Sayers the Bakers has agreed a national food waste collection service with recycling and waste management company Biffa.

Following a successful two-month trial, the Bolton-based independent retail bakery chain will be working closely with Biffa to dispose of general waste, cardboard and plastics and achieve 100% diversion of waste from landfill.

Sayers is looking to cut waste and boost its environmental performance, with much of its food waste to be taken to Biffa’s Poplars AD plant, the largest of its kind in the UK. It has the capacity to process 120,000 tonnes of food waste every year, turning it into water, fertiliser and producing enough energy for 10,000 homes.

Bob Barltrop, Biffa’s group sales and marketing director, said: “It’s great to be processing this food waste for Sayers. It is a clear demonstration that the food industry takes its environmental responsibility increasingly seriously.

“It’s the right thing to do and, as landfill tax costs continue to rise it makes good business sense; it will increasingly be the cheapest thing to do with food waste. In fact collection contracts such as this are set to be the most economical way for businesses of all sizes to deal with food and general waste.”

Sayers the Bakers is the biggest independent retail baker in the North West with over 150 shops throughout the region.