Gym Waste Collection

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Gym waste management in numbers

£1.8 billion market value of gyms in the UK

3,060 gyms in the UK

11 million people in the UK carry a gym membership

Compare gym waste management solutions

Reasons to compare commercial waste collection services for your gym.

Cost efficiency

Gyms can benefit financially from comparing waste service providers to find competitive rates and flexible services tailored to their specific needs.

Diverse waste streams

Arrange for separate collections of your different recyclables offered by comprehensive waste management services to reduce your exposure to the landfill tax.

Reliability

Reliability is paramount for gyms. It ensures waste is managed efficiently without disrupting operations or member experience. A consistent and communicative service provider is key.

Gym waste collection and disposal

Our experts delve into the essential strategies, innovative solutions, and best practices for managing waste generated by fitness facilities.

Compare gym waste management solutions
Gym waste streams
Waste minimisation in gyms
Gym waste removal strategy
The Gym Group’s sustainable practices
What happens to unwanted gym equipment?

Gym waste streams

Explore the variety of waste streams produced by gyms, from recyclable materials and general waste to specific disposals like electronic and hazardous waste. Understand how each stream impacts your gym’s operations and the environment.

General business waste

This stream encompasses non-recyclable items frequently found in gyms, including hygiene products, snack wrappers, and mixed materials unsuitable for recycling. It is a catch-all for waste that doesn’t fit into specific recycling categories.

Mixed recycling

Gyms generate substantial recyclable materials, including cardboard from product packaging, plastics (bottles and containers), metals (cans), and glass bottles. These materials should be collected and stored separately to enhance recycling efforts.

Hazardous

Hazardous waste includes chemicals and materials from cleaning shower rooms, toilets, and other areas within the gym. These industrial products pose potential risks to health or the environment and require special disposal methods to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

Electronic

Electronic waste from gyms Includes old or broken gym equipment and entrance machines that are no longer functional. These items are classified as electronic waste (e-waste) and require proper recycling or disposal to prevent environmental harm and recover valuable materials.

Food Waste

Gyms with cafés or vending machines generate organic waste, including expired products, food scraps, and coffee grounds. To avoid the environmental impact of food waste at landfills, this waste should be collected and sent to a composting or anaerobic digestion facility.

Paper waste

Primarily consists of paper towels used for cleaning machines and equipment. This type of waste is prevalent in gyms, where maintaining hygiene standards requires frequent wiping down of surfaces, leading to significant paper towel usage.

Textiles

Gyms often face an accumulation of textile waste, including worn-out towels, uniforms, and unclaimed lost property. Items in good condition may be eligible for recycling or donation, offering a sustainable solution to effectively manage this specific waste stream.

Waste minimisation strategies for gyms

Practical waste minimisation strategies for gyms, focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling to reduce waste and enhance sustainability.

Refillable Water Stations

Introducing refillable water stations encourages members to bring and use reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste in the gym.

This initiative minimises the consumption and disposal of single-use plastic bottles and promotes hydration in an eco-friendly manner. By making refillable stations easily accessible and visible, gyms can foster a culture of sustainability in their community while catering to the health and wellness of their members.

Reduce single-use plastics

Encourage gyms to minimise their reliance on single-use plastics by adopting alternatives like providing or selling reusable bottles and cups and using eco-friendly packaging for on-site products.

This effort significantly reduces plastic waste, promoting environmental sustainability within the fitness community.

Use Biodegradable Products

To significantly reduce the environmental impact, shift to biodegradable cleaning products for all gym cleaning needs.

These eco-friendly alternatives ensure a clean and safe environment for gym members and minimise harmful chemical runoff into water systems.

Durable Gym Equipment

Investing in high-quality, durable gym equipment reduces the frequency of replacements and repairs, leading to less waste and more sustainable operations.

This approach ensures that gym members have access to reliable and safe equipment and aligns with environmental stewardship by minimising the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and disposing of gym machinery.

Recycle Old Equipment

Partner with recycling services or donate to organisations to ensure that old gym equipment is repurposed or recycled rather than ending up in landfills or incinerators.

This strategy extends the lifecycle of valuable resources, supports community fitness initiatives, and reduces environmental impact.

💡Did you know

The latest government figures show that the UK generated 222.2 million tonnes of waste, with England accounting for 84% of that total. 19.75% of that waste was attributed to commercial and industrial businesses, including gyms and fitness centres.

Commercial bins in the gym: Types and strategic placement

From sweat-strewn gym equipment to heavy treadmill use, every aspect of a gym’s operation produces waste that, if not properly managed, can counteract the wellness goals we strive for.

