Waste Management Hits High Notes

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30 September 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

In recognition of Gunwharf Quays saving more than £60,000 through a waste management project, the outlet shopping centre has been chosen as an official International Green World Ambassador.

The centre received the title at this year’s Green Apple Environment Awards in London, following the success of its waste management project. The project was launched by Gunwharf Quays in 2014 and is designed to increase the centre’s volume of recycling. This has been achieved through educating stores on what materials can be recycled, creating a monthly ‘Waste Champion’ and ensuring that the centre has all the correct resources for recyclable waste collection.

Gunwharf Quays set a target for 70% of its waste to be recycled, which the centre has met in just two years. As a result of this saving, the centre no longer sends any waste to landfill and has saved more than £60,000 through the project.

The award judges commented: “Large shopping centres such as Gunwharf Quays present huge amounts of sometimes tricky waste with which to deal. Gunwharf Quays wanted to find a more positive approach and have continually fine-tuned their treatment to yield 75% reuse and recycling and zero to landfill.”

Colin Wilding, General Manager at Gunwharf Quays, added: “Contributing to the enhancement of the environment is absolutely crucial. We are committed to finding the most efficient, innovative and environmentally friendly methods to manage the centre’s waste. Our project reaches far wider than the centre, it underpins Land Securities’ belief and dedication to improving the environment across the country.

PTSG installs almost a mile of fall arrest systems at Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre

Premier Technical Services Group (PTSG) has recently finished extensive works to install fall arrest systems at the newly built Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre (CERC), which converts waste into energy.

The centre has been one of the largest building projects Cornwall has seen in recent years. It has recently moved into its testing phase in order to ready the building for full operation. Once in use, the centre will generate around 20 megawatts of electricity whilst diverting 90 per cent of the county’s residual waste away from landfill.

The building was effectively constructed from the inside out, so the roof and its safety systems were the final stages of the project. The Group’s Access and Safety division designed and installed fall arrest systems, PVC walkways and steps along the building’s roof, totalling around 1,400m in length.

Situated in the countryside near the village of St. Dennis, the site is extremely exposed. PTSG’s engineers faced some particularly bad weather conditions and this, combined with the curved design of the facility’s roof, significantly increased the difficulty of the work yet the team’s work was finished to schedule, allowing testing of the facility’s incineration apparatus to commence in good time.

CERC is an important initiative in helping the country reach its targets for energy and the environment. The plant converts waste material into heat and power, and will provide electricity for 21,000 homes in Cornwall.

Picture: Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 30 September 2016

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