London 2012 Games most sustainable ever

The London 2012 Olympic Games was the most sustainable ever, according to the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012.

In areport published today (November 15),the Commission said it is confidentthe London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) met its waste and recycling targets. However it notes that LOCOG faced a number of challenges including the contamination of waste streams and food wastage.

Achieving zero waste directly to landfill and hitting a 70% recycling, reuse and composting rate for the waste produced during the Games were among LOCOGs targets and aspirations. The Commission said it is awaiting the final figures from LOCOG to determine for certain whether the 70% recycling target was met.

The report entitled London 2012 from vision to reality, gives an overview of how well the Games performed against its targets for several areas including: transport; food; energy; and waste.

Looking at waste and recycling, the report gives an overview of the methods used to collect waste including the use of a three-bin system. In addition, it noted that challenging waste minimisation targets imposed on caterers, which the Commission said are likely to have been met.

On the packaging side, the Commission noted that LOCOG made significant progress towards meeting its compostable packaging aspiration. Compostable food packaging from the London 2012 Olympics was composted by Kent-based waste management company Countrystyle (see letsrecycle.com story).

Lessons

However the Commission said that while the approach to waste taken by LOCOG represents a significant investment for the events industry, there are several lessons that need to be taken into account for the future. These include:

• LOCOGs integration of waste, materials, food and packaging policies demonstrates the benefits that can be gained by a systems-based approach. The stronger the design and systems connection between these policies, the greater the likelihood of minimising residual waste;
• In future, eradicating food packaging which requires recycling or which is residual waste could greatly reduce any confusion amongst spectators about what goes in which bin; and,
• The act of source separation across three streams remains a constant challenge for spectators and for caterers. If such an approach is adopted again it will require a systematic and well-resourced approach to training, retraining and to micro incentives to drive appropriate behaviour

Sustainable

Shaun McCarthy, chair of the Commission, said he had no hesitation confirming that London 2012 has delivered the most sustainable Games ever.

Discussing waste and recycling at the Games, he said: London 2012 was the first summer Games to declare a target of zero waste to landfill with 70% re-used, recycled or composted. Typical events achieve 15%.

“We are confident from our observations that this will be achieved. Meticulous attention to recyclable and compostable packaging, an innovative and eye catching three bin system for spectators and exclusive use of a materials recycling facility have combined to make this possible. The system was not perfect but low levels of litter and higher than normal levels of source segregation provide another exemplar that others would do well to follow.

Mr McCarthy added: We are pleased that some of the lessons learnt from the Games will already be available for wider application through Londons learning legacy website. We hope that future major events and infrastructure projects take note of what has been achieved by London 2012 and raise the bar even higher in future.