Technology
30 June 2026
4 min read

Rethinking waste in Birmingham's creative heart

Over 400 businesses. One smarter approach to waste.

What we delivered

    Digbeth Estate is an 18-acre mixed-use destination in the heart of Birmingham's creative quarter, home to more than 400 businesses spanning retail, leisure, food and beverage, TV production, and office space.

    As one of Birmingham's most vibrant commercial communities, the estate needed a waste management strategy that could support a diverse range of occupiers while improving sustainability performance across the site.

     

    The challenge

    Managing waste efficiently across a busy mixed-use estate presented a number of challenges.

    Low recycling rates, daily waste collections, and a lack of collaborative sustainability initiatives were creating operational inefficiencies and increasing environmental impact. At the same time, occupiers had limited visibility of their waste performance, making it difficult to identify opportunities for improvement.

    Digbeth Estate needed a more forward-thinking waste strategy that would improve recycling rates, reduce collection frequencies, and support a more sustainable approach across the estate.

    Key contact

    Reach out to the account manager for enquiries relating to this case study.

    Madison
    Business Development Manager

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    Find out how we can support you in your sustainable waste management journey by contacting our experienced Support Team.

    The solution

     Working closely with tenants across Digbeth Estate, Panda introduced a smarter, more collaborative recycling strategy tailored to the needs of the site.

    A centralised recycling centre was created, featuring a general waste compactor, cardboard baler, and dedicated food and glass recycling facilities. This helped transform daily collections into a more efficient demand-led approach, with some waste streams reducing to collections as little as once every three weeks.

    To improve visibility, digital waste weighing technology was introduced, providing occupiers with accurate waste data and helping them better understand their waste generation and recycling performance.

    Solar-powered Big Belly smart bins were also installed across communal areas. With built-in compaction and telemetry technology, the bins increased capacity while reducing collection frequencies and improving operational efficiency.

     

    The results

    The partnership delivered measurable improvements across the estate.

    • Improved waste visibility through digital weighing technology, providing accurate occupier waste data.
    • Reduced collection frequencies through compactors, balers, and enhanced recycling initiatives.
    • Enhanced recycling capabilities with dedicated food and glass recycling facilities throughout the estate.
    • Increased bin capacity using solar-powered Big Belly smart bins.
    • Tailored waste solutions delivered through a collaborative, customer-focused partnership.

    "None of the initiatives implemented would have been feasible without the partnership between Panda and Digbeth Estate."

    Lynette Howgate

    Estate Manager, Digbeth Estate

    Digbeth Estate Building, along the canal

    Let's talk

    Whether you're managing a commercial property, mixed-use estate, or multi-tenant development, Panda can help you improve recycling performance, reduce collections, and gain greater visibility over your waste.

    Get in touch to discover how Panda can help your business turn waste into value.

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    What we delivered