Family owned and run from its headquarters in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Brown Recycling has been offering a total waste management service for nearly 100 years.

The business actively supports a wide range of good causes and community initiatives, both directly and through the engagement of its team.

From kits for local junior football teams, free skips for community projects and fundraising initiatives for men’s mental health to sponsoring events and providing teams of volunteers for local charity fundraisers, Brown Recycling supports with its time and resources.

As business with a high percentage of male employees it has set out to raise awareness around men’s health and mental health with the introduction of support days for its team and local charities. Activities have included raising funds for Men’s Mental Health Week in support of MANUP! and growing moustaches and encouraging colleague conversations in support of Movember.

Brown Recycling has supported national and local initiatives including donating to the Big Sleep Out with Stoke City Community Trust, Wear It Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness and fundraising activities for the Gingerbread Centre through University of Staffordshire’s own fundraising campaigns.

The business is proud to have honoured Remembrance Day with the Royal British Legion and contributed to the Children in Need appeal. During 2024 its team raised a total of £11,000 for these great causes through their own activities.

Brown Recycling also supports various community projects with free skips. These have included the Heritage Restoration Project in support of the Teapot Factory in Middleport and the Rehoboth Well CIC, which is converting the Swan Pub in Burslem into a community hub.  Support for this is scheduled to continue throughout 2025.

In 2024 the company launched a unique community and sustainability focused initiative – the Brown Recycling Skip Art Challenge. Developed in partnership with Short Supply and sponsored by Brown Recycling customers and suppliers, this celebration of artistic expression and environmental sustainability saw 11 talented artists transform ordinary skips into extraordinary works of art. The completed skips were displayed in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent for a week in early September, giving the public the chance to enjoy the vibrant artwork and to encourage conversations about recycling. Several of the selected artists secured additional commissions on the back of their participation in the challenge. The project also raised more than £7,500 for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

Brown Recycling is the main sponsor of the Dougie Mac Treecycle fundraiser which collects thousands of Christmas trees across Staffordshire and Cheshire. As well as its sponsorship Brown Recycling provides vehicles, the collection and processing point for the trees and a team of volunteers. In 2024 the team dedicating 50 hours to the Treecycle, helping Dougie Mac to raise £28,458 in donations.

Brown Recycling has entered the Business in the Community category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.