St Austell Brewery has launched an ambitious recycling initiative to reduce the general waste in its managed pubs by 80%. The new initiative, in partnership with leading waste management company, Biffa, includes the introduction of a streamlined waste system across St Austell Brewery’s 45 managed pubs.
Teams across the company’s South West pub estate are aiming to double the amount of waste being recycled as part of the plan, with a goal of hitting the 80% target by the end of this year. From educating and engaging colleagues on correct recycling, through to minimising food waste, St Austell Brewery is aiming to reduce its environmental footprint whilst also rewarding teams for hitting their targets.
All of St Austell Brewery’s managed pubs now have colour-coded bins which are divided into three sections:
dry mixed recycling for tins, cans, paper, dry cardboard, foil, magazines, plastic containers and metal lids
food waste for tea bags, coffee grounds, bones and uneaten food
general waste for anything else
In addition to making waste segregation easier, St Austell Brewery is rolling out a supporting employee encouragement plan to help drive engagement and participation. This includes a leaderboard for pubs, where the team with the highest reduction in waste overall will be rewarded with online vouchers to spend every quarter.
Helen Sprason, Area Manager and member of the Sustainability Steering Committee at St Austell Brewery, said:
“One of the first things we did when we started the project was to engage our pub teams about proper recycling. For some team members this involved a trip to Biffa’s Redruth MRF (Mixed Recycling Facility) to get a first-hand look at the importance of thorough recycling."
"We recognise that given our scale we have a huge opportunity to really make a difference. Last year, we successfully reduced total waste in our managed pub estate by 40%, and we are now aiming for an even greater impact. We’re confident this is one of the biggest waste management schemes to be undertaken by a pub company.”
Emily Coon, Sustainability Manager at St Austell Brewery, said:
“Reducing general waste by 80% is a bold target, but through our partnership with Biffa and a steadfast commitment to proper waste segregation, the initiative is already making a big difference.”
Emily added: “We’re excited about how we can scale the waste management scheme in the future. The goal is to create a culture of sustainability, where colleagues feel confident and engaged in the process of reducing and recycling waste. Whilst we are committed to minimising food waste across our business, where surplus does occur, we’re proud to partner with Olio. Powered through an app, this relationship ensures that good food is shared with local communities rather than going to waste.”
Following the launch of the new waste scheme in the managed pubs, the company is now planning to extend it across its two breweries (St Austell and Hare, near Bath) and its head office and depots across the South West.
Since the launch of the general waste reduction campaign in 2025, St Austell Brewery has seen encouraging progress across its managed pubs, with average reductions ranging from 5% to 15%. Leading the way is Haveners in Fowey, which has shown exceptional improvement. At the start of the year, general waste made up 46% of their total waste, but they've impressively reduced that figure to just 10.82%. This marks a remarkable 36% reduction at a single site - an achievement that sets a strong example.
Biffa, which has waste deposits across the South West, will undertake regular audits to track the success of St Austell Brewery’s initiative; this data will provide valuable insights into where improvements can continue to be made.
Paul Tregunna, Account Director for Biffa’s Cornwall head office, said:
“This is a substantial undertaking, particularly in the hospitality sector, and we are proud to be supporting St Austell Brewery with this important initiative. We look forward to fully supporting the company’s ambitious efforts to improve sustainability and waste management across all of its managed pub estate.”
Last year, St Austell Brewery released its first impact report, demonstrating the family-owned business’ commitment to sustainability and its efforts to have a positive impact on people and the planet.
With more than 160 pubs across the South West, two breweries, a drinks wholesale business and six distribution centres, St Austell Brewery is one of the region's largest private businesses.
Sustainability has long been at the heart of St Austell Brewery’s mission. Since 2002, the company has partnered with Cornish farmers to source local barley, minimising food miles by building a strong South West supply chain and supporting local businesses.
Over the last three years, the business has undertaken initiatives aimed at tackling its carbon footprint, including reducing emissions from the drays which transport beer across the country by updating the lorries to Euro 6 engines, and its partnership with a food waste platform to redistribute leftover food from managed pubs to local communities.
