The Compost GiveAway held at Capel Manor Gardens on the 11 & 12 May was a huge success, drawing in over 700 people from all over North London.   Leading up to the event people rushed to get their hands on ‘EcoPark sponsored tickets’ which also allowed guests free entry to visit and experience the wonderful gardens at Capel Manor in Enfield.

The aim of the compost giveaway was to bring people together to promote the benefits of using peat-free compost,  encourage more people to grow their own fruit and vegetables and reduce waste. The compost was loose, so the excited crowds were armed with their own bags, shovels and energy. The EcoPark team in bright orange sweatshirts provided tips on composting and recycling and gave away orange “Use Me” recycling bags provided by the NLWA.

EcoPark Compost provides necessary nutrients to enrich and add structure to London’s soil. The compost is made from North London residents’ garden and food waste at the LondonWaste Compost Centre.

Due to popular demand the next Giveaway in Enfield is the 14 & 15 September at the LondonWaste’s sponsored event ‘Taste of Autumn’ at Capel Manor Gardens.  There are however GiveAways in Barnet, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest throughout the year.

We are promoting the week by giving away planting bulbs: Nerine, Gladiolus, vegetable seeds and Fact Sheets to the first 180 people to purchase a bag of EcoPark Compost from the 6 Recycling Centres we manage.

We are also hosting a free compost giveaway at Capel Manor College and Gardens in Enfield during the weekend of 11th and 12th May.  We are delighted that hundreds of people have booked to receive free tickets to this giveaway. Using peat-free compost made from recycled materials this promotion will help our gardens, window boxes and pots grow greener peat-free plants.

The compost hub is adjacent to Alara Wholefoods and is a unique space in north London offering free EcoPark compost 365 days throughout the year. The existing compost space was revamped to provide a safe place to store compost.  A secure solid collection base was added as well as new recycled fencing, clear sign posting and repositioning of the existing raised beds.

The hub ensures that LondonWaste is able to deliver loads in bulk and that local residents and community groups can collect the smaller quantities that they need.  Guests at the opening had the opportunity to collect free compost, take part in ‘Core Blimey’ tree planting and learn how their food and garden waste is made into  high quality compost.

This 1,400 litres of oil equates to enough clean green energy to make almost half a million cups of tea.  This carbon neutral electricity is helping Britain to achieve its renewable energy targets.  Lets all keep up the good work.

With Spring just around the corner, compost is perfect for flower beds, hanging baskets, raised beds or vegetable plots. Our compost is made from local residents’ recycled food and garden waste. The product is well structured to allow aeration, drainage and root development and is ideal for mixing into nutrient poor soil.

Sign up to our mailing list to be notified about this season’s bags  composting@londonwaste.co.uk

The February event was attended by some of Enfield’s larger employers such as Johnson Matthey, Ardmore Construction, Barclay Brothers, and GLS Wealth Management, as well as Nick De Bois MP and Councillor Del Goddard. 

Last year the Chamber with the widespread support of local businesses, training providers and Enfield council sought to create 100 new apprenticeship opportunities in as many days.  Known as the 100 Club the award event commended the success of this venture. 

Our six apprentices are employed in the prized fields of electrical and mechanical engineering and we along with other locals will continue to raise awareness of the business benefits of apprenticeships and their viability as a recruitment option.

David Sargent, Managing Director said: “Apprenticeships are win/win opportunities. The business can fill a skills gap and the apprentice can start a career.”

For further information or to get involved please contact North London Chamber of Commerce 0208 443 4464 or email tmclennan@nlcc.co.uk.

We along with many other businesses will be exhibiting at the Enfield Environmental Technologies Fair on Wednesday 27th February

Look out for us in the Education Zone where you will be able to find out about our latest apprenticeship vacancy. We look forward to seeing you there.

LB Enfield has launched a consultation on its Draft Edmonton EcoPark Planning Brief. This supplementary planning document will feed into a wider development plan and relates to the EcoPark in Edmonton, London N18 3AG. The consultation will run for 6 weeks until 18th March.

The EcoPark plays a key role in managing waste produced in North London.

Enfield’s Draft Planning Brief is intended to guide the EcoPark’s future improvements and sets out ways that development could provide:

• modern and efficient waste technologies,

• green energy,

• increased employment,

• local economic regeneration

The Brief, if adopted, will be supplementary to Enfield’s Local Plan and will be considered in the assessment of any future planning applications for the EcoPark.

