Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc) has been recognised for its commitment to sustainable waste management in the annual Ministry of Defence (MOD) Sanctuary Awards, with over 95 per cent of its waste now being diverted from landfill.

Representatives from the sustainability and regional waste management teams collected the award at the ceremony in London. L to R, Allan Sturrock, Carl Holloway, Dave Atolagbe, Steve Milnes and Chris Hollis with Tobias Ellwood MP.

The awards celebrate the positive contribution made by organisations that support the MOD estate by improving sustainability, managing valuable natural resources and protecting heritage.

Landmarc has been partnering with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for over 15 years to ensure the Defence Training Estate (DTE) delivers a safe and sustainable place for armed forces to train.  

Thanks to its waste and resource management strategy, the company has seen performance improve from a four per cent recorded recycling rate in 2008 to a 56 per cent recycling rate in 2017/18, with just over 95 per cent of waste diverted from landfill. 

The company has now set itself ambitious targets to recycle 70 per cent of waste by 2020 and to continue to ensure less than five per cent of waste is disposed to landfill each year. Ultimately the aim is zero waste to landfill, and Landmarc continues to coordinate effort and investment into sustainable waste management to achieve this. 

This incorporates three key areas of focus: a new sustainability strategy, investment in eight waste sorting stations and a specific focus on staff training and development.

Sustainability Strategy
Last year, Landmarc launched a new Sustainability Strategy, using the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for prioritising action. The goals seek to mobilise efforts around a common set of targets, covering a wide range of topics such as poverty, health, education and climate change. Goals 12 ‘Responsible Production and Consumption’ and 13 ‘Climate Action’ inform Landmarc’s approach to sustainable waste management, as well as the Greening Government Commitments and Sustainable MOD Strategy.  

Sustainable waste champions

The Waste Sorting Stations (WSS) are key to Landmarc’s approach, located in six regions across the UK.

Originally established to sift for military debris, the WSS teams are also adding significant value by segregating waste for recycling and implementing the waste hierarchy.

Each site has a nominated waste focal point, responsible for overseeing waste management locally and driving improvements and cost savings. 

Sustainability Skills

Landmarc has also made a commitment to ensuring its teams have the skills and knowledge to contribute to waste management objectives. As part of a wider drive to develop sustainability skills, the Sustainability Team has toured the UK delivering Waste Management training to around 200 operational staff involved in handling waste.

Steve Utley, Landmarc’s Managing Director said, “There are countless examples of Landmarc staff who have gone above and beyond their core duties, taking the initiative to prevent unnecessary waste and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable resource management. All those involved deserve a mention for their hard work, enthusiasm and ideas to improve performance in this area and we are delighted to have been recognised by the MOD in this way.” 

Graham Dalton, Chief Executive of DIO commented, “The MOD and DIO are committed to implementing Defence sustainability principles across the whole MOD estate and promoting the Government’s vision of long-term climate resilience.

“Therefore, it’s great to see so many innovative projects taking place that demonstrate the positive impact we can have across the Defence estate, both in the UK and Overseas. Thank you to all the teams and individuals for their enthusiasm and commitment in helping MOD towards achieving its sustainability agenda.”