Groundbreaking Composting Project Sets New Standard for Food Waste Reduction in Sports and Leisure

Edinburgh Leisure is thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement – winning its first National Sustainability Award at the prestigious Green Apple Environment Awards, hosted by The Green Organisation. Perrotine Orr (Director of Operations) and Jill Johnstone (Energy & Sustainability Officer) proudly accepted the 2026 gold award, which recognises Edinburgh Leisure’s outstanding efforts in food waste reduction within sport and leisure venues.

This accolade marks a major milestone for Edinburgh Leisure, reflecting the success of an innovative composting project funded by the Solar Co-operative Community Benefit Fund. The initiative is already transforming how food waste is managed across venues, setting the bar for sustainable practice in the sector. By harnessing the collaborative spirit of the Sustainability Team, Café Venue Teams, and Grounds Maintenance Team, the project set out with a clear aim – to drastically reduce food waste by establishing on-site composting facilities.

The project owes its inception to one of Edinburgh Leisure’s passionate Green Champions, Ed Bethune, whose grassroots idea has blossomed into a model of environmental stewardship. Five HotBin composting units have now been installed at pilot venues; Meadowbank Sports Centre, Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, and Tumbles at Portobello, ensuring food waste from both customers and staff is collected and composted on-site.

Early results have been nothing short of outstanding. Edinburgh Leisure has already generated high-quality, nutrient-rich compost, which the Grounds Maintenance Team is using to enrich greenspace and planting across multiple sites. Jill Johnstone said, “By producing our own compost, we are not only reducing waste and carbon emissions, but also making a significant saving on operational costs by replacing commercially purchased compost”.

This award-winning project is a shining example of what can be achieved when teams work together with a shared purpose. It represents an important stride towards Edinburgh Leisure’s net zero plan and environment sustainability strategic aim. The collaborative efforts and targeted funding have enabled meaningful environmental impact, propelling Edinburgh Leisure to the forefront of sustainable practice within the industry.

With this recognition, Edinburgh Leisure reaffirms its commitment to expanding greener operations and building a more sustainable future for all.