How Amberol met the Olympic challenge for Waltham Forest
The borough of Waltham Forest in north east London is home to over 220,000 residents. A largely urban area with diverse ethnicity and areas of deprivation, around one fifth of the borough is comprised of open spaces, including parts of Epping Forest, parks, reservoirs and playing fields.
As part of its goal to enhance the environment and improve the quality of life for residents, the council has introduced a range of strategies to reduce litter on the streets, including a weekend street cleaning programme.
Waltham Forest was one of the main Olympic and Paralympic sites and home of the Olympic Park, which was developed especially for the summer events. The park, which included major sporting venues such as the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Velodrome, was created from former industrial land by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). The area was planted up to create quiet spaces and natural habitats for a range of birds and animals, including those rarely seen such as kingfishers and otters.
The human cost
However, the influx of such a large number of visitors brings its own problems – one of which is litter. As part of their bid to help make London 2012 the first zero waste Olympic Games, Waltham Forest invested in a new range of over 320 Amberol litter bins with sections designed for recycling. Known as the Olympic Dual Bin, the product was designed by Amberol especially for the Olympics and Paralympics.
Paul Tickner, Waste Contracts Manager at Waltham Forest Council first discovered Amberol’s products in another borough when he used a bin outside one of London’s most congested spots, Oxford Street tube station. “I first noticed the bins when coming out of the underground – I thought that they had a strong visual image and were just what we were looking for in the borough,” he comments.
Offering the option to recycle
Paul was also attracted by the fact that the Olympic Dual Bin offered recycling facilities. “As part of our ongoing waste and recycling programme, we needed a product that would help increase our street recycling. The simple design of Amberol’s Olympic Dual Bin instantly got my attention as something that would be perfect for the Olympic Park,’ he adds.
Produced at Amberol’s Derbyshire factory, the dual bins are made from recyclable polythene with a fire retardant inner liner and are split into two sections; a black section for disposable waste and a green section for all recyclable waste such as plastic bottles, paper, glass and aluminum cans. The bin has a combined capacity of 180 litres and also has two metal stubber plates and ash collectors for cigarette ends. The bin was installed at several local authorities prior to the Olympics, including Staffordshire and nearby Westminster which was also a central site for Olympic visitors.
“The Olympic recycling bins were an important part of our overall environmental imitative,” explains Paul. “We were delighted with the Olympic Park venue; it’s a great environment for people to visit as well as being a place that local residents can enjoy. The Amberol bins are a significant part of the waste and recycling strategy designed to keep our public areas litter free and looking their best.”
Three words that Waltham Forest use to describe the Olympic Dual Litter bin
- Simple
- Visual
- Strong
Not only was Paul pleased with the products that Amberol supplied, but he also rated their customer service as “excellent.” He hopes to continue using Amberol products in the future – and is happy to recommend the company to others.
“I’ve been extremely impressed with the products we received from Amberol; they are strong, durable and visually interesting. I hope to continue using Amberol in the future because of their quality products and excellent service.”
To find out more about how Amberol’s products can help you, call 01773 830 930 or email info@amberol.co.uk.
