Biodiversity boost for landfill sites

Veolia Environmental Services, the UK’s leading recycling and waste management company has recently been awarded The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark certification for its Pitsea (Essex) and Croft Farm (Doncaster) landfill sites.

Both the landfill sites are known for attracting a diverse range of wildlife including water voles great crested newts and lizards. The site managers are committed to working alongside specialist groups like The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB to ensure that the species are protected whilst also enabling the site to continue to operate.

The wildlife at these sites has become a local attraction with specialist groups and local schools contacting the site managers for tours around the facility. Staff on site are also asked to be extra vigilant when starting up machinery as some species like to bed down for the night on vehicle engines due to the warmth and shelter they can provide.

Peter Dorans from The Wildlife Trusts said:  “Our independent assessment of Veolia’s Pitsea and Croft Farm landfill sites has demonstrated true commitment to protecting and enhancing fauna and flora on these sites. This is vital if we are to have an environment that we can all enjoy long into the future.”

Simone Looi, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Veolia Environmental Services said: “Our landfill sites are an unusual haven for wildlife and we work tirelessly with groups like The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB to enhance and protect species and their habitats. Promoting, enhancing and valuing biodiversity is fundamental to our strategy as we also recognise that biodiversity underpins human wellbeing. We are thrilled to have received this certification and will be aiming to achieve the same status for other sites across the company.”

Veolia's commitment to protecting the environment is further demonstrated in their continued sponsorship of the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. This competition showcases the very best in wildlife photography and highlights that we all have a part to play in encouraging biodiversity no matter where we live.

The Biodiversity Benchmark is awarded to companies that manage land to the highest standard to ensure that it attracts a diverse range of wildlife. The certification is awarded following a rigorous process which includes self assessment against a series of requirements together with site visits by independent assessors.