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UK: London Marathon gives green lease on life
Westminster City Council recycled 70,000 plastic water bottles from Sunday's London Marathon. The bottles will be given a new lease on life and used to make umbrellas, clothing and more...
di Staff
Westminster City Council recycled up to 70,000 plastic water bottles from Sunday's London Marathon – enough to make 16,000 umbrellas, 1,300 fleece jackets or 33 picnic tables.
The council recycled the bottles – over half a tonne?s worth – discarded by thirsty runners during the Westminster section of the Marathon towards the end of the race. Over a tonne of cardboard was also recycled and turned into more cardboard packaging.
14 special recycling points were sited along the route in the City to make it easier for the crowds to deposit their bottles. Any bottles left on the ground were removed by the council's 40-strong street cleaning team, which includes 23 manual sweepers and 14 vehicles.
Once collected, the bottles can be given a new lease of life and used for everything from eco-friendly clothing to upholstery for car seats and clothing. The council also cleaned up over five tonnes worth of litter.
Council proud of high standards
Dr Leith Penny, Westminster Council?s Director of Environment and Leisure, said: "Every year, the London Marathon is a very special day for London. As ever, we are working behind the scenes to ensure that the event constitutes a fun day out for runners and for spectators alike, and that the only thing the participants have to worry about is reaching the finishing line.
"But the council works to achieve a Marathon standard of cleanliness every day of the year. "Keeping our streets clean isn't just important when there are special events – it's important 24-hours a day, every day of the year to ensure that the heart of London is clean and tidy for residents, business and visitors alike?.
On Saturday night, the council's street cleaning team ensured that all of the carriageways on the route that passed through Westminster were in pristine condition, ready to welcome the 36,000 runners that participated in the race.
Elsewhere, Veolia Environmental Services, the contractor responsible for the street cleaning and recycling services in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, recycled a further 5.5 tonnes of plastic bottles and other recyclable materials.
Chris Hodges, Veolia?s contract manager in Tower Hamlets, said: ?Congratulations to all the runners. We?re delighted to play a part in the London Marathon by recycling all of the used bottles in this year?s marathon.
"Those running next year may well end up drinking out of recycled versions of these very same bottles!?
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