Waste production and resource consumption

We live in a throwaway society; it is estimated that the UK generated around 222 million tonnes of waste in 2018 (UK GOV). But how can we live in a waste –free world?  

Reducing your waste is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Recycling is too – as it saves energy and the need to source new materials from the ground. Recycling an aluminium can uses 95% less energy than it would to source it directly from raw materials.

One of the council’s key missions is to ensure as much waste as possible is recycled.

• At the district level, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) is responsible for providing domestic waste collection to households. All waste collected from residential addresses is delivered to the North Farm Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).
• At the county level, Kent County Council (KCC) manages the disposal of waste. Waste streams collected at North Farm HWRC are then sent to various processing plants for further treatment.

Recycling is crucial as it conserves natural resources, reduces waste in landfills, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes a sustainable environment for future generations.

To find out more information on what can and cannot go into your recycling bins and boxes at home, visit our TWBC guidance page here: Recycling bin or Recycling box.

Food & garden waste:

• The Blaise Quarry Biogas Plant, a new Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility located near West Malling in South East England, was built to allow the recovery or a mix of recovery and disposal of non-hazardous food waste and green waste. The plant generates 700 nm³/h of renewable green gas, which powers the plant and is fed to the national grid, generating enough energy for 3,600 homes and producing liquid fertilizer for farms. Garden waste is composted into nutrient-rich, peat-free compost for use in farming.

Plastics, Cans & Glass Recycling – Rainham Plastic Recycling Facility (PRF)

• Recyclable waste is sorted at local Materials Recycling Facilities (MRF) or Plastics Recycling Facilities (PRF), where it goes through various separation processes. First, materials are sorted by size in spinning trommels, which separate paper and card. Then, a ballistic separator allows more paper to rise, while plastics and cans fall. Magnets and eddy currents separate steel and aluminium cans, and optical devices sort plastics. Quality checks ensure accuracy throughout, and materials are baled and tagged for transport. Plastics are further sorted by polymer type, granulated, tested, and prepared for remanufacture.

Paper & Card Recycling – Smurfit Kappa

• Paper and card is shredded, mixed with water and turned into a pulp and recycled back into paper.  If the quality is not good enough, the product is used in composting.

Refuse – Allington Energy from Waste (EfW)

• Residual waste is burned at 650°C in incinerators, producing steam that drives turbines to generate up to 45 megawatts of electricity per hour. The waste-to-energy plant uses an eco-friendly system monitored by the team and the Environment Agency. