MRM.COM: Do you know why it's important we reuse our elastic bands?

Post by **POSTMAN** » 27 Mar 2017, 14:59

https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/2017/0 ... your-bands" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We use millions of elastic bands every year. Discarding these bands on the street is harmful to the environment and wildlife, costs money and is damaging to our reputation – but this needn’t be the case.

Our policy around reusing elastic bands and not littering remains a top priority for us.

Did you know…

In 2015, we bought 718 million elastic bands, enough to circle the Earth 1.6 times, costing the business £1.4 million?
Elastic bands present a threat to the environment. Hedgehogs and other animals can be injured or killed if they get tangled in discarded elastic bands.
Littering elastic bands can also lead to a £1,000 fine, for which colleagues would be personally liable.

Acting responsibly

There are a number of mail centres leading the way in reusing elastic bands and supplying their local delivery offices with used bands.

We are rolling out a process in the coming weeks that will formalise best practice relating to the reuse of elastic bands across mail centres and delivery offices.

Our procurement team is monitoring the number of orders and we are keeping a record of the savings made as a result.

Everyone has a responsibility towards the environment to pick bands up that have been dropped and reuse them following the safety instructions.

Please look out for more information about the new process and some dos and don'ts in Courier, RMtv and WTLLs in the coming weeks.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 27 Mar 2017, 15:19

maybe you should try buying better quality ones then. most posties don't have a problem with re-using them, but they only last a few days because they are s**t.

Sawfeet · Post by **Sawfeet** » 27 Mar 2017, 15:38

Reuse!
They snap all the time and that's the new one too. Often hear a band ping round bundle sitting on frame.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 27 Mar 2017, 16:15

daveyeff wrote:maybe you should try buying better quality ones then. most posties don't have a problem with re-using them, but they only last a few days because they are s**t.

Re-using them won't save much money as they cost just a fifth of a penny each.

Maybe if they spent a bit more than a fifth of a penny they could get better ones that don't break the first or second time they're used.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 27 Mar 2017, 16:16

daveyeff wrote:maybe you should try buying better quality ones then. most posties don't have a problem with re-using them, but they only last a few days because they are s**t.

Re-using them won't save much money as they cost just a fifth of a penny each.

Maybe if they spent a bit more than a fifth of a penny they could get better ones that don't break the first or second time they're used.

kingeric · Post by **kingeric** » 27 Mar 2017, 16:50

The answer is to get better quality bands.

We have had recycled bands from the mail centre. If you search through the bands you can get some decent ones. I've got about 30 or so thickish large bands.

I've had these since December and they're still going strong. Those little ones don't last more than 2 days.

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 27 Mar 2017, 17:39

We always have the bigger bands in stock. They are far better suited to the job IMO.

hans solo · Post by **hans solo** » 27 Mar 2017, 18:27

reusing rubber bands can be h&s issue
i suffer from dry cracked hard skin on hands this may spread with using others bands also dirty bands picked up from street or floor can create viral and bacterial infections
just saying

Natagora · Post by **Natagora** » 27 Mar 2017, 18:48

LouBarlow wrote:We always have the bigger bands in stock. They are far better suited to the job IMO.

Correct. Our office has used them for about four years now and they last for a hell of a long time (like, months) because they're not getting stretched to their limit. They're the perfect size for this job.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 27 Mar 2017, 18:54

I haven't got any myself, but maybe it could be considered more cost effective if the company gave everybody a yearly allowance of hairbands to use instead of these cheap bands!!

enskied · Post by **enskied** » 27 Mar 2017, 19:05

Our office is a derelict shed. - 5 in winter and boiling in summer. The new elastic snaps more in winter than summer and more in the office than outsibe.

Post by **eastie** » 27 Mar 2017, 19:52

After using for a few days I bin then as get pi55ed off getting them ping on my hands.
Regarding losing bands in the street , if they gave us decent bags they wouldn't fall through the holes in them .
If they want to save money they should stop wasting it on all that Courior properganda mail we keep getting through the post

jetblack · Post by **jetblack** » 27 Mar 2017, 20:50

POSTMAN wrote:]In 2015, we bought 718 million elastic bands, enough to circle the Earth 1.6 times

Just as a matter of interest would that be 1.6 times around the earth when taut ? Or when "flacid" ?

Post by **greengiant** » 28 Mar 2017, 07:28

jetblack wrote:
POSTMAN wrote:]In 2015, we bought 718 million elastic bands, enough to circle the Earth 1.6 times
Just as a matter of interest would that be 1.6 times around the earth when taut ? Or when "flacid" ?

Or when snapped and stretched out?

TheTrolleyMan · Post by **TheTrolleyMan** » 28 Mar 2017, 12:32

You can hear them snapping in your bags as you drive out to your delivery