The GLA environment committee had discussed plans for the Edmonton 'Ec;oPark' with LondonWaste managing director, David Sargent. But although the proposal to develop the 43-acre site was focussed on public and commercial recycling and composting facilities, the proposal met with a frosty reception at the meeting on Thursday.
 An artist's impression of LondonWaste's proposed new EcoPark at Edmonton |
Commenting after the meeting, LondonWaste spokesman Paul Egan said: “We're a bit disappointed. We feel it was quite a positive proposal and we're surprised they were trying to pick holes in it rather than supporting it.”
During the meeting, Mr Sargent told committee members that the proposal would involve the transfer of waste to and from the proposed EcoPark via canals and waterways. Although the GLA committee liked this idea, they were not impressed at the lack of information they had been given about the proposal, particularly with funding issues, and steered well clear of giving their full support to the project.
Samantha Heath, who chairs the committee, said: “We're very interested in the transport to the site – the point about water is particularly welcomed, since truck movement is a great concern to people in the community. However, we need more information about the Eco-park, about its funding and the timetable.”
Commenting on plans for the park, Mr Sargent said: “The Eco Park has been designed to handle nearly 200,000 tonnes of rubbish every year, but whether we achieve or exceed this target is dependent upon the support we get from the community and its governing authorities.”
Underdeveloped
LondonWaste, a joint venture between the North London Waste Authority and Sita, has only developed 50% of their 43-acre site so far. Since the site has good transport links – located next to the North Circular as well as nearby waterways, the company has been looking to make use of the space.
Speaking at Friday's meeting, Mr Sargent told GLA members: “The facilities we are proposing are a co-mingled clean materials reclamation facility, a public recycling facility, a commercial recycling facility, bulking-up equipment and composting facilities.”
The company are also looking at reprocessing facilities the Edmonton site. “Since our initial proposal in April we have tried to expand further and we have explored ideas of onsite reprocessing – we are talking in terms of paper, plastics, batteries, fluorescent lights,” Mr Sargent said.
Some weeks ago, LondonWaste had plans for an extension to their existing incinerator at the site turned down, but the proposal for the Eco-park is based around recycling and composting facilities, and the fact that the London mayor's waste strategy is so keen to promote recycling has led to surprise that their proposal is not receiving the GLA's full backing.
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