A visit to Wonder Day at the Veolia Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) will help fill more than the minds of the curious. With a rare opportunity to see what happens to recycling behind the scenes, visitors will also receive clarity on which items should fill their bins, just in time for Recycle Week (24-30 September).
The Veolia IWMF in Southwark is one of the most advanced recycling facilities in Europe. Its state of the art technology allows for over 230,000 tonnes of recycling and waste to be processed annually, making a visit to the facility a favourite during Open House.
This year Wonder Day supports the Recycle Week theme ‘Recycling. We do. Because it Matters.’ by filling the day with recycling insights and free entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, including guided tours of the facility, interactive exhibits, upcycling workshops, children’s games, performances and much more.
Fabrice Bouchon, General Manager at Veolia said: “Wonder Day provides a unique opportunity for members of the public to see what happens to their recyclables after they are collected. At present, too many recyclables end up in our general waste, so we invite visitors to see the collective results that come from their individual recycling efforts. With Recycle Week just around the corner, we hope Londoners visiting the facility will be inspired to make sure as much of their waste as possible ends up in the right bin!”
Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport Management and Air Quality, said: “Wonder Day really is fabulous fun for the whole family and a great opportunity to learn how the facility has helped Southwark have the lowest level of waste that ends up as landfill of any inner London council. Last year saw more than a thousand visitors follow the fascinating journey that household waste and recycling takes to become green products and energy and there will be JCBs and big trucks, birds of prey display and craft workshops to add to the excitement.”
Doors will open at 10am and tours will run every 20 minutes. Tour spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis and all attendees are required to complete a safety induction ahead of going on the tour.
For more information on tour rules and for a full list of event activities, visit www.veolia.co.uk/southwark/WonderDay