Post by cerridwen on Oct 11, 2009 7:39:35 GMT
London gears up for expanded recycling service
by GreenWire.org.uk. Published Tue 06 Oct 2009 19:28
Londoners are now able to recycle more materials after local authorities signed up to a new reprocessing agreement with two collection firms.
For the first time mixed plastics including yoghurt pots and margarine tubs, plastic bags, shredded paper and waxed cartons used for milk and fruit juice will be collected.
This is as a result of two brand new contracts awarded to Bywaters and Greenstar Environmental by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) in June which could save taxpayers up to £760,000 per year.
The contracts will run until 2014 to ensure a smooth transition of service for when new waste and recycling facilities are in place as part of the long-term waste services contract currently being procured.
Cllr Clyde Loakes, Chair of the North London Waste Authority, said: “In the current climate getting the best value solution for managing waste has to be a priority and we are delighted that through these contracts we have been able to achieve this.
“We look forward to working with Greenstar and Bywaters over coming years as we work towards achieving our targets for a more sustainable north London.”
Through the new contracts there are also options for source-separated recyclables (materials separated at the kerbside) to be received which will offer north London councils greater flexibility for collecting recycling.
This is one of many measures being taken by the Authority to meet both national targets and those set out in the North London Joint Waste Strategy to double the current recycling rate from 27 percent to 50 percent and decrease waste sent to landfill by 2020.
Greenstar UK CEO Ian Wakelin, said: “With these contracts in place, we can proceed at full speed to fit out Greenstar’s new Atlas ‘super MRF’ at Edmonton. One of the biggest and most modern MRFs in the capital, Atlas could eventually process nearly 10 per cent of north London’s recyclables.
"I’m delighted to see that Greenstar’s ability to process big volumes of recyclables to quality standards has again been endorsed through this contract award.”
John S Glover, Managing Director of Bywaters, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this contract and look forward to working with the NLWA to increase recycling rates in north London.
“With our strategically placed MRF in Bromley-by-Bow, Bywaters is able to sort north London's recyclables in line with the proximity principle. Our MRF has the ability to handle and recover the widest range of materials and consistently produces high quality outputs for reprocessing.”
The expanded recycling collections will be rolled out across north London over the next six months.