Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the London Assembly, will formally launch Downings Roads Moorings recycling scheme. Jenny will unveil a plaque to celebrate the successful implementation of an innovative recycling project supported by the Crossriver Partnership Project. The event is organised by the London Community Recycling Network and CRISP (Community Recycling in Southwark Project) in co-operation with the tenants Residents Association.
Jenny Jones said, "Our bin, burn and bury approach to waste means we are now drastically out of step with our European neighbours who practice the three ‘R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle. We bury nearly 80% of our household waste in landfill sites on our small, crowded island."
She added, "The Downing Road Moorings recycling scheme is a showcase for London. Any one who currently throws away fruit and vegetable peelings, teabags and other food waste can get involved in composting and wormeries."
Armin Bobsien of CRISP said, "It’s great news that Downings Roads moorings community are leading the way in Southwark’s effort to boost recycling rates. Composting and wormeries are under-used in London, and we would like to encourage more home and community composting across the capital."
Downing Roads Moorings, a community of 28 households dwelling on river barges close to Tower Bridge, recycles newspaper, glass and cans in recycling bins provided by the local authority. To maximise recycling rates the residents are using innovative composting equipment such as worm compost bins to turn kitchen and garden waste into compost, which is used to organically fertilise roof gardens, indoor and deck plants. The recycling scheme is one of various steps taken by the residents towards practical solutions for sustainable living in London.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Downings Road Moorings
The ancient moorings at West Bermondsey is the largest collection of ancient vessels on the Thames, including sail and motor barges, lighters, tugs and keels from over Europe. Downings Roads is one of the oldest surviving barge roads in London, dating back to the early part of the 19th century when William Downing established his barge building and repair business.
The residents of Downings Roads Moorings are currently defending their right to live on the River Thames. They have been overwhelmed by the support of the public and have collected over 2000 signatures. Also, many high profile politicians registered their support:
The moorings float adjacent to Reeds Wharf, a nineteenth century warehouse originally constructed to handle grain from North America, and now part of the St. Saviours Docks Conservation Area. Access is through Mill Stairs, which traditionally allowed river workers and travellers access to the Pool of London.
Other environmental initiatives on Downings Roads Mooring include bird feeders and a bird sanctuary. Over the past two years one resident has rescued, fostered, and returned successfully to the river habitat, various wild birds that have either been injured or orphaned. To date these include several generations of ducks/ducklings and a herring gull. The city’s only floating gardens, the mooring was awarded first prize in Southwalk Council’s Best Community Gardens award last summer, and provides the habitat for a broad range of flora and fauna.
There are currently six garden barges on the mooring, one of which is dedicated to trees including Weeping Ash, Quince, Apple and Ribinia.
Bird species on the mooring include cormorants, great crested grebes, mallards, greylags, shags and yellow wagtails.
Recycling/composting
Downings Roads wormeries were provided by CRISP (Community Recycling in Southwark Project) and funded by the Cross River Partnership and St. Mungo’s Workshop for the Homeless.
According to a survey by CRISP for Southwark Council found that over 50% of those composting their waste do not regard it as a form of recycling. Composting kitchen waste, using state-of-the-art compost equipment which blends easily into the urban environment, helps to increase the recycling rates of the local authorities.
A person living alone in London generates 0.572 metric tonnes a year. Each person in a two-person household generates 0.36 metric tonnes a year, whilst a family of 4 generates 0.21 metric tonnes a year.
Latest national studies suggest that approximately 22% of household ‘bin’ waste is kitchen waste. That equates to around 570,000 tonnes a year in London. About half of this is suitable for home composting.