We began with SITA Materials Recycling Facility at Enstone Airfield (see also pictures above). We were guided around the site seeing how the recyclate is brought into big sheds in bags, opened up and put on a conveyor belt for sorting. In the first sorting shed cardboard is picked out for recycling and anything in closed bags is picked out for land fill. The second step is putting everything in a trommel where small waste is separated out. The remainder then goes onto another conveyor belt where aluminium cans and plastic are picked out by hand (conveyor belt pictured right).
Paper and card are bashed and aerated before being baled up for sale. Approximately 150 tonnes of waste is brought to this site every week and at least 70% of it is recycled.
Lest we think the waste we throw away is worthless, SITA currently sell the baled products from recycling centres for between £52/tonne and £700/tonne.
Following the visit to SITA, CAG members were shown around Agrivert Composting facility (pictured right) where we saw compost being turned and aerated (pictured above).
CAG Network Event - 20th May 2006
Well, there we all were again gathered to celebrate the superb works of the CAG groups this year!
CAGs came from ...
Babystore Bicester * Farringdon Waste Watchers * Barracks Lane Community Garden * Sunnymead CAG * Buscot CAG * Sustainable Wallingford * Canalside Environment Group * Witney Area Waste Action Group * Charlbury CAG * Wolvercote Recycling
What did we do? During the first sessions in the morning, we spent some time reflecting on the activities that CAGs have undertaken during the course of the year. We looked at the successes of the year including the county wide swap shop that was clearly a highlight and other successes which included working with schools & holding shredder events. We also discussed some of the challenges facing CAGs over the year and shared ways in which groups had overcome these.
We heard from Andrew Pau head of Oxfordshire County Council Waste Management about the Oxfordshire Waste Strategy. Andrew outlined the latest on how the strategy is being developed and what the likely implications are for the people of Oxfordshire. The presentation was followed by a discussion of some of the issues that arose and I'm sure we could have continued longer had it not been for the smell of lunch wafting from the kitchen.
Moira Dorey along with Sandra Simpson and John Garrett (WA-WAG) took us through the highs and lows of the Wallingford Business Recycling Project. The WBRP provided a unique partnership opportunity between CAG members, Grundons waste management company and researchers from Brookes University, using WRAP funding, to encourage small and medium sized businesses in the greater Wallingford area to recycle their business waste. It was clear that the project was a success and that everyone involved learned a great deal towards replicating this model in other towns.
In the afternoon, we had three workshop groups covering: working with schools, community composting and sustainable energy. Workshops looked at how CAGs had and could work in these areas drawing on experience from members of the groups. Elaine Steane told us all about her solar hot water system; Martin Pearse from the Recycling Consortium told us about his experiences with community composting and Moira Dorey shared CAG ideas on how to spread the sustainability message into local schools.
Following the workshops we had an update on the CAG network including the launch of the Resource Pack and the new CAG display boards that CAGs can take to events. We also talked about this year's visits and training programme starting on Monday 3rd July - look out for other dates coming soon!
Another nice surprise on the day was that Andy and Lisa from Farringdon came to the day and promptly announced their becoming a CAG; so we would like to welcome Farringdon Waste Watchers to the network!!
For Further information:
Contact the CAG Project Manager
Email Simon Kenton