Eden Project Chooses Plastic Omnium For Its Recycling Bins
posted in Articles |A new range of recycling bins manufactured by Plastic Omnium and designed in conjunction with the Eden Project is now handling the waste of over a million visitors and communicating a vital environmental message.
The new Eden range was devised as part of the Cornwall-based project’s Waste Neutral programme which communicates, educates and pursues best practice in waste management, minimisation and recycling.
‘Waste Neutral’ is reached when Eden buys-in a greater weight of products made from recycled materials than the weight of materials sent for recycling and disposal.
Plastic Omnium’s Eden range was developed specifically for Eden and other visitor attractions. It features double-walled medium density polyethylene outers - secured to the ground - with pedal-activated lids so that waste can be dropped into the 140-litre wheeled bins beneath. Waste can be easily segregated into cans and plastics, paper cartons/cups, glass, food and general waste. A waist-high key keeps waste safely locked away.
“Our visitors want to see all forms of sustainability and that includes waste recycling,” said Dave Meneer, Eden’s marketing director. “Over a million visitors pass through our gates every year so we’ve a golden opportunity to show sustainability in action and get them into a habit which they will hopefully continue at home. In conjunction with Plastic Omnium, we’ve developed the next generation recycling station which segregates waste at source.”
Visitors to the Eden Project start the recycling process by segregating their waste at point of disposal. This helps both Eden and its visitors to throw away less, sort better and save money.
Design features include: curved lids to prevent people sitting on them or leaving waste on top, polycarbonate panels on the front of each bin showing samples of waste and thereby easing visitor selection of the right bin as well as surfaces designed to resist fly-posting and grime.
“Contamination of waste streams is low because visitors are clearly and simply instructed to the right bin for the waste stream,” said Simon Dutta, head of marketing and customer services at Plastic Omnium. “Each is colour-coded to the WRAP Recycle Now campaign standard. Those colours are carried on the front and top of each bin dedicated to that waste stream. Clear script and Braille also identify the waste stream as does the clear panel at the front of the bin revealing its contents.
“This innovative, stylish and contemporary bin is ideal for visitor attractions,” said Simon Dutta. “However, the 140-litre container that the bin houses means that large volumes can be collected, reducing the frequency of emptying, and that makes it suitable for high street locations. This also gets over manual handling issues, sometimes associated with waste containers, as the wheeled bin is easily manoeuvrable and can be lifted with any standard waste vehicle.”
“We started with just two Eden Range recycling stations in February this year (2005),” said Dan Ryan, Waste Neutral, public learning coordinator at the Eden Project. “We’re about to put many more sets in this summer with an anticipated 50 being in place across site eventually. We’re particularly happy with what we’ve achieved by working hand in hand with Plastic Omnium. Anyone who’s been to the Eden Project will know that the layout and structure of the ex-quarry site presents logistical challenges when shifting materials around the place. Sorting our waste into separate streams, at the point of disposal, has helped us both with its removal and made for a slicker and more efficient operation.”
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Editors’ notes:
NowRecycle.co.uk is a trading style of Plastic Omnium Systems Ltd - a European market leader in waste containment solutions that provides a wide range of waste containers and services including wheeled bins, litter bins, banks, composters and sacks. It is part of the International Plastic Omnium Group, a world leader in contract waste container solutions with worldwide sales of more than £1.8 billion. It employs over 9,000 people in 25 countries, across four continents, in manufacturing and service solutions for the automotive, environment and performance plastic products.
Press Contact: Simon Dutta, N European Marketing Director, Plastic Omnium Urban Systems Ltd
Telephone: 01952 582 583