Huge drive results in zero waste to landfill at Solheim Cup

Europe’s sensational win in the recent Solheim Cup at Gleneagles was matched by an equally impressive recycling effort by Enva, which resulted in none of the waste produced on site being sent to landfill.

Having spent months planning the event’s recycling and resource management plan with its organisers, Enva provided over 300 containers to the iconic Perthshire venue. These clearly labelled bins enabled the 90,000 spectators, players, caddies and support teams to recycle paper, plastic, tin cans, cardboard, food and glass. This material was then taken to one of Enva’s recycling facilities where it was sorted and graded ready for further reprocessing. Any waste collected that could not be recycled was manufactured into a refuse derived fuel and used to offset fossil fuels in the production of sustainable energy.

Providing recycling for 90,000 people was no mean feat, with Enva employees on site for 6 days over the course of the event and its build up. The first collections would often be made before 6am with work sometimes continuing until well after 11pm.

“The Solheim cup is regarded by many as the pinnacle of women’ golf so it is only right that it has now become one of the most sustainable sporting events in the world” said Enva’s Managing Director, Barry Coughlan. “The hard work of our Enva team and the organisers resulted in none of the waste generated over the course of the event being sent to landfill. This in turn helps to minimise the event’s environmental impact and also ensures these valuable secondary resources are given a new life in recycled products or used in the production of sustainable energy.”