Change Waste Recycling and Bowls Scotland divert all waste from landfill during 2024 National Championships
To mark Global Recycling Day 2025, Bowls Scotland are delighted to share the results of our National Championships Recycling and Carbon Savings Report, made possible through our partnership with Change Waste Recycling. Over the week-long championships at the National Centre for Bowling, Ayr in July 2024 over 2,107 kg of Carbon was saved through recycling, which is the equivalent of boiling a kettle non-stop for 151 days!
Over 5,300 kgs of waste was generated by our 2024 flagship event at the National Centre for Bowling, comprising of general waste, mixed recycling, glass, cardboard, and food waste. Thanks to support from Change Waste Recycling, since the 2023 event, a waste management system has been in place on site to collect and separate all waste. Change Waste Recycling were able to ensure proper handling and responsible disposal of all waste generated by the event, with 100% of waste being diverted from landfill for the second year running.
Using our 2023 data as a benchmark and in line with our decarbonisation plans for the organisation, Bowls Scotland are able to measure our progress and set targets relating to waste generated by our largest event. In 2024 we recorded a 47% total recycling and recovery rate, which has improved from just 10% in the 2023 report – there is still room for improvement with waste segregation for the remaining 53% which would reduce reliance on energy recovery processes. Food waste captured has also increased significantly, with 720kg being processed at an Anaerobic Digestion Plant, this is another area we can look to further improve upon through clear communication and collaboration with our vendors and suppliers on site.
Reflecting on the 2024 report, Tom Rattray, Sales Director at Change Waste Recycling Said:
"The 47% total recycling and recovery rate achieved at the Bowls Scotland National Championships 2024 is very high for a sporting tournament. Managing waste at large-scale events is often challenging due to the high levels of contamination from mixed materials, particularly food waste, which can make effective recycling more difficult. Many tournaments and sporting events struggle to achieve significant recycling rates, relying more heavily on general waste disposal and energy recovery. In this context, the ability to recover nearly half of all waste through recycling and material recovery demonstrates strong waste management practices and a commitment to sustainability, setting a positive benchmark for future events. Change Waste Recycling look forward to building on the success of the last two years and continuing to have a positive impact on the environment through our partnership with Bowls Scotland.”
Clubs interested in finding out more about how Change Waste Recycling can support them with maximising the amount of waste they can recycle, can visit their website or contact Tom via: trattray@changewasterecycling.co.uk .
Bowling clubs can benefit from the same reporting tools used within this National Championships document, providing committee members with better understanding and insight of their clubs’ waste. This can help clubs communicate detailed information to their members and consider their impact on the environment in addition to the potential money saving benefits that Change Waste can offer.
To view the full report from the 2024 National Championships, click here.