The Draft Edmonton EcoPark Planning Brief SPD is available to view. For further information contact the Enfield Planning Policy Team on 020 8379 3866.  Comments can also be emailed to ldf@enfield.gov.uk or sent to:

Planning Policy Team, Regeneration Leisure and Culture, London Borough of Enfield, Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, Middlesex EN1 3XA.

The new hub will provide improved delivery access for all users, increase the storage capacity and Information signs will provide facts on the benefits, nutrient and PH levels of the compost.  Construction work is underway and an official opening will take place in the spring.

At the Hornsey Street Reuse and Recycling Centre in Islington, “The Only Way is Essex” star, Lydia Bright, rewarded residents for recycling their real Christmas tree at the Reuse and Recycling Centre.  She handed out beautiful house ferns as a swap for residents recycling their real Christmas trees.

Hundreds of real Christmas trees are brought in to the centre each January for recycling. These trees are then taken to the EcoPark compost centre to be composted.  After about three months the trees, together with other vegetation, will be transformed into nutrient rich compost.  Local residents, community groups and agricultural outlets are able to use the compost and this helps to complete the recycling loop; it delivers the trees from landfill, saves disposal costs and conserves resources, particularly energy.

If you did have a real tree this year, rest assured that by taking it to your local Reuse and recycling Centre, or using your borough collection service, it will be recycled and made into compost, mulch or soil conditioner after about twelve weeks.  What choices will you make for next year?

As much as half of all the food produced in the world – equivalent to 2bn tonnes – ends up as waste every year, engineers warned in the Global Food report

The UK’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) blames the “staggering” new figures in its analysis on unnecessarily strict sell-by dates, buy-one-get-one free and Western consumer demand for cosmetically perfect food, along with “poor engineering and agricultural practices”, inadequate infrastructure and poor storage facilities.

In the face of United Nations predictions that there could be about an extra 3 billion people to feed by the end of the century and growing pressure on the resources needed to produce food, including land, water and energy, the IMechE is calling for urgent action to tackle this waste. Read full article

Source www.guardian.co.uk

Every stage of their three and a half year training programme is planned and focussed, they will benefit from some of the best instruction in the waste management industry and learn from experienced colleagues.   Their initial study centres around a local College where our engineers of tomorrow work to complete an NVQ level qualification.  Further along in their training programme as well as covering key practical skills within the EcoPark, primarily focussed on specialised  engineering maintenance projects, their studies are continued on a day release basis.  On completion of their apprenticeships our trainees will have the potential to become fully qualified in their respective disciplines.  After gaining from some of the most comprehensive training around, this scheme gives a great start to any career, in fact one of our former Apprentices was recently appointed Engineering Supervisor.

This waste industry award focusses on teams and recognises excellence in operating units.  Our entry centred on the teamwork, staff welfare, health and safety, data management, plant maintenance and general impressions within the Compost Centre.

Last year’s award was presented to Grundon’s for their Lakeside Energy from waste facility.  A Cambridgeshire based In Vessel Compost Site won this year’s award.

The grade of Fellowship comprises the most senior and respected professionals in the field of IT. As a relatively new profession Mark’s work at the institute will seek to define clear career paths for others entering the field as well as assist IT professionals on their road to personal development.

Further information on BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT

To book or for more info contact 020 8884 5664 or email recycling@londonwaste.co.uk

*Bulk bag approximately 1000 litres

 Job Summary:

The Mechanical Engineering department is responsible for the maintenance of a wide range of equipment throughout the Energy Centre (including cranes, boilers, pumps, compressors and conveyors). The apprentice will work alongside an experienced Fitter to provide an efficient breakdown repair service and to help with the diagnosis of faults.  He / she will also help with installation work, routine inspections and planned preventative maintenance work in order to ensure equipment is consistently in good condition.

