The report, entitled A Greener Horizon, shows that Cory handled nearly 3.4 million tonnes of waste in 2002 and recycled 124,000 tonnes (4%).
The document reports Cory produced 114 million kilowatt hours of electricity from its landfill gas facilities, an increase of 50% on the 2000 figure. It also revealed that Cory did not receive any enforcement notices in 2002 and has gained ISO 14001 accreditation for 30% of its 35 sites.
Commenting in the report, David Riddle, chief executive Cory Environmental, said: “We do not under-estimate the challenge our company, our industry and indeed our society faces in moving towards sustainability. Cory Environmental is determined to make a significant contribution.”
The report said that while only 124,000 tonnes or 4% of the waste handled by Cory in 2002 was recycled, the company achieved a 12% recycling rate in some of the local authorities that it has collection contracts with. It also achieved a 50% recycling rate at its household recycling centre in Gloucestershire.
The report said: “Such success in recycling reflects the joint efforts made with our local authority partners to raise performance. Initiatives in hand will see further progress in coming years.”
However, an expected rise in residual waste from its contracts means Cory is unlikely to substantially increase its recycling activities next year. The report said: “In 2003 we aim to recycle around 20,000 tonnes more waste than we did in 2002. A projected rise in deliveries of residual waste, the nature of that waste stream and the terms of our customer contracts constrain our capacity to raise the recycling rate more rapidly.”
Transport
Cory has also responded to the Mayor of London's consultation on 'Safeguarded Wharves' which proposes to protect riverside sites along the Thames for industrial use.
Cory's annual report showed that the company transported 664,000 tonnes of waste transported by river in 2002, almost 19% of the total tonnage handled by Cory. By using its custom made fleet of 47 container barges, Cory reduced lorry movements in the capital by more than 100,000. The waste Cory transports on the Thames comes from its 25 year contract with Western Riverside Waste Authority.
The company said in its response: “Cory Environmental very much welcomes the current consultation and hopes that it will lead to the adoption of a robust planning framework for the safeguarding and protection of strategically important Thames wharves. To do so will enable the continued sustainable transport of London’s waste into the future and allow the possible development of transport of recyclables on the river.”
Cory added that it is feeling increasing pressure to close its wharves because development on adjacent sites results in residential premises and complaints of that its commercial site is a nuisance.
Mayor of London, Mr Livingstone said: “Safeguarding wharves is an important way of balancing land uses along the river. It is not an anti-regeneration policy and I will not allow it to cause blight. I have asked the London Development Agency and Transport for London to start work now to bring wharves that are currently not in use back to life.”
A full copy of Cory's A Greener Horizon report is available here.
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