As a London based company producing compost, our marketing approach had to challenge Londoners’ perception of what could be done with organics –  waste and product.  Our entry focused on the extensive marketing of EcoPark Compost throughout 2011 and our support of community and allotment projects.  The other organisation composting firm Vital Earth launched an RSPB endorsed compost to open up the peat free market.  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.  The Award ceremony will take place in March.

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

Capital Growth is hoping to mobilise thousands of volunteers across London to help community food-growing spaces prepare for the new growing season. Volunteers will only be required to help for one day but we hope some will choose to stay involved throughout the growing season.

To register apply now

The EcoPark is off of the A406 or North Circular Road and staff arriving into work saw no signs of fire … could not smell smoke or see any blowing across the carriageway …The fire alarm had not been raised.  In fact there was nothing out of the ordinary at the EcoPark or on the adjacent carriageway.  Puzzled we searched on-line for the travel report. We found it. The “smoke” referred to was in fact nothing more than condensation… the vapour produced when hot air is released into cooler air… or you guessed it Steam!  

The award was presented to the LondonWaste IT Team for using ANPR to weigh vehicles at the LondonWaste EcoPark in north London. The software system also permits pre-registered vehicles to automatically have the barriers released to the weighing platforms and to ensure vehicles are entering the correct disposal areas on site. The ANPR technology implemented has improved efficiency and the service  provided to customers.

The BCS & Computing UK IT Industry Awards provide a platform for the entire profession to celebrate best practice, innovation and excellence. In total, this year’s Awards featured 23 categories which covered: project, organisation, technology and individual excellence. The categories were open to organisations and individuals involved in IT across the public sectors.

For a list of this year’s BCS 2011 winners and medallists click link http://www.bcs.org/category/5818     

People who visited our EcoPark marquee had the chance to see the splendid range of vegetables grown in our compost, buy EcoPark Compost bags, find out how  LondonWaste produce high quality compost from organic waste and enter a competition with a chance to win a wheelbarrow.

Why not get your growing projects ready for Autumn and come along to Hackney Marshes.  The EcoPark Compost Team have donated a mountain of compost for local residents to give it a grow.  Find out more about Hackney’s green team, the EcoPark, and how this Compost is made.

The Event will take place at Hackney Marshes Depot, E9 5PF on Saturday 1st October 2011 from 11am to 3pm.  Call Lenor at Hackney – to find out more see advert or Deanna on 020 8884 5520 to find out more about the EcoPark. 

If you fancy a great day out come along to Taste of Autumn at Capel Manor Gardens in Enfield. It will be a chance to sample some unusual vegetable, including Capel’s chillies, as well as fruity shakes and desserts made with locally grown fruity.  There will also be a display of Capel-grown fruit, edible berries and autumnal foliage plus sampling freshly pressed apple juice. If you wish to explore the beautiful Gardens, tours will take place at 1pm each day.

If you like further information or to request complimentary tickets please contact deanna.donaldson@londonwaste.co.uk

Changes to Waste Transfer Notes    

Waste Transfer Note Issue 5

Urban growers at James Middleton House Estate in Hackney received their first 15 tonnes of EcoPark Compost. Enthusiastic volunteers used our compost across the estate in thier allotments, flower and vegetable beds and around trees. The estate has two sites dedicated to food growing: The James Middleton allotments and Rocky Park. Also on site is an urban orchard with a variety of 27 fruit trees.  

Are you involved in a community garden project?  You may be eligible for 15 tonnes of EcoPark Compost. To find out more call 020 884 5664

EcoPark Staff will visit plot holders and community groups to provide a master class explaining how EcoPark Compost is made from organic waste.

The week is run by the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG) and National Allotment Gardens Trust (NAGT).

Watch this space for photos.

Watch here

The  0-20mm compost produced at LondonWaste EcoPark is BSI Pas 100 Certified. This compost certification provides a baseline quality standard for compost ensuring it is consistent, safe and reliable to use.

For further information on BSI PAS100 please click here

• We divert as much black bag waste as possible from landfill and use it to produce renewable energy.
• In 2010 Divert closet to 70,000 tonnes of organic waste (branches, leaves, grass, cuttings, food waste, cooked or uncooked fruit and vegetable, etc) from landfill.
• Over 700 tonnes of EcoPark Compost was given back to the community for growing projects in 2010.

In February of this year a delivery of EcoPark Compost was delivered to South Harringay Junior, Infants and Nursery Schools. The compost was used to mix with topsoil and grow vegetables Including raddishes, wheat and courgettes in three gardens at the schools.

Have a go and grow your own. You may be eligible to receive 15 tonnes of EcoPark compost, If you run a school or community garden  project. To find out more please contact 020 8884 5664  

LondonWaste, presented seven North London Mayors with a donation in support of their chosen charities.   

The presentation, at the EcoPark took place on the 23^rd June and enabled seven North London Mayors to see firsthand how their borough’s waste is presently transformed into valuable resources. The Mayors first toured the Energy Centre which uses black bagged rubbish to generate enough energy to power close to 70,000 homes and then the Compost Centre, which receives organic waste from seven North London boroughs and turns it into rich compost.

