18 June 2012
The facility is operated by Veolia Environmental Services on behalf of Southwark Council and processes all of Southwark’s household waste and recyclables.
Visitors are able to see in action the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), which sorts materials collected from homes and schools in the borough and bales them up to be made into something new. The MRF uses a range of state of the art technologies including optical sorters, magnets and electric current to separate materials and can sift through around 25 tonnes an hour.
Visitors are also able to learn more about what to recycle and what happens to materials once they are taken for recycling in the facility’s Recycling Discovery Centre, which was designed especially for primary school children by the team responsible for many of the interactive exhibits at the Science Museum.
Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling said:
"It’s great to see so many residents of all age groups taking an interest in what’s happening on site and what happens to their recyclables. Residents are already recycling over 27 % of their waste, and with the council diverting over 60% of the borough's waste away from landfill we are avoiding the high costs associated with waste disposal. I want to thank our residents of all their commitment to helping make this happen."
Fabrice Bouchon, general manager for Veolia Environmental Services in Southwark added:
“What happens here on site really is something to see. I would urge all primary schools and community groups to arrange a visit as soon as possible and we’ll be opening our doors again in September for Open House weekend, so we hope to see many more of our neighbours then, in the meantime I hope that everyone will keep up the good work and continue sending their paper, glass, plastic, cans and cartons to us!”
The Integrated Waste Management Facility will open its doors to the public on Saturday 22 September 2012. Schools and communities groups can also book a visit at anytime via www.southwark.gov.uk/recycle.
Click on the picture(s) below to see full size:
Contacts
Rachel Jay
Communications Project Manager
Southwark
Veolia Environmental Services (UK) Plc.
Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility
43 Devon Street,
London.
SE15 1AL.
Tel: +44(0)20 3567 2600
DD: +44(0)20 3567 2621
Fax: +44(0)20 3567 2601
E: rachel.jay@veolia.co.uk
Notes to the editor
Veolia Environmental Services provide waste management and recycling services on behalf of Southwark Council as part of a 25 year PFI contract. The company’s fully integrated strategy includes waste minimisation, collection, transfer, recycling, composting, pre-treatment and disposal.
Veolia Environmental Services, part of the Veolia Environnement Group, is the UK’s leading waste management company. With a sizeable presence throughout the UK, mainland Europe and the world, Veolia Environmental Services employs 85,600 people worldwide, servicing more than 73 million customers in 33 countries. (Source: Human resources data 2009)
Veolia Environmental Services is the only global provider of a full range of services for handling hazardous and non-hazardous solid and liquid waste. It provides waste management and logistics services as well as materials recovery and recycling. Veolia Environmental Services generated revenue of €9.05 billion in 2009.
Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE and NYSE: VE) is the worldwide reference in environmental services. The company has operations all around the world and provides tailored solutions to meet the needs of municipal and industrial customers in four complementary segments: water management, waste management, energy management and freight and passenger transportation. Veolia Environnement recorded revenue of €34.5 billion in 2009.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the websites: www.veolia.co.uk
www.veoliaenvironnement.com