The supermarket chain Safeway identified various waste disposal problems. These ranged from the need to have a more effective means of disposing large volumes of accumulated cardboard waste, to a more safe and hygienic method of removing out of date milk cartons and plastic bottled drinks.

As waste disposal is an ongoing and integral part of the supermarket’s operation it was also necessary to appoint a waste management company that could deliver a ‘complete’ and ‘ongoing service’. The appointed company would not only have to provide a bespoke solution it would also have to deliver outstanding aftersales and demonstrate real value and cost effectiveness.

ACM was appointed, due to the strength of its product and service offerings, to help manage the waste at 22 of Safeway’s Flagship stores, two distribution centres and the company’s head office in Middlesex.

Not only did ACM supply Safeway with Europe’s leading Rolonof and Skip compactors it also introduced some custom made equipment to tackle the specific waste problems Safeway were encounting.

A bespoke made shredder used at Bristol effectively disposes of the plastic drink bottles and milk cartons by chipping the bottles to release the contents which are then drained off leaving the bottle or carton chippings in the compactor.

The shredders are also multi functional and are being used for the disposal of large volumes of sensitive documents which are then collected in bags ready for recycling.

Each machine has been developed to comply with stringent European legislation and engineered to ensure maximum performance. Add to this the collection and disposal service ACM provides and it’s easy to see how ACM is delivering a complete, effective waste management solution.

Steve Potts, Hygiene and Safety Manager at Safeway, is very impressed with the service. He said: “ACM won the contract based on a combination of high quality machines, service provision and cost effectiveness. The fact that it can provide customised equipment is a real bonus.”