a letter to our recycling customers

Dear Valued Recycling Customers,

First and foremost, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your ongoing support during this challenging time. We know how much the recycling scheme has meant to many of you, and we truly appreciate your commitment to sustainability and the environment.

We owe you an explanation regarding the recent and abrupt cessation of our recycling services, and we hope this letter helps clarify the reasons behind the decision.

When we began our recycling operations in the 1990s, we were able to generate revenue from the materials we collected. However, as time has passed, the economics of recycling have shifted drastically. Today, we find ourselves paying to move on all materials, with the exception of tins, where we make only a minimal profit. While we made efforts to raise prices in response to these rising costs, it was simply not enough to cover the expenses, and the recycling scheme continued to operate on very tight margins.

Additionally, we have always prided ourselves on being a green company, using electric milk floats for our collections. Unfortunately, some of these vehicles are now over 40 years old, and maintaining them has become an ongoing battle. Each week, we faced significant challenges trying to get them roadworthy. Parts for these vehicles are increasingly scarce and expensive, further adding to the strain on our resources.

We genuinely believed that we would be able to continue operating at least through the end of this year. However, last week, all but one of our vehicles broke down, and it became clear that it was no longer viable to repair them. Such circumstances also necessitated that we had to cancel some rounds with immediate affect. We understand the frustration this action caused and can only apologise profusely.  

On top of these challenges, new legislation is set to take effect in March 2025 regarding the storing of recycling.

We hope this explanation sheds light on the difficult decision we had to make to halt our recycling operations. While Magpie Recycling will no longer operate as we have, Shabitat will remain open as a separate entity.

For customers who require refunds, these will be processed towards the end of the year. We apologise for any delays and greatly appreciate your patience during this time.

Thank you once again for your understanding and support.

Sincerely,

The team at Magpie Recycling