling and waste management services is, we believe, a first in the sector and we hope will set the standard for waste management in FE and HE.”

Mathew Jane MSc, Energy and Environment Manager, The University of Winchester (SCAG member)

Videos

• Not just another “rubbish” acronym; but a partnership made in heaven (click to hide)