As part of a new sustainability push, Network Rail has strengthened ties with The Green Block to boost recycling and divert waste away from landfill sites in commemoration of National Recycling Week.
The partnership between the two organisations first began in 2020 with the trial of the Mobile Segregation Unit which manually separates site waste into its recyclable commodities – all while capturing digital data.
Based at London Victoria, the MSU has allowed Network Rail to recycle more than 7,000 tonnes of waste since its introduction – rail chiefs hope the innovation can reduce carbon footprint at the station by 121 tonnes.
Trial success
The last three years at London Victoria have seen recycling rates increase from just 13% to 91%. The ambition is now to reach 95% and divert 100% of station waste from landfill. The 95% target is slated for December 2026.
Such was the success of the initial trial, two further MSUs have been installed at London Bridge and London Waterloo stations which will recycle waste from across Network Rail’s entire southern portfolio – i.e., London Charing Cross, London Cannon Street, Clapham Junction, Guildford etc.
Since December 2023, the increased recycling rates have seen £10,000 generated for the infrastructure owner, along with 18 new jobs in the community.
“We produce thousands of tonnes of waste every year at our big London stations, so The Green Block partnership means we’ve been able to significantly improve our recycling rates to over 90%,” said Network Rail’s sustainability programme manager, Karin Skelton.
“But we’re committed to doing even more and are aiming to reach 95%, as well as eradicating the waste we send to landfill. The best thing about this project is that our passengers don’t need to change a thing.”
Recycling journey
This week has also seen Network Rail roll out 60 new 1,100-litre bins at London Victoria which all have a QR code so passengers can follow the journey of their coffee cup as it is recycled.
It is thought that 1,500 coffee cups are segregated, baled, and recycled across London Victoria, London Bridge, and London Waterloo per day. This is the equivalent of approximately 42,000 coffee cups every four weeks.
These new bins also hold the potential for commercial gain, as Network Rail is exploring an industry-first sponsorship.
As part of an industry-wide collaboration, all waste producers have coded bins and bags, enabling waste to be weighed and tracked in real time with the help of software known as Plaza. Digital tracking in this way is set to be mandatory from next April.
On the news as a whole, The Green Block’s general manager of the MSU division, Josh Katz, said: “At TGB we are committed to delivering safe and sustainable solutions.
“We are delighted to be supporting Network Rail in their sustainability journey, with the introduction of the globally-recognised MSU and its real-time data tracking through the Plaza system, leading the way within the transportation industry.”
Image credit: iStock
Video credit: Network Rail
