Mark Hall, waste management expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, dives into the work around reducing waste at the ‘Wimbledon of the North’ the Lexus Ilkley Open.
In June 2025, BusinessWaste.co.uk partnered with the Lexus Ilkley Open, one of the UK’s premier pre-Wimbledon grass court tennis tournaments.
The partnership allowed BusinessWaste.co.uk to provide waste collection services and launch a new recyclable cup initiative. The collaboration highlights how sporting events can become more sustainable.
Partnership with a northern tennis icon
BusinessWaste.co.uk became an official club partner for the Lexus Ilkley Open, held at the Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club from 8–15 June 2025. Dubbed the ‘Wimbledon of the North’, the event hosts elite players, such as Marin Čilić and Dianne Parry, as well as thousands of spectators across the week.
The company’s involvement centres on improving sustainability at the event. The 2025 event saw the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) involved for the first time, and as a result, visitor numbers were projected to increase to around 20,000. This huge number of attendees resulted in increased waste, especially for food and drink vendors.
Recyclable cups provided to attendees
One key innovation for 2025 was the introduction of 30,000 recyclable cups, used across the event’s hospitality and concessions. BusinessWaste.co.uk facilitated the sourcing of the cups and managed their collection and recycling during and after the event.
End-to-end waste management
Beyond the cups, the company provides comprehensive waste collection services across the venue. Their goal: divert as much waste as possible away from landfill, in line with the firm’s mission to reduce the environmental impact of UK businesses.
Impact beyond tennis
The tournament helps to grow the Ilkley Lawn Tennis and Squash Club’s offering, allowing for the funding of new facilities and for the club to provide its community outreach programmes. These make tennis more accessible to children from less privileged backgrounds across the Yorkshire area.
Better waste management has an environmental benefit, but it also helps events keep their costs down and ensure more money is allocated to supporting good causes, showcasing how commercial partnerships can support circular goals while also benefiting local communities.
We’re really proud of the work we have done to support the waste management needs of the Lexus Ilkley Open. I attended the event myself and was able to see the impact that our recyclable cups had on the event, ensuring waste is reduced and that the tournament’s impact on the environment is reduced.
The event is a wonderful opportunity for the local community, bringing world-class tennis to this small town in the north of England. The Ilkley Lawn and Tennis Association also does great work with the local area, so it’s our privilege to be able to support in any way we can.
The BusinessWaste.co.uk partnership with the Lexus Ilkley Open shows how even traditional sporting events can integrate circular solutions. Through practical innovations like recyclable cups and smart waste handling, large-scale events can become platforms for sustainable action.
Showcasing the possibilities of waste reduction helps to educate the local community and ensure that environmental protection is always front of mind.
