Birmingham Wholesale Market Achieves 91% Recycling and Landfill Diversion Rate

Birmingham Wholesale Market is proud to announce a major environmental milestone, with 91% of all waste processed on site now being recycled or diverted away from landfill.

The achievement represents a significant step forward in the Market’s ongoing commitment to reducing waste, improving sustainability and creating a cleaner environment for tenants, visitors and the wider Birmingham community.

Recycling Performance Rises from 71% to 91%

The progress made over the past 18 months has been substantial. During 2024, Birmingham Wholesale Market achieved an average recycling and landfill diversion rate of approximately 71%. By July 2026, this had increased to an impressive 91%.

A diversion rate of more than 90% is widely regarded as an excellent level of environmental performance, with organisations across manufacturing, distribution, education and other large commercial sites working towards similar “zero waste to landfill” ambitions.

Reaching 91% demonstrates what can be achieved when tenants, contractors, service providers and Site Management work together towards a common goal.

A Team Effort Across Birmingham Wholesale Market

The achievement has only been possible through the continued commitment of everyone working at the Market.

Site Management would particularly like to recognise the contribution of AXIL, whose waste management expertise, innovation and dedication have been instrumental in delivering the significant improvement in recycling performance.

Thanks also go to GMS Security for their continued work in maintaining a safe and secure environment, and Clean Image, whose team works hard to keep the Market clean and well maintained.

Most importantly, the Market would like to thank all of its tenants and their employees. Responsible waste separation and disposal across individual businesses has played a vital role in achieving the 91% figure.

Reducing Food Waste While Supporting the Community

Birmingham Wholesale Market is also looking beyond traditional recycling and considering how surplus products can be put to better use.

A new partnership with The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is helping to divert surplus edible food away from the waste stream and redistribute it to support homeless people and other people in need within the local community.

The initiative demonstrates how improving sustainability can create both environmental and social benefits. Instead of good food going to waste, it can be redirected to people and organisations that can make use of it.

Progress Despite Significant Challenges

The improvement is particularly notable given the challenges experienced across Birmingham during this period.

Ongoing bin strikes and an increase in fly-tipping have placed additional pressure on waste management operations. Despite these circumstances, Birmingham Wholesale Market has continued to improve its performance and achieve its highest recycling and landfill diversion levels to date.

This reflects the dedication of those working across the site and the importance of maintaining clear processes for separating and managing waste correctly.

Building on the 91% Milestone

Achieving a 91% recycling and landfill diversion rate is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the journey.

Birmingham Wholesale Market will continue to look for opportunities to reduce waste, increase recycling and minimise the amount of material ultimately sent to landfill.

This will include maintaining the high standards already achieved, developing initiatives such as the partnership with The Active Wellbeing Society and identifying further opportunities to improve waste management throughout the site.

Continued cooperation from tenants and their teams will remain essential. By correctly separating waste and following the Market’s waste management procedures, every business on site can contribute to maintaining and improving these results.

A More Sustainable Birmingham Wholesale Market

The progress from 71% to 91% in just 18 months is an achievement everyone associated with Birmingham Wholesale Market can be proud of.

It demonstrates that even in challenging circumstances, significant environmental improvements can be achieved through collaboration, commitment and a shared sense of responsibility.

Birmingham Wholesale Market would like to thank its tenants, employees, contractors and service partners for their continued support in making the Market a cleaner, safer and more sustainable place for everyone.

Birmingham Wholesale Market is working with the Active Wellbeing Society to explore different methods to reduce edible waste whilst at the same time distributing surplus food to those who need it most across the city and therefore reducing the amount of produce that goes to waste.

No one plans to waste food and there are other routes to market for produce past it’s best.  Businesses are conscious of minimising their waste but it’s inevitable due to unforeseen events such as changes in demand due to weather, gluts, staff off sick so less time for stock rotation etc.

The proposal for this project has come out of TAWS work with Birmingham City Council’s Public Health Food team on a surplus food project linked to the Birmingham Food System Strategy.  Aligned with the Food Waste and Recycling workstream, the project looked at the opportunities for minimising food waste and maximising the repurposing and redistribution of surplus food.

 In addition to the Food System Strategy, the Cost of Living response is a major area of work within Birmingham City Council.  The amount of surplus food available is in decline but the need for food in the city is rising.  However, the Surplus Food Hub will provide the opportunity to see what is possible to intercept, overcoming barriers and developing new partnerships to ensure better access to surplus food across the city which aligns with the Cost of Living response.

A gap was identified at the Wholesale Markets in terms of there not being a robust process for the recovery and redistribution of edible surplus food.

The project will coordinate a new Surplus Food Hub at the Birmingham Wholesale Market (BWM), engage with the wholesale traders and encourage them to donate their edible food waste. The food is currently being redistributed through some partners such as Change Kitchen and Incredible Surplus in The Food Justice Network (https://theaws.co.uk/food-provision-database/)  – a coalition of 300+ community groups supporting residents in need. Any inedible food will be taken off site for composting and to provide animal feed.

An additional opportunity has presented itself as a result of this pilot:  The size of the hub space means that it can also be used for businesses/ food producers outside of the Wholesales Markets to deliver surplus food.

This opportunity has arisen out of the surplus food work that TAWS has been leading on and the relationships that has been built with the markets.   It is a good example of cross-sector, city-wide partnership working. It will support cross-sector collaboration and empower the stakeholders involved to address a complex challenge and improve environmental, economic and community outcomes whilst also addressing inequalities in the city.

The pilot is in it’s initial stages.  The next step is to hire a hub coordinator who will be on site five days a week to build relationships and optimise the amount of edible surplus food that can be redistributed across the city to more partners in The Food Justice Network.

FRESH FROM FLANDERS is coming to Birmingham Wholesale Market!

It was great to see our waste plant and Axil featured in the recent issue of  The Business Times Northamptonshire in the May issue (page 16).

We are pleased to say that AXIL Integrated Services are continuing their fantastic work at the market and have extended their contract with us for a further 5 years. Since they have come onto site they have made many improvements including installing a new baler on-site to improve segregation of materials and maximised rebate opportunities. Not only this but waxy cardboard was taken from a higher grade to increase rebates further.

Andrew Barnes, Market manager said, “Birmingham Wholesale market has been designed for the 21st Century and offers a highly efficient trading environment, where make every effort to minimise or recycle food and material waste. Our partnership with Axil has led to a cleaner site that recycles more – with any rebates being passed straight back to our tenants.”

It was great to show off some of the Market’s amazing Fruit and Vegetables at the recent Greater Birmingham Chambers Expo at Villa Park and let everyone enjoy the delicious fresh produce from the Wholesale Market!

It was great to welcome Dr Justin Varney to the Wholesale Market this morning to discuss food strategy for Birmingham in 2022 and beyond.