Introducing our first customer
The Granite House - Bicester
The Granite House uses Cherwell District Council Business Waste service.
We are pleased to have a company who is dedicated and passionate about recycling and doing every little step towards being more environmentally friendly. They are always looking at improving their recycling knowledge.
As a result they have been awarded with the Certificate for Excellent Recycling.
Case study
As part of the case study, we asked The Granite House a selection of questions. The responses we received were as follows:
Question 1. How important is recycling for your business and why?
Answer: Extremely. By recycling efficiently and doing all the little things together, The Granite House can help with big changes across Oxfordshire.
Question 2. How important is the environment to your business?
Answer: We are conscious of the impact that our business can have on the environment and have committed to reducing this impact wherever possible.
Over the past 30 years, the quarrying industry has drastically transformed many of its practices thanks to growing environmental awareness. A determined effort has been made to mitigate the worst impacts of quarrying and its related activities on local communities, while still fulfilling a strong demand for stone products.
Our stone suppliers and their supply chains face thorough checks to ensure they meet with the current industry environmental guidelines and comply with all applicable environmental regulations.
Question 3. Do your customers recognise that you recycle well?
Answer: As well as recycling at The Granite House in our workshop and offices, we also work with recycled and sustainable products in selected materials such as, Cosentino, HybriQ®.
HybriQ is pioneering technology from a new high-performance blend of premium minerals and recycled materials produced through a sustainable manufacturing process, with 99 per cent recycled water and electric energy from renewable sources. With the HybriQ manufacturing process there is zero water waste and not a single drop of water or chemicals are put into rivers or oceans.
Question 4. Do you encourage your staff to recycle?
Answer: Yes, our staff are all fully aware of how and where to recycle any materials.
Question 5. Do you feel are comfortable in knowing what you can and cannot recycle?
Answer: Yes, although updates are always welcome.
Question 6. Do you feel you can benefit from more recycling training/information?
Yes, we are always open to finding out about new information or ideas that may help us.
Question 7. Do you have any environmental related policies of your own?
Answer: On our website, The Granite House, our environmental policy is easily accessible for our customers to see.
We regularly update this to show how we are constantly aiming to improve our environmental responsibilities such as recently investing in our first fully electric vehicle.
Question 8. How long have you been running the business and what inspired you to start up?
Answer: Tim Rotherham, the owner of TGH, began his journey by importing granite and marble direct from source to supply to the building trade.
He spent time visiting quarries in India, China and Europe, and stone shows around the world, building relationships with suppliers and learning all he could about the different types of natural stone available worldwide.
As the business grew, Tim began to look at cutting and fitting the stone himself. He put together a small team and together they began installing granite and quartz worktops for domestic and commercial customers.
Demand rapidly increased and today, The Granite House has a team of highly skilled stoneworkers, who between them have over 200 years’ experience of cutting and fitting granite, quartz, and marble.
Question 9. What type of materials are you recycling?
Answer: In our company we recycle Stone, water, paper and plastic.
Conclusion
Our Business Waste collection crew have always given us positive feedback about the collection of recycling at The Granite House.
“Never any issues experienced and the bin is never contaminated.”
A Business Waste Officer comment:
“A company such as The Granite House is a great example of how a business can recycle waste effectively. It is a pleasure to provide a Business Waste collection service to them.”
Overall comments from customer:
"We believe this will inspire us to find additional methods to become a greater, greener company."