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In the open: Workplace recycling by design

New Zealand firm Method has redesigned waste - specify the beautiful recycling solution for your next project

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Method 60L recycling bins are visible, flexible and adaptable to any space and waste stream requirement. They connect together to form recycling stations.
Method 60L recycling bins are visible, flexible and adaptable to any space and waste stream requirement. They connect together to form recycling stations.

Method's innovative, award-winning waste management solution brings recycling out into the open-plan design of modern workplaces where it is most effective. Its products can be found globally in facilities such as the Sydney Cricket Ground, Qantas and the Design Council.

The New Zealand company opened its first London office in September 2018 after working with Foster + Partners and has continued to find widespread support for its sustainable recycling solution.

Method believes that the design of modern offices has been completely transformed - from desks and kitchens to the power we use - but waste and recycling solutions have lagged behind.

Method co-founders Steven and India Korner drove around New Zealand selling generic bins and consistently saw workplaces trying to recycle without the tools to do so successfully - as well as businesses that were apathetic about recycling. Bins were ugly and inconsistent with office design and were often hidden away where they were ineffective.

The couple, with backgrounds in product and graphic design, engineering and commercial leasing, spent three years designing Method’s award-winning products and recyclable packaging - holding focus groups, preparing prototypes and even assisting cleaners on night shifts. Method's approach to workplace recycling is rooted in the belief that great design can not only look good, but can dramatically change behaviours.

  • A Method recycling station in design company Canva's office in Sydney, Australia.
    A Method recycling station in design company Canva's office in Sydney, Australia.
  • The sleek modern bins look good from any angle with Method’s patented Bag Retainer System.
    The sleek modern bins look good from any angle with Method’s patented Bag Retainer System.
  • Design is at the core of Method's business: the firm believes bins must be beautiful - and visible - in a workspace in order to be effective.
    Design is at the core of Method's business: the firm believes bins must be beautiful - and visible - in a workspace in order to be effective.
  • Method recycling bins at accounting software firm Xero's offices in Wellington, New Zealand.
    Method recycling bins at accounting software firm Xero's offices in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • A UK Method recycling station featuring general waste, mixed recycling, paper and organics streams.
    A UK Method recycling station featuring general waste, mixed recycling, paper and organics streams.
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The hard work paid off with the production of Method's colour-coded, effective, behaviour-changing 60L Office Recycling Bins. Designed for the modern workplace, they connect together to form flexible recycling stations that can be easily adapted to the needs of any building.

Method’s recycling solution is designed to be visible in modern workplaces where they are most effective, contributing to the aesthetics of a building rather than detracting from them. The company's patented Bag Retainer System, for example, is designed to hold the bin liner in place seamlessly for a sleek finish - without the bag hanging out like an untucked shirt.

Method has won three Best in Design awards from the Designers Institute of New Zealand for its signature bins, recyclable packaging and new website. Most recently, it was awarded Best Emerging Business at the New Zealand Export Awards and highly commended in the NZ Best Emerging Business category at the NZ International Business Awards. 

With the signature bins, Method has pioneered the concept of Open Plan Recycling, bringing the recycling stations out in the open and changing the way people interact with waste. The company has found that visible recycling bins reinforce accountability, a key component for progress. When people know they are being watched, even subconsciously, they tend to take more thought over their decisions and are more likely to sort their waste accurately. United by a larger purpose, users are also encouraged to consider their waste habits at home.

Recycling can significantly reduce the impact a building has on the environment and is cost effective compared to other disposal methods. Customers are becoming more sensitive to sustainable business practices and it is becoming increasingly important for organisations to implement effective waste and recycling systems. 

For more information and technical support, visit: methodrecycling.com

 

Contact:

Method UK business development manager: Matthew Fletcher

07763 525668


 

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