Our waste experts delve into the world of bin placement strategies tailored for gyms, spotlighting how the right bin placements and a mindful approach to waste can transform any gym into a beacon of sustainability.

General Waste Bins

Placement: Throughout the gym, especially in high-traffic areas like the gym floor, locker rooms, and entrance/exit points.

Common Materials: Non-recyclable waste such as hygiene products, snack wrappers, and non-recyclable plastics.

Reason: Collect everyday waste that cannot be recycled, ensuring a clean and hygienic environment.

Mixed Recycling Bins

Placement: Common areas near water stations, back offices, and break rooms.

Common Materials: Paper, cardboard, plastics and cans.

Reason: To make recycling convenient for gym-goers and staff, reducing waste sent to landfills.

Food Waste Bins

Placement: Cafés, entrance, locker rooms or any area within the gym where food is consumed.

Common Materials: Food scraps, coffee grounds, and biodegradable plates/cutlery.

Reason: To divert organic waste from landfills, potentially reducing methane emissions and facilitating compost production.

Glass Recycling Bins

Placement: Cafés and snack bars.

Common Materials: Glass bottles and jars.

Reason: Glass is infinitely recyclable without losing quality, so separating it prevents contamination with other recyclables and reduces the energy needed for new glass production.

Paper Recycling Bins

Placement: Offices, reception areas.

Common Materials: Office paper, newspapers, magazines, and flyers.

Reason: To recover valuable fibres from paper, reducing the demand for virgin pulp and the environmental impact of paper production.

Plastic Recycling Bins

Placement: Locker rooms, gym floor, vending machine, and common areas.

Common Materials: Plastic bottles, containers, and packaging.

Reason: Plastics can take hundreds of years to degrade; recycling them reduces environmental pollution and saves resources.

What happens to unwanted gym equipment?

Unwanted gym equipment has several pathways to a second life, ensuring it doesn’t just end up in landfills. Here’s what you can do with old or broken exercise equipment:

Recycling and Disposal

You can take your old gym equipment to local waste commercial recycling centres, which will be sorted and sent for reuse or recycling. This is a practical option for dealing with electronic and electrical gym equipment, reducing environmental impact by diverting waste from landfills.

Donation and Charity

Another excellent way to give your old gym gear a new purpose is to donate it to charities that resell sports equipment. Some charities, for example, focus on sending donated football and rugby kits to children and communities in Ghana and other countries, promoting sports and physical activity.

Upcycling and Repurposing

If you’re creative, consider upcycling or repurposing your gym equipment. Old equipment can be transformed into something new and useful, like turning dumbbells into doorstops or using parts of machines as furniture or garden planters.

One-off Waste Collection

Contacting a junk removal service might be the best option for equipment beyond repair. These companies can dispose of your equipment responsibly, whether selling it for scrap metal or taking it to a recycling centre.

Commercial Removal Services

For businesses or individuals with bulk amounts of gym equipment to dispose of, commercial removal services like GYMSTOCK offer collection, donation, recycling, and selling options, making the process hassle-free.

Selling on eBay

For gyms looking to replace old equipment, it’s worth looking at selling on online marketplaces, including eBay. Gym equipment is expensive, and someone or a small private gym could use it rather than send it to the landfill. You’ll also get some cash for it instead of paying for one-off removal.

The Gym Group’s sustainable practices

The Gym Group is pioneering sustainability within the UK fitness industry, notably as the first carbon-neutral gym chain.

A comprehensive approach towards minimising waste is a key part of their sustainability efforts. The Gym Group successfully recycled 95% of its waste in 2021 and is actively working to reduce waste to landfill further.

Efforts include removing single-use plastics from vending machines and conducting regular audits to enhance efficiency across their operations.

Members are also encouraged to participate in sustainability practices, such as taking shorter showers, bringing reusable water bottles and towels, opting for sustainable transport options to the gym, and correctly using recycling bins provided on-site.

💡They have committed to significant carbon emission reductions, targeting a 50% cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and aiming for net zero by 2045.

Gym waste management FAQs

Our waste experts answer frequently asked questions.

How can gym members contribute to waste minimisation?

Members can contribute using refillable water bottles instead of single-use plastics.

Participating in towel reuse programs, properly sorting their waste into designated recycling bins, and supporting sustainability initiatives introduced by the gym.

How is a gym waste management program audited and improved?

A gym’s waste management practices are regularly audited through internal assessments and external certifications, looking at waste reduction achievements and areas for improvement.

Feedback from members and staff also plays a crucial role in continuous improvement.