Improved recycling in the UK: Envac’s innovative cardboard shredder at Barking Riverside

Groundbreaking system allows residents from approximately 2,000 homes to manage large volumes of cardboard waste sustainably. The initiative is set to prevent around 105 tonnes of cardboard from ending up in landfills annually.

In the picture: Dave Buckley, Managing Director at Envac UK (centre) is joined by Matthew Carpen, Managing Director at Barking Riverside (centre right, in high vis), Paul Miller, Deputy Managing Director – Business Strategy and Finance at Barking Riverside (left), Chris Harrison, Headteacher at George Carey School Primary School (far right) and pupils from the school.

Envac has introduced the UK’s first residential cardboard shredder at Barking Riverside, one of Europe’s largest housing developments. This groundbreaking system allows residents from approximately 2,000 homes to manage large volumes of cardboard waste sustainably. The initiative is set to prevent around 105 tonnes of cardboard from ending up in landfills annually.

A Revolutionary Cardboard Shredder
The 88cm wide shredder, the largest ever used in a residential setting, can handle packaging as large as TV boxes. This marks the first time residential cardboard collection in the UK is managed through vacuum waste collection. The system transports shredded cardboard through an underground pipe network from the shredder to the collection station, ensuring efficient waste handling daily.

Integration with AWCS
The giant cardboard shredder is seamlessly integrated into Barking Riverside’s existing Automated Waste Collection System (AWCS). This integration has led to the elimination of 98% of street bins and a 90% reduction in waste-related carbon emissions. The transformational impact on residents’ recycling habits is evident, with 47% of all waste at Barking Riverside being recycled in April 2023, compared to the London average of 12% for flatted properties.

The Barking Riverside Development
Barking Riverside is a rapidly growing development, poised to offer over 10,000 homes and new facilities on a 443-acre brownfield site along the River Thames in East London. The addition of the Envac cardboard shredder significantly enhances the sustainability of waste collection at this development. The shredder’s capacity to handle unlimited amounts of cardboard and transport four cubic meters of material from the shredder to the collection station in just 26 seconds underscores its efficiency.

Launched in 2018

Envac system at Barking Riverside

It currently transports the waste of around 2,000 homes through an underground pipe network via airflow. The system has already had a transformational impact on residents’ recycling rates.

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A Testament to Innovation and Sustainability
The successful implementation of the cardboard shredder at Barking Riverside is a testament to Envac’s dedicated research and development efforts. It demonstrates how innovative waste management solutions can be developed and applied to address specific environmental challenges, leading to significant improvements in sustainability and efficiency in residential areas.

By pioneering this advanced waste management system, Envac showcases the potential for similar initiatives to be rolled out across the UK and beyond, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable future for urban living.