It’s First Mile’s one-year anniversary with The Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID) and there is a lot to celebrate. Over 120 businesses signed up to the subsidised recycling scheme, creating a more sustainable and cleaner Birmingham, which resulted in recycling an incredible 127,000kg of waste.

First Mile works with all kinds of different businesses in the JQBID such as: museums, hair salons, retailers, jewellers, bars and restaurants. Thanks to First Mile, in only 12 months the mixed recycling scheme has helped Birmingham recycle enough paper to save the equivalent of approximately 746 trees, as well as an estimated 96 tonnes of CO2 has been saved from being released into the atmosphere.

Dale Hollinshead, Art Director at Hazel & Haydn said: “First Mile made it easy for us to recycle. I’m very keen to help the environment and First Mile is easy to use and collect daily.” The award- winning salon has been in the Jewellery Quarter since 2011 and recently won Best Salon Team and Best Colour Salon at the Salon Awards 2019.

Vinny Madhar, Recycling Advisor for the Jewellery Quarter, said: “The JQBID was one of the first BID partnerships that First Mile worked with in Birmingham, and its success has really helped pave the way for BID partnerships in the city. Since October last year we have worked closely with the JQBID to sign up members to our hassle-free, green recycling services, helping over 120 businesses to improve their recycling rates and contribute towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Birmingham. Working closely with the JQBID and the local community has helped us to consolidate waste collections, leading to fewer vehicles on the road, whilst also providing cost-savings for local businesses. We look forward to continuing our positive work with JQBID and are excited about the future.”

JQDT Executive Director, Luke Crane adds: “Making the Quarter greener and more sustainable is one of our key objectives and we are delighted that the JQ business community has seized this opportunity to improve the rates of recycling and the range of items being re-purposed rather than going to landfill. Our partners, First Mile, have truly delivered on their promise of a more convenient and effective recycling scheme.”

For a quick and easy way for businesses to sign up, First Mile has assigned a dedicated Recycling Advisor for the Jewellery Quarter, Vinny Madhar. For more information on the scheme, businesses can contact Vinny via email Vinny.madhar@thefirstmile.co.uk or 07701 315 703.

About JQBID

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographically defined area within which the local business community pool their resources to invest in projects and services that improve the business environment and the experiences of visitors, workers and other users.

What is the JQBID?

A team of 10 employees work for the Jewellery Quarter BID (JQBID) which commenced on 1st September 2012. Every five years, the local business community vote as to whether they wish to renew the work of the BID. The JQBID was renewed for a second term in 2017.

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