Benchmarking review provides encouraging outlook for University of Reading

The University of Reading has been at the forefront of UK higher education for nearly a century. Over the decades it has become synonymous with innovators and pioneers, pushing academic boundaries and leading social change.

Client

University of Reading

Services

Recycling & Waste

Year

2025

44.8 tonnes of waste moved up the waste hierarchy

The challenge

The university was keen to see how a benchmarking review would help it further its endeavours and take the next steps on its recycling and waste journey.

The solution

Sitemark’s independent review provided a pre-determined process which could be relied upon to outline the benefits of the existing provision as well as advice on areas where change and improvement could be undertaken. Through the benchmarking the University could confirm it had identified some excellent opportunities.

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The results

Sitemark provides independent best practice benchmarking of facilities management services, helping clients improve standards, reduce costs and ensure best value for money.

Sitemark provided an extensive list of supportive change management opportunities, ideas and strategies through the benchmarking review process.
The process helped confirm to the University of Reading that its cardboard and skip services needed to be adapted.
Potential savings across the annual recycling and waste budget of just under 20% were identified and itemised individually.
Sitemark identified that within its market and regional sectors the rates currently being paid by the university on an average basis whilst not the lowest are at the lower end of prevailing charging regimes.
The university is now considering and working on some of the 74 strategies, ideas and recommendations that Sitemark provided as a result of the review.
The university will move into its next recycling and waste tender process with confidence behind the data it provides to potential service providers and details around where opportunities exist to drive improvement.

"This was an expansion of our working relationship with Sitemark. Having the experience of recycling and waste specialists review our innovation and working relationship with current providers and be able to add value to it made the process very worthwhile."

Paul Taylor Sustainability Officer

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We’d love to hear from you and see how we can transform your facilities management service. If you’ve got any questions or would like to book a chat with one of the team, get in touch today.