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NEW REPORT: Charity Sector Take Back Study

 


Sarah Maynard, Adrian Hickford, Andrew Crossland, Tom Cherrett (2010):

A case study investigating the reverse logistics associated with Oxfam's operations in area W16


abstract
Work undertaken by the Transportation Research Group as part of the Green Logistics project looking at freight impacts in urban centres, identified that charity shops can receive significantly more weekly vehicle activity compared to other retail stores. A study of businesses on Winchester High Street suggested that the typical charity shop received 6.3 waste collections per week due to the nature of the core goods sold (donated second hand items). Charity shops receive deliveries of potential stock from a variety of sources, the saleability of which cannot be gauged until the items are inspected by staff. This process inevitably leads to waste generation as items donated with good intention are deemed un-sellable due to their particular characteristics. As a result, a variety of waste contractors, jobbers and other companies can be involved in the collection of the residual waste and recyclate generated. An opportunity arose with Oxfam to study these take-back routes in detail and better understand how take-back works in this sector.

The main aim of this research has been to:
  • Investigate the 4 key transport layers (Wastesaver, recycling contractor 1, man-with-a-van and shop adopted bank collections) used to service Oxfam shops and banks within area W16.
  • Focus in detail on the man-with-a-van activities to:
i) Quantify the current daily and weekly activity undertaken
ii) Identify ways in which operational savings could be made using routing and scheduling optimisation
  • Develop ideas for further in-depth research, to be undertaken as part of the Oxfam supported PhD over the period June 2010 to June 2013, following on from the Green Logistics project.
Appendix B of the Take-Back study




update 19 July 2010



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