Zero Landfill across 17 sites on a living, working campus
A partnership that goes beyond collections, embedding recycling culture across a 150-acre Kent campus.
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The Partnership
A 150-acre campus with 800 pupils demands more than collections, it demands consistency
Founded in 1553, Tonbridge School is one of the UK’s leading independent boys’ boarding and day schools, educating around 800 pupils across a sprawling 150-acre campus in Kent. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, community responsibility and sustainability, the school holds itself to high standards, not just in the classroom, but in how it manages its operations and environmental impact.
That commitment to responsible resource management is what brought Tonbridge School and Countrystyle together in 2021. Managing waste across a campus of 17 sites, active year-round with pupils, staff, visitors and events, requires a partner capable of combining reliability with genuine flexibility.
The school’s Green Committee, made up of students and staff, reflects how seriously Tonbridge takes its environmental responsibilities. Countrystyle’s role extends beyond waste collection: it is an active part of how the school brings that commitment to life.
"It's education beyond the classroom in the truest sense. Helping students and staff understand how waste is processed, why it matters, and what they can do to drive better outcomes."
Julie Daniel
Senior Key Accounts Manager -Countrystyle Recycling
The Approach
Estate-wide waste management built around a complex, school environment
Countrystyle provides Tonbridge School with a comprehensive waste management service spanning general waste, dry mixed recycling, food and glass collections — all underpinned by zero-landfill processing, regular waste audits and ongoing sustainability advice. A dedicated Key Accounts team works closely with the school to ensure every site remains safe, compliant and continuously improving.
Tonbridge School's Green Committee visit Countrystyle's processing facilities and engage directly with the team, gaining first-hand understanding of how their waste is handled, what the circular economy looks like in practice, and how recycling legislation is evolving. It is the kind of partnership that changes behaviour, not just bin contents.
Circular economy education
Results in Detail
Measurable improvement across a campus that never stands still
Since the partnership began, Countrystyle has delivered consistent, reliable waste management across all 17 sites that make up the Tonbridge School campus — achieving a strong recycling rate that continues to improve year on year.
70% recycling rate achieved
A recycling rate that continues to grow year on year as on-site awareness, infrastructure and waste segregation practices improve across the campus.
Annual sustainability education programme
Each year, Countrystyle hosts Tonbridge's Green Committee for sessions covering the circular economy, how waste is processed at Countrystyle's own facilities, and what current recycling legislation means in practice.
Zero landfill commitment delivered
All waste streams are processed through Countrystyle's zero-landfill infrastructure, ensuring material is redirected rather than discarded at every stage.
Annual cardboard collection for Sleep Out
Each year, Countrystyle provides a free dustcart to collect the cardboard shelters used during the school's Porch Light Sleep Out — a contribution that reflects the depth of a partnership built on shared values
17 sites managed across one campus
Consistent service maintained across all locations within the 150-acre estate, from boarding houses and dining facilities to sports and event spaces.
Bespoke bin design in development
Countrystyle is currently working with Tonbridge School to tailor bin specifications to better complement the aesthetic of the school's historic buildings, ensuring waste infrastructure sits sensitively within the campus environment.
Sustainable waste solutions for education and independent schools
If your campus needs a partner who brings expertise, compliance and genuine engagement, we'd like to talk