Eldon Square Recycling
When Eldon Square shopping centre opened in 1976 all three service roads were public highway and as such were owned, maintained and managed by Newcastle City Council.
Because of these arrangements retailers were provided with small bin stores and they each had to provide their own 1100 litre waste bin and set up individual waste contracts with one of three different suppliers who serviced the centre. Individual bins were picked up on a daily basis and all waste was taken to landfill.
As part of the re-development we have privatised the West Service Road, which services approximately 55 retailers and introduced an integrated waste management system, along the lines of those used at our other directly managed centres.
Retailers now deliver their waste to two re-cycling points placing it in the appropriate bin. From this point Eldon Square takes over, with the waste team compacting general waste and ensuring that all the segregated cardboard goes into a second compactor. We also handle the organic waste produced by a supermarket which, after 3 months is absolutely delighted with the efficiency of the Eldon Square team. In early 2009 we will be introducing plastic and glass as two additional waste streams.
In the West Service Road under our service plan we have raised recycling rates from 0% recycled to 35%. Equally importantly, we have been able at the same time to reduce lorry movements from approximately 30 per week to a maximum of 4, an 86% decrease in vehicle movements.
As a result of the increase in standards, introduction of re-cycling, management of vehicle movements and provision of a much more cost effective service, retailers that have not yet benefited are constantly requesting that the service is extended as quickly as possible into the other two public service roads.
Although not yet privatised, we have been given permission from Newcastle City Council to introduce our services to the South Service Road. This is planned for January 2009 with the North East Service Road following on during 2009.