LondonWaste Ltd Managing Director, David Sargent has encouraged support for the Mayor’s charities for some years now. He said “We are proud to be involved in fundraising; it is a pleasure to be supporting these charities”.

LondonWaste Ltd, encourages weekly tours. As a waste management company, tours are an important part of our communication strategy. 

To book a tour contact recycling@londonwaste.co.uk or 020 8884 5529

To support Recycle Week 2011 book a tour to see large scale composting in action at LondonWaste EcoPark.

This year, Recycle Week takes place between 20–26 June and has a ‘Home and Away’ theme. It’s all about how making even the smallest every day actions and changes will help our local environment. From doing more of what we already do at home – such as remembering to recycle glass jars as well as bottles; or recycling things from upstairs as well as downstairs; to recycling while out and about

Last year our composting facility diverted close to 70 000 tonnes of food and green waste (branches, leaves, grass cutting, cooked or uncooked food, etc) from landfill last year. After being collected by the council, it takes 16 weeks to be transformed into rich EcoPark Compost. EcoPark Compost is used in local community projects and allotments around north London.

To book a tour please contact recycling@londonwaste.co.uk  

Enter our EcoPark ‘Did You Know’ Competition and be in with a  chance to win some amazing prizes.  

For a chance to win this week’s prize ‘Gardening Set’ read page 24 of the Enfield Independent here

Terms and Conditions

Good luck and check this page for future competitions.

Sommerford Grove Gardening Club, was set up over a year ago by local residents living on the estate. The Club give sessions on the following: the importance of recycling food waste, investigate soil characteristics and  growing projects. During the year the Estate has received regular deliveries of EcoPark Compost. The compost is use as mulch on vegetable and flowerer beds to help the plants flourish.

Recycled Garden May 2011

A few weeks ago we announced the winner of our Recycled Garden competition. The winner, Garden Design student Sarah Ball has begun working with designers, gardeners and a construction team to bring her design to life.  

Further photos will be added shortly.

The London Borough of Haringey plan to transform the land into an inspirational garden which will include; a secret garden, a herb garden and a ‘Sensory Patch’ which will be specially created to be accessible and enjoyable for visitors.

London Borough of Haringey, Library Services, confirmed, “The soil on the land was extremely dry and before design work can commence on the garden we decided to use EcoPark Compost to enrich the soil. The garden will be a great addition to the Centre and a fantastic green space”. 

To finding out more about EcoPark Compost please contact 0208 8884 5664

Watch this space for photos

Free heaps of EcoPark Compost were made available and proved extremely popular. The compost was loose, so visitors reused their own bags to take the compost home – a great opportunity for visitors to use the compost in their gardens or in allotments.

Event highlights included a short film, presentation and talk promoting ‘Greening the Community’. The presentation showcased green spaces in Enfield like Capel Manor Gardens the renowned Horticulture College who use EcoPark Compost on their flower and vegetable beds. Visitors also had an exciting chance to go on a compost trail. The trail gives a fascinating insight on how garden and food waste is recycled into compost.

An Enfield resident commented “Our allotment receives regular deliveries and we are grateful for this facility”.

The aim of the event was to bring people together to promote the benefits of using peat-free compost and to encourage more people to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Compost provides necessary nutrients and enriches the soil to help plants flourish.

The three shortlisted bidders are:

• Covanta Energy Ltd
• E.ON Energy from Waste AG/ Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.
• Veolia ES Aurora Ltd

Read more here

The three bidders are:

• FCC Skanska (Formento de Construcciones y Contratas SA and Skanska Infrastructure Development UK Ltd) (consortium)
• SITA/ Lend Lease (SITA UK Ltd and Catalyst Lend Lease) (consortium)
• Veolia ES Aurora Ltd.

Read more here

Finchley Horticulture Society has created fourteen raised beds at Gordon Road Allotment site in Finchley North London. The raised beds were constructed from old railway sleepers, each bed 24ft long by 4ft wide. To enrich the soil and prevent weeds from spreading, EcoPark donates compost to be used on these beds. Our compost is made from organic waste and goes through a process called “in-vessel” composting . Once it matures we donate it back to the community as part of the Take Back Scheme Arrangement we have with the Boroughs for various projects. To date allotment sites, horticulture societies, schools and parks have benefited from this initiative. (Please note: A cost may be charged if less than 15 tonnes of compost is ordered)

The area around the beds is paved to allow wheelchairs easy access. The raised beds are a practical way of gardening for people who have difficulties in bending, balancing problems, recovering from strokes or those that are partially blind.

Gordon Road Allotment volunteer, Andrew Brown said “We have received support from different organisations including the EcoPark which is very encouraging”.

If you are interested in receiving EcoPark compost as part of your North London community project then please call us on 020 8884 5664

 The winning design was submitted by former Capel Manor student, Sarah Ball. Her design impressed our judges with her Cycle of Life concept.  A few of the ideas displayed in Sarah’s concept boards included;a vertical allotment using EcoPark compost; an EcoTower to generate birds and insects; a resistant rock garden and a visitors centre made with recycled plastic bottles. Sarah said “I’m delighted that my design has been selected. I’m looking forward to being involved in the transition from idea to reality.

Redevelopment work on the  Garden will start in April. Watch this space for an update on our finished Garden.