Workplace Food Waste Composting at Treves UK

Turning new regulations into an opportunity for sustainable change with HOTBIN Composting

The Situation

In March 2025, the UK government introduced new Simpler Recycling legislation requiring all businesses to separate food waste from general waste. For Treves UK, an automotive manufacturer with over 160 staff and visitors at its Knaresborough site, this presented additional costs that they wanted to try and avoid.

Initial quotes from their existing waste provider estimated food waste collections at £10–£15 per bin, per week, an unsustainable expense. That’s when Vanessa Cameron, UK Plant Buyer at Treves UK, recalled a conversation with EFP about the HOTBIN composter, a compact composting solution that recycles food waste into compost.

Project Scope

• Comply with food waste separation legislation
• Avoid rising collection costs
• Engage employees in day-to-day waste reduction
• Trial an on-site composting system suitable for food waste
• Monitor performance over a 3-month pilot period
• Explore how compost could be reused on-site

The project was supported by Treves’ Environmental, Health and Safety team and backed by senior management.

The Solution

Treves trialled a HOTBIN Composter, a compact, sealed composting system designed to process all types of food waste on-site. The system was installed in a discreet outdoor location, with food waste caddies placed in kitchens and canteens for easy collection.

• The site cleaner empties food scraps into the HOTBIN daily
• Vanessa added shredded paper to maintain moisture levels and woodchips to aid aeration
• Once a week, she stirs the compost and checked the internal temperature

“It’s genuinely low maintenance – 10 minutes a week at most,” says Vanessa. “There’s no bad odours, no pests, and it’s sparked a lot of interest around composting and sustainability in the team.”

The team composts coffee grounds, banana peels, other fruit waste, any lunchtime leftovers, and dead flowers from reception.

Key Features and Benefits

• Cost savings: Avoided up to £30/week in waste collection fees
• Regulatory compliance: Fully aligned with Simpler Recycling rules
• Employee engagement: Staff curious, involved, and supportive
• Low effort: Requires just 10 minutes of maintenance a week
• No odours or pests: Clean, sealed, and fully contained
• Sustainable impact: Compost to be used on-site to improve green spaces
• Scalable model: A successful blueprint for other sites or businesses

“HOTBIN is the perfect solution for sites that want to comply with the new wate legislation, save costs, and make a positive environmental impact. It’s worked brilliantly for us.” Vanessa Cameron, Treves

About EFP and Treves

Engineered Foam Products has been manufacturing lightweight automotive components for Treves for over 20 years, including EPP boot infills and EPS under-carpet and luggage spacers.

Does this sound of interest?

Join forward-thinking businesses like Treves UK and consider composting workplace food waste into a sustainability success.
Visit HOTBIN Composting and Get in Touch for more information.