Recycling and Sustainability at Storage Bermondsey
Storage Bermondsey is committed to making self storage more sustainable by promoting an eco-friendly waste disposal area and a responsible, sustainable rubbish removal area for all customers. Our goal is to reduce what goes to landfill, increase reuse across the community and support the wider environmental aims of Southwark and neighbouring boroughs.
Our Recycling Percentage Target
We are working towards a minimum 75 percent recycling and reuse rate for all waste and unwanted items that pass through our facilities. This target covers:
Customer clear-outs and decluttering projects
Business storage changes and office moves
End-of-tenancy storage unit clean downs
To reach this target, we prioritise reuse over recycling wherever possible, and recycling over disposal as a last resort. Our team regularly reviews the types of items coming into our eco-friendly waste disposal area so we can improve signage, separation and guidance for customers.
Eco-Friendly Waste Disposal Area
Our eco-friendly waste disposal area is designed to make it simple to do the right thing. Rather than a single general waste point, we provide clearly labelled zones for different material types, reflecting the approach used across London boroughs for mixed dry recycling and residual waste separation.
Typical recycling streams include:
Cardboard and paper from packing boxes and documents
Plastics and metals from containers, packaging and office supplies
Wood and furniture components where suitable for recycling
Electronics that can be directed to specialist e-waste facilities
By separating materials at source, we reduce contamination and increase the amount that can be successfully recycled at local transfer stations and processing centres.
Sustainable Rubbish Removal Area
Our sustainable rubbish removal area is managed to keep waste to a minimum and to direct items into the most responsible routes. When customers need help with clearing larger quantities of items from their units, we encourage them to speak to our team about sustainable options before anything is thrown away.
Where possible, we guide customers to:
Donate usable items to our partner charities or local community groups
Sort recyclable materials so that only true residual waste enters general disposal
Use our low-carbon collection services for bulky items, reducing the number of separate journeys made by different vehicles
This approach helps align our operations with the waste reduction and recycling priorities seen across Southwark, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and nearby boroughs, where residents and businesses are encouraged to separate recyclables from general rubbish.
Working with Local Transfer Stations
Storage Bermondsey works closely with local transfer stations and commercial recycling facilities to ensure that waste from our eco-friendly waste disposal area and sustainable rubbish removal area is treated in line with best practice.
Our partners support us by:
Providing material-specific recycling routes for cardboard, metals, plastics and wood
Handling segregated construction and DIY materials where customers have been renovating or refurbishing properties
Directing residual waste to facilities that prioritise energy recovery over landfill where possible
Because our waste is pre-sorted on site, transfer stations can process it more efficiently and with higher recovery rates, helping us move closer to our 75 percent recycling and reuse target.
Partnerships with Charities and Reuse Organisations
Reuse is one of the most effective ways to cut carbon and reduce waste, which is why we maintain ongoing partnerships with local charities and community reuse organisations.
Customers often store items such as furniture, clothing, household goods, books and office equipment that still have plenty of life left in them. When these items are no longer needed, our team can help identify suitable local charities that accept:
Good-quality furniture and homeware
Office desks, chairs and shelving from business clear-outs
Books, toys and small household items in usable condition
By encouraging donation first, we support community projects, extend the life of products and significantly cut the amount of material entering the waste stream.
Low-Carbon Vans and Transport
Transport has a major impact on the environmental footprint of waste and storage services. To reduce this, Storage Bermondsey is actively transitioning towards a low-carbon fleet.
Our approach includes:
Using low-emission and hybrid vans for rubbish removal and customer collections where available
Planning efficient collection routes to minimise mileage and idling time
Combining multiple customer trips into single journeys when practical
These measures align with wider London efforts to cut transport emissions, particularly within and around the Ultra Low Emission Zone, while still providing a convenient and reliable service to our customers.
Supporting Local Recycling Practices
We recognise that many of our customers come from Southwark and adjoining boroughs such as Lewisham, Lambeth and Tower Hamlets, each with its own approach to kerbside recycling, food waste collection and garden waste services. To make things easier, our on-site guidance is designed to reflect common local practices such as separating dry mixed recycling from general waste and keeping items like food, liquids and textiles out of recycling containers.
Where appropriate, our team can also help customers understand how to dispose of items that are better handled through borough services, such as household batteries, certain electricals or specialist hazardous materials, so that these do not enter general waste streams at our facility.
Continuous Improvement and Customer Support
Recycling and sustainability are ongoing commitments at Storage Bermondsey. We regularly review our recycling percentage, the performance of our eco-friendly waste disposal area and the effectiveness of our sustainable rubbish removal area, and we adjust our processes when we see opportunities for improvement.
Customers are encouraged to ask for guidance on the best way to dispose of or donate items stored with us. With your support, we can increase our recycling and reuse rate, cut carbon emissions through low-carbon vans and efficient transport planning, and make Storage Bermondsey a genuinely sustainable choice for personal and business storage.