Future Prospects:

On completion of the NVQ programme there is the potential for further training to become an Improver and then a fully qualified Fitter.  This is subject to these positions being available at that time

Training Provided:

Level 2 Technical Certificate

NVQ2 established in line with job role

Functional skills as required

Employer rights and responsibilities

Personal learning and thinking skills

You will attend Havering College full time for 18 weeks before returning to work at the Company at which time you will continue to attend College one day each week

Expected Apprenticeship Duration:

18 months level 2 and then 24 months level 3

Skills Required:

Strong communication and team-working skills

Personal Qualities:

Enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to undergo a structured NVQ training programme over a period of 3-4 years

Qualifications Required:

5 GCSEs  A – C grade with English and Maths as 2 of the 5 or equivalent within the last 5 years

Applications:

Please register and submit your details via the National Apprenticeship Service website

www.apprentices.org.uk

Closing date: Friday 13^th July 2012

Reduce, Reuse and Recycled is the theme in this recently revamped garden. A collection on interesting materials including wood, glass, metal, rubber and plastic is on show.  EcoPark compost made from recycled food and garden waste provides mulch to the gardens fruit and vegetables beds. A combination of reds purples, oranges, white and yellow flowers have been carefully selected to add light, style and a mixture of character, to help attract bees and butterflies. It is expected future visitors will explore the gardens and gain inspiration from perfectly suited recyclable materials that might otherwise be wasted and thrown away. David Sargent said “The Recycled garden is an exciting concept and LondonWaste is proud to be the principal sponsor”.

To support this worldwide event on the 31^st March between 8:30pm – 9:30pm the EcoPark turned off the lights in our Compost Centre and Flue Gas Treatment Centre.

More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era with members going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action for the planet. Without a doubt, it’s shown how great things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.

To find out more about Earth Hour click here

The green economy is a large however fragmented sector, the area has a strong history of manufacturing, power generation, and recycling; the basic ingredients therefore already exist to grow the sector. This Network will encourage greater development and promote investment potential within this landmark Olympic and Jubilee year.

Within the first twelve months, the Network working with the British Business Club, will

• Promote bilateral trade and investment opportunities in the sector to business visitors attending the London 2012 Games.
• Stage events, trade shows, expos, meetings, introductions, and tours aimed at showcasing the best examples of environmental technology and operations in the world.

The launch event was held at LondonWaste EcoPark, one of London’s most successfully integrated resource management centres.  The EcoPark showcases integration with facilities used to recycle and recover value from organic wastes, wood, metal, paper, electricity and plastics.  Guests had a whirlwind coach tour of the Recycling, Compost and Energy Centres.

Richard Sumray MBE, board member of London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, gave an inspirational talk on opportunities for businesses during the Games. Cllr Clyde Loakes, introduced the North London Waste Authority, which he chairs and local MPs David Lammy (Tottenham) and Andy Love (Edmonton) spoke about the importance of regeneration and working together to raise the profile of the network.

Current members are LondonWaste, Biffa, Camden Plant and Hiremech. The Green Sector Network is seeking further members from any environmental sector, including renewable energy, low carbon fuels, alternative transport, construction as well as other environmental products and services. Please contact North London Business for pricing and application pack – tel 020 8885 9200.

The Award ceremony was organised by the Association for Organics Recycling.  This membership organisation is committed to the sustainable management of biodegradable resources.  Previously known as the Composting Association, it promotes the benefits of composting, other biological treatment techniques and the use of biologically treated materials for the enhancement of the environment, business and society.

Tom Bateson, EcoPark Compost Centre Manager said:  “We are delighted to be able to celebrate this success.  We’ve seen a sustained growth in local borough allotments’ use of the product with 39% of loose product delivered to local allotments and Farms within the M25 received about 6,000 tonnes of the product last year.”

This is the 10th anniversary of the Association for Organics Recycling Awards the awards ceremony took place on 15th March at Chesford Grange Hotel nr Warwickshire. These awards are a firm fixture within the bio-waste sector and are renowned for celebrating hard work, dedication and success within the sector.

In a Budget which Mr Osborne said ‘unashamedly backs business’ the Chancellor also committed to cutting corporation tax and to simplifying the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme to reduce administrative burden on businesses.

Chancellor George Osborne unveiled his Budget Today Plans for higher packaging recycling targets for businesses were launched for consultation by Defra in December 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story). Despite opposition from some such as the British Plastics Federation, the Budget confirms that these proposals will be taken forward.

The Budget states: “The Government will legislate later in 2012 for increased statutory packaging recycling targets from 2013 to 2017. Targets will increase annually by 3 per cent for aluminium, 5 per cent for plastic and 1 per cent for steel. Glass recycling targets will be split by end use.”

Read full article   Source: http://www.letsrecycle.com