Green Matters July 2008
Rising to a challenge
A new recycling service is to be rolled out for residents living in high-rise blocks and estates across Hackney.
The Council has been trying out different ways of picking up recycling from these locations – which presents a much bigger challenge than collecting from street-level homes.
The new services take into consideration the results of these trials. Door-to-door collection was ruled out after the London Fire Brigade highlighted the fire risk posed by recycling left in hallways, which could block escape routes.
Another trial involved residents carrying their recycling to onsite facilities. Hackney estates that did not participate in the trials, use sets of small recycling bins to collect glass, tins, cans, and paper.
The new service, where space permits, will site sets of large bins on estates instead. One for mixed recycling of tins, cans, aerosols, plastic bottles, cardboard, and glass.
Newspapers and magazines will have a separate bin, to keep the quality of materials high, so it can be reprocessed into paper products.
On estates where space is limited, one recycling bin will be left for mixed materials, including paper.
Estate residents living in street-level properties can take advantage of a Green Box door to door collection, subject to an assessment.
Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “This will be the biggest change to estates recycling since it was introduced.
“The aim of the trials was to find the best method of collecting from estates and high rise properties, and I believe we have achieved this.”
Designs on the future
A festival in in Dalston’s Gillett Square celebrated the eco-friendly handiwork of pupils from three Hackney secondary schools.
Groundwork East London’s Cool Climate event saw pupils show how they are taking the lead on recycling at school.
The fun day on 12 July let youngsters from Mossbourne Academy, Hackney Free, and Skinners’ Company’s schools show off board games they designed to teach people about the world’s various environments, and how to recycle.
There was also a host of activities on offer.
Children could choose from customising a T-shirt; making a bag from string and newspaper; crafting a wallet from Tetrapaks; or planting seeds.
Entertainment was provided by African Footprint, a group of performers whose explosive song and dance told the story of South Africa.
Naomi Pietersen, from Groundwork East London, said: “It has been a fantastic celebration of the Hackney pupils’ work and shows how much young people do care about their environment.”
More information
Visit: www.groundwork-eastlondon.org.uk
Silver for being green
Sustainable spending by Hackney Council has achieved recognition from City Hall.
Thanks to large-scale purchasing of recycled products across the Council, Hackney has received a silver rating in the Mayor of London's Green Procurement Code.
It encourages organisations in the capital, including small to medium-sized businesses, to consider environmental impacts when awarding contracts and purchasing goods. It also assesses staff training and if there are sustainable objectives and targets in individual job descriptions.
Cllr Sophie Linden, Cabinet Member for Environmental Sustainability, said: “I am delighted the Council is setting a good example on environmental sustainability.”
The Council also won the Best Performing Public Sector Organisation category at the Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code Awards last October. Find out more at: www.greenprocurementcode.co.uk.
Sustaining an interest
Over 100 teachers and pupils flocked to Hackney City Farm, E2, to take part in green workshops.
The day was hosted by Hackney Environmental Education Network (HEEN), a group of individuals and organisations involved in education for sustainable development in Hackney.
The event on 9 June was also a celebration of green activity in schools and a chance for everyone to share their experiences.
St John the Baptist School told of the measures its pupils have taken to turn green; Colvestone School spoke about its outdoor classroom; Skinners’
Company’s School for Girls brought a sustainability game they created; and St Paul’s with St Michael’s CE School shared news of their composting scheme.
Attendees had the chance to join in lively workshops to get hints and ideas about how to make their school more sustainable.
Katherine Hayward from ecoACTIVE, who was at the event, said: “There is a great deal of good work going on in Hackney’s schools to make them greener, and students are ahead of the game when it comes to looking after the environment, but there is always more to do.”
The HEEN event was linked to The Year of Food and Farming – supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – an initiative that aims to promote healthy living by offering young people experience of the countryside, farming and food.
More information
Teachers in Hackney can download a Sustainable Schools Toolkit full of green ideas from its supporter The Learning Trust at: www.learningtrust.co.uk. To learn more about Defra and the Year of Food and Farming visit: www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk; or www.defra.gov.uk.
Have you got a snapping bug?
If you have a sharp eye for a photo – and can spot a bug at ten yards, then you could win a prize.
British Waterways is launching a wildlife photography competition for people living near canals, rivers and docks in East London and wants to see pictures of dragonflies and damselflies. The Regents Canal runs through Hackney, offering ample opportunity for photographers.
The aim of the competition is to encourage people of all ages to take part in British Waterways’ fifth annual wildlife survey to record the species found on inland waterways. The information gathered is used to plan the protection and management of canals and rivers.
Last year there were almost 4,000 sightings of over 60 different species. For the 2008 survey, British Waterways has joined forces with the British Dragonfly Society to focus on rare dragonflies and damselflies.
The competition is open until 30 September, and has a special category for children under 12. The winning entries and a selection of runners-up will be published on British Waterways’ website.
Cutting the carbon
Hackney's carbon footprint takes centre stage as the Council prepares a plan to help tackle climate change in the borough.
The Council has investigated Hackney’s C02 emissions, and will use this information to set further targets for annual reductions.
The most recent results show that in 2005 the borough’s total carbon emissions were 958,000 tonnes per annum, the lowest in London.
A key priority in the strategy will be to combat ‘fuel poverty’, where a household spends more than 10 per cent of its income on heating – a result of poor energy efficiency in a home, and rising energy costs.
In January this year the Council signed the Nottingham Declaration, a pledge to recognise climate change, and to work with residents, businesses and other organisations to reduce carbon emissions.
The Council’s refuse collection fleet is also being fuelled with biodiesel blend to reduce emissions. Schemes to encourage cycling in Hackney have resulted in a 70 per cent increase since 1991 in cycle journeys to work, and 118 per cent increase overall.
Page updated: 5 Aug 2008