The state-of-the-art recycling centre off Old Kent Road will protect Southwark from the impact of striking waste management employees in South West London.
On the 23rd, 24th and 30th of June, and 1st of July, Cory Environmental employees at sites in Smugglers Way, Wandsworth and Cringle Dock, Battersea will strike over pay.
But thanks to the Southwark Household Reuse and Recycling Centre, on Devon Street, Southwark does not use either of those transfer sites.
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Managed by Veolia since it became operational in January 2012, the facility is “one of the most advanced in Europe” according to Open City, a London-based architectural charity.
The centre’s design includes rapidly shutting fabric doors that contain odours and noise, as well as operational entrances facing away from housing.
The centre also employs negative pressure, meaning dust and odour are drawn back into the building for neutralisation and treatment.
These features mean the centre can be situated unusually close to central London, reducing emissions from waste transportation.
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However, those South-West London residents who rely on the Battersea and Wandsworth sites could face mounting rubbish if the strikes go ahead.
Paul Grafton, Regional Organiser for the GMB trade union, said: “It is a shame that it has come down to industrial action, but Cory have refused to budge.
“GMB has pushed Cory continually for intervention by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Eventually, Cory caved in and agreed to meet with them, but we don’t hold out much hope of a resolution.
“GMB has announced four days of strikes initially, followed by more frequent dates of action.
“There is a very simple way for all this inconvenience on the general public to be avoided – Cory needs to offer their workers a pay deal that won’t result in them being worse off at the end of each month.”
GMB says that the pay offer made to employees was “well short of inflation” so they are “demanding a pay rise that will not leave them worse off at the end of the month than they were last year”.
*In an article published on Sunday, June 12, we incorrectly stated that Southwark could be affected by the strikes taking place on sites in Wandsworth and Battersea.