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Recycling rate soars to 98 per cent after estate adopts green scheme
Mark Prigg and Benedict Moore-Bridger27.01.09
A HOUSING estate in Fulham has one of the most improved recycling rates in the country.
The Clem Attlee Estate has adopted a series of green measures on a trial basis including recycling chutes and mini-recycling banks on each floor.
Today, figures reveal that after six months the estate has boosted participation in recycling to 98 per cent.
It is now hoped the scheme could be rolled out across the capital.
John Twitchen of Sauce, the environmental consultancy which ran the project, said: "Collecting recycled rubbish from high-rise blocks is difficult, so we wanted to try a few different ideas here, and see what works.
"We've been incredibly pleased with the results, and we are now very hopeful that this could form a blueprint for every high-rise block in London."
Recycling is historically low in high-rises because of the logistical difficulties of collecting rubbish from all the floors. The scheme in Fulham tried to adapt existing facilities wherever possible and Mr Twitchen said: "We found several blocks had two rubbish chutes on each floor, so we simply used one for recycling. It's a simple change, but it worked very well."
As well as that and the mini-recycling banks on each floor to store recycling, which was collected twice a week, residents in several blocks also had doorstep collections.
Mr Twitchen said: "We found that all the schemes worked well but they really depended on the facilities available. For instance, doorstep collections need wide walkways, and the recycling chute obviously requires two rubbish chutes to be available.
"However, what we found is that all these schemes work well, so we are hopeful Fulham will continue with them, and that other councils will also consider taking them on." Results show that the number of people not recycling after six months went down from nearly 20 per cent to only two per cent.
Correan Mayers, a 21-year-old mother who lives on the estate, said: "I recycle a lot. Before, I used to carry it down but [the chute] is a lot better. People just used to throw things away but I think more people are recycling."
Tula Reid, 72, singled out the chute system for particular praise and said: "It is good because now you just put everything in a big bag and put it in the chute. It is easy and it's a good idea because not everyone can go outside - good luck to those who can."
But Elsie Read, 80, said she preferred to dispose of her recycling manually. She said: "Even though it's easy to put my recycling in the chute I prefer to carry it outside myself. It gives me a bit of a walk and I like the exercise."
Staff at the estate also reported huge improvements in the general tidiness of the area - with recyclable waste being diverted, bins no longer overflow.
David Bowler of the North Fulham New Deal for Communities, which ran the scheme said: "This shows that residents want to do their bit for the environment, despite the difficult economic times. We hope that residents will continue to benefit from this service."
Three measures benefiting the residents
A series of recycling schemes were given a trial in different buildings on the Clem Attlee Estate.
Recycling chute
In one of the high-rise buildings, a second rubbish chute was turned into a recycling chute. Instead of carrying recycling downstairs, residents dropped it into the chute through which it passed into large bins for collection. The system was simple to install, as signs simply had to be put into place making residents aware of the change.
Mini-banks
In lower-rise blocks mini recycling stations were installed on each floor. These allowed residents simply to dump their bags of recycling into the bins provided. Twice weekly collections removed the bags, with collection days changed to gauge their effectiveness.
Doorstep collections
In blocks where walkways and stairways were wide enough, recycling could simply be left outside residents' doors for a weekly collection. This resulted in the least amount of work for residents, although they did have to store the recycling bags inside their flat until collection day.
Reader views (8)
Damian, As I mentioned in my previous post - these boats are the container ships that are returning to China to pick up more goods to deliver back to us. Nobody would doubt that they are energy intensive but they would be returning empty otherwise so the extra energy used to transport the recycling is therefore small. Particularly when compared to the CO2 saved by recycling rather than creating new materials.
I haven't been to China, although associates have. They've been to recycling plants there and seen it in action. I do have to ask, have you been and visited these sites where you claim all this valuable recycling is being buried?
- Jimmy, London, UK
Ah but Jimmy, you surely do not know it is being actually recycled. For a start these boats that transport huge quantities of material to China are themselves very energy intensive. Think of dozens of Jumbo jets. Have you been to China and seen what happens to it? There is an unwritten code that much of this material is for landfill in China is disguised by spin as "recyclng"...that way the local authority is not fined under the new EU rules. Also, there is simply no market for a lot of this supposedly recycled stuff now. That is why for example vast quantities of paper are simply lying in warehouses (using, yep, loads of energy and space). I assure you it is not simple - these dodgy practices have already been exposed and it is never in anyone's interests to really do an audit of what happens to it.
- Damian Hockney, London, UK
Barnet Borough needs to take note their version of
"kerb-side" is allowing a block of flats nearby, multiple un-lidded blue and black boxes stacked full of uncrushed Stella cans and booze bottles stinking at the front door and if it overflows just ring up and more boxes will be delivered - if laziness overtakes
No regulating of the system just high visibilty.
Little wonder to see how they invested in the Icelandic Bank
- Binky, Hampstead Garden Suburb
Jack and Damian, I'm please to report that all of this is recycled. It all ends up at a Materials Recycling Facility in Essex where it is separated using all sorts of machines before being sold to different reprocessors. Many of these are in China as China happens to be a manufacturing power house while the UK no longer is. As we tend to buy so much from China without the corresponding exports back, much of this raw material is sent back on the boats that deliver the goods we buy from there. This means that the councils receive income for the raw materials sold and avoid the taxes associated with burying rubbish. Simple.
- Jimmy, London, UK
I presume that Elsie Read, 80, has no particular need to play with a Wii!
The results are impressive: until you put them on a slow-boat to China. I'm sceptical that most recycling is good for the environment other than to raise awareness of how much rubbish we each genenrate.
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Sadly, Jack Spratt makes his point well. What this scheme is doing is "sorting for recycling" but there appears to be little intellectual curiosity as to what actually happens to things which are "sorted for recycling". They are, by and large, not recycled. So please stop saying these expensive schemes are "recycling". They are not. They are simply meeting targets set by the EU which bear no actual relationship to genuine recycling. But Jimmie is at least right when he says that the no bullying no fining approach is best, even if the whole thing is artificial, and dictated by our masters across the sea...
- Damian Hockney, London, UK
Let us see just what happens to these containers of mixed material when they leave Fulham. Who will sort out broken glass, plastics, cans etc. ? This makes no financial sense. If its not going to landfill where is the evidence?
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
Wandsworth also has a successful scheme and for a very similar reason :
The recycling all goes out together to be sorted later
There is no bullying or fining to get the right material into the right bag on the right day
Make it this easy and people will take part
- Jimmie, London
