Buckinghamshire Council’s recycling and waste contractor, Veolia is introducing improvements at the London Road East Depot in Amersham to help create a more sustainable waste contract.
The first improvement is the installation of 136 energy-efficient solar panels to the roof of a vehicle workshop on site. The panels will harness solar energy and use it to power the activities of the operation.
As well as being a truly renewable energy source the use of solar energy will reduce carbon emissions on-site by 12.25 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to planting 563 trees. In the first 17 days, the solar panels have generated 1815.86 kWh, a home will generally use around 3600 kWh per year so the panels have already generated enough energy to power a home for 6 months.
To enhance biodiversity, beehives have been installed at the depot and wildflower meadow areas planted to encourage bees to use the hives. This is with the assistance and advice of the Chalfonts’ Beekeepers Society. Veolia has further plans to install bird boxes and bug hotels on site this year and work with local primary schools to make the same improvements for biodiversity at their sites. Selected schools will be provided with a biodiversity pack that includes bird boxes, bug hotels and their own wildflower seeds to create insect-friendly havens nearby.
Furthermore, 6 electric vehicle charging points have been installed at the depot for the future use of electric cars and vans by employees on site.
