Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world united to support the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour. 

To support this worldwide event on the 31^st March between 8:30pm – 9:30pm the EcoPark turned of 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

With four months to go before the Olympics the atmosphere is building and focus and attention was drawn to North East London with the launch of the Green Sector Network on Friday 23 March, at the LondonWaste EcoPark.  This private sector led group provided an enormous resource that will act as a platform to bring investment and grow major Green industry in North London.

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 todayPlans 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  

Nestlé has replaced the 48 tonnes of rigid plastic used in its mug eggs with FSC approved cardboard, meaning its entire Easter collection is now recyclable. Compostable film is also being used for the windows resulting in a 30% reduction in packaging across the mug egg range.

Read full article

The aim of the competition was to highlight the very best examples of sustainable practice in British garden design amongst student designers. Each college was given a 5.5m x 4m plot to both plan and design a unique and sustainable garden based on the theme of ‘landcraft techniques in an urban setting.’  A panel of industry experts will judge the entries and award the prize medals.

List of winners and runners-up

Read full article  Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/

Watch film

Why not visit the show which promises a host of stands including nurseries, garden related products and a craft marquee; not forgetting the ever popular food hall. With a ‘Design it. Build it. Grow it. Eat it. Recycle it!’ theme this shows takes in all aspects of Horticulture.
Event Date: Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April 2012
Event Time:  10.00am – 5.00pm

Click to find out more

North London community groups get your hand on some free EcoPark compost.

Requirements:

• ·         Minimum order of 15 tonnes
• ·         Large vehicle access
• ·         Up to six weeks’ notice

For information contact our sales team on: 020 8884 5664 or 020 8884 5537 or email composting@londonwaste.co.uk

Read full artical  Source: http://www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk

 With the support of Get Growing they have hosted weekly ‘Growing Clubs’ and a micro-allotment project to teach residents young and old how to grow, care and harvest fresh seasonal produce on their doorstep.  By practicing organic gardening they focus on building healthy soil and a natural ecosystem.

Get Growing have created a wonderful book celebrating the people and plants that have been growing on Somerford Grove and Shacklewell Road.  Happy reading!  Download book

Persons concerned with waste must ensure that the waste is managed properly, recovered or disposed of safely, does not cause harm to human health or pollution of the environment and is only transferred to someone who is authorised to receive it. The duty applies to any person who produces, imports, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste or as a broker has control of such waste.

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

LCRN is working in partnership with the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) to provide residents of the seven north London boroughs with free compost bins and composting advice to make best use of them.

If you are a resident of Enfield and Waltham Forest, you may be entitled to receive a compost bin free of charge – please note that this is a very limited offer, so you’ll have to be quick to register. The giveaway events will be taking place on Saturday 17th of March from 10.00 to 16.00 at the Enfield Reuse Centre.

Please check the www.lcrn.org.uk/composting-bin-giveaway webpage on how to register for this offer.

Plastics make up over half the rubbish retrieved, and pose the biggest single threat to wildlife such as turtles, fish and seabirds – and the volume of plastic bottles and tops, bags and ropes has increased by 135% since records began in 1994, according to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

Read full article  Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk

To book a place please contact recycling@londonwaste.co.uk or contact Deanna on 020 8884 5529

You will need to shovel your own compost so bring strong bags and shovels. Don’t do it if you have a bad back!

For more information click here

 The north Walian town, which has had one of Europe’s largest solar panel factories since 2005, employing around 1,000 people, moves into the renewable energy premier league this month after installing 30,000 panels made in the town on 3,000 of its council homes. This year it will fit six schools and several public buildings with a further 90kW of solar power.

Click here to read full article

Read full article  Source: Guardian Sustainable Business

Source: Marketingmagazine.co.uk

 The process for progression from silver to gold membership involved implementing a robust improvement plan, meeting core objectives as well as continued provision of benchmark data and improvement thresholds. As one of only eight companies to have attained Gold Standard we are proud that our commitment to management systems, policies and procedures are recognised to be of a high standard. 

As one of London’s largest recycling and sustainable waste management companies, we are committed to increasing recycling rates and to diverting waste away from landfill. To meet the needs of our diverse range of public and private sector clients we continually invest in new and existing facilities which provide better and sustainable solutions for waste management. 

In relation to our vehicle fleet we are rolling out blind spot warning systems and cameras to our vehicles having recently completed equipment trials. Peter Lambert, Logistics Manager, explains

‘FORS membership clearly aligns with our corporate objectives. The EcoPark in North London is a 40 acre site dedicated to managing recyclate and residual waste. Attaining gold FORS was a natural progression for the company. We want to be at a consistently high level and as a company being able to say you’re a gold FORS member is something to strive for and be proud of. It’s about trying to be the best possible in our field.

Mark has used EcoPark compost on his balcony over the last few years and was keen to visit our Compost Centre and see first-hand how our compost is produced.  Since his visit in February he has written an article named Municipal Compost: your questions answered.

The new MRF will use a range of different technologies including screens, conveyors, magnets and an “air knife” (air knife is a tool used to blow off liquid or debris from products as they travel on conveyors) to economically recover a range of materials from mixed residual waste – waste which would otherwise end up in landfill. 

With landfill tax increasing to £64 per tonne in April 2012, this proven technology will enable more materials to be recycled and ensure we continue to offer the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective service to our customers.

 Once collected the food waste is taken to LondonWaste’s EcoPark in Edmonton, North London, where it is processed in an in-vessel composting facility for 12-weeks. The resulting product is PAS100 quality compost.

The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has today announced the shortlist of bidders who will be invited to submit final tenders on its waste services and fuel use procurements. The bidders are:

Waste Services:  

• FCC/ Skanska
• Veolia

Fuel Use:

• E.On / Wheelabrator
• Veolia

Read more here