Dreams named Retail Recycling Champion

A innovative and multi-million pound recycling investment has resulted in Dreams, the UK’s leading bed specialist, reducing landfill by over 450 tonnes so far this year.  This significant reduction and the hugely positive environmental impact has led to Dreams winning “Retail Recycling Champion”.

Dreams took the lead in World Class corporate social responsibility with its investment in a ground-breaking new bed recycling facility.  Containing the UK’s first ever state-of-the-art bed shredders, the facility has enabled Dreams to recycle over 40,000 customers’ old beds this year alone, whilst significantly reducing the impact on the environment.

The two machines crush and shred beds, mattresses and packaging.  The metal is extracted with giant magnets for recycling, whilst the remainder is compacted to less than 20% of its original bulk. 

The bed frames, springs and other metallic items go on to be melted down and re-used in the manufacture of new metal products.  Wooden bed frames become mulch for multiple uses, including chipboard manufacture, landscaping and children’s play areas.  Polythene is reconstituted to create new polythene or plastic products and fabric cut offs are used to make building insulation.

Nick Worthington, CEO of Dreams said “We are very proud to be voted Recycling Champion.  Our recycling is very important to us and we are always looking to become an even greener Dreams.”

Supported by the Environment Agency and Defra’s Waste Implementation Programme, the ‘Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management’ were organised by letsrecycle.com, the recycling industry’s leading information provider.  Dreams won the accolade of ‘High Street Recycling Champion’

Dreams’ first venture into this area dates back as far as 1995, when it introduced a unique old bed and mattress collection and recycling service for its customers.

For further information and all media enquiries

Contact Lynn Blackburn on 01628 535363, email lynnblackburn@dreams.co.uk