- Group
- 05 Jun 2025
Today (5 June) marks World Environment Day 2025, with this year’s theme of #Beatplasticpollution.
Why are plastics a problem?
Plastics can be harmful to our environment as they don’t biodegrade, instead breaking down into smaller fragments called microplastics.
These microplastics can get everywhere, including entering the food chain, as they’re often mistaken for phytoplankton by ocean creatures.
Beating plastic pollution at M Group Highways
Across M Group, we’re working to protect our planet. For now, and for future generations.
Realising the impact plastic pollution has on the environment due to its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, our M Group Highways streetlighting team has rolled out a bollard recycling scheme at two streetlighting depots.
In partnership with supplier, Traffic Management Products (TMP), the old cones and bollards are collected and organised for recycling. The plastic shells from bollards are then shredded into granules and used to create new bollards.
Previously the bollards were placed into a general waste skip, but globally only 9% of plastics are recycled*. By using this scheme, we’ve ensured that our bollard shells are recycled and that the plastic is used to create new bollards and cones.
Through using the scheme, TMP and its partner Ecologi, plant a tree for every bollard recycled, further supporting our nature positive strategy.
This scheme has helped us to support not just our own, but also our client’s net zero goals through carbon offsetting. During our trial of this scheme in March 2025, 122 bollards were recycled leading to 122 trees being planted. This will result in 36.6 tonnes of CO2 being sequestered throughout the trees lifetime.
*As published in The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Global Plastic Outlook Report
