Just 15% of waste on platforms and depots operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is recycled, it has emerged.
The statistic was explained by Emma Brigginshaw, sustainability manager at LNER, which now runs the Virgin Trains East Cost line. Ms Brigginshaw was speaking at RECOUP’s annual conference last week. The conference also heard from Simon Prior of Viridor and
Attempts to take away some bins at York Station, which is operated by LNER, were refused (picture: Shutterstock)
While LNER’s platforms and depot figure is known, the recycling figures for waste on the actual trains, Ms Brigginshaw explained, is unknown.
With regard to the low rates, she said this could be down to a number of reasons, and also outlined measures she has tried to take.
Commenting on some of the issues faced, Miss Brigginshaw said: “Some of the problems involved in this include getting reliable data. There are various different bodies as any one train stops at different stations with different systems and a number of stakeholders, so getting reliable data is often difficult.”
She added: “Also, quality is an issue, as people on the go are more likely to put waste in the wrong bins. I have looked at taking the bins away, to avoid confusion. There are examples of this, for example in the cinema, where they say to leave it in the seat and the staff will sort it.
“There are also stations with this policy in place, such as Leeds, and it isn’t swimming with waste. In York there are bins and the waste there is simply contaminated and low quality. I have tried to take them away but I’m not allowed.”
Ms Birgginshaw also said that LNER is working with retailers to introduce take-back schemes at stations in order to avoid certain types of food and drink packaging contaminating recycling bins.
Reprocessing
Meanwhile, Simon Prior, head of local authority development at Viridor, said that greater investment in reprocessing facilities is needed in order to achieve a “true circular economy” in the UK.
Simon Prior called for greater infrastructure investment to achieve a full circular economy
Mr Prior stated that regardless of the methods chosen by local authorities on how it collects materials, better sorting is needed in order to reach the desired quality for the market.
“Everything has to be processed, and the sorting of collected materials needs to happen in order to meet market demands. To create a true circular economy in the UK, there is a need for investment in reprocessing infrastructure. Not just or the likes of our Rochester facility, which just focuses on plastics, or just for MRFs, but across the whole infrastructure. And, the government can help us with legislation to invest in the future.”
Mr Prior concluded his segment in the discussion by also calling for any future DRS proposals to be the same across the UK, in order to send out “the same message to the entire population”.
Local authority
A reoccurring issue throughout the day was the impact that budget cuts have had on council communications budgets to communicate recycling messages to residents.
Kate Hasselton-Glee, environmental contracts officer at North Norfolk District Council, outlined some of the measures the council has had to take in order to get the message across in times of reduced budgets.
This included campaigns at colleges to encourage younger people to recycle textiles and other similar schemes that led to an increase in each category it targeted, although she said it was too early to see its effect on the overall recycling rate.
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Source: letsrecycle.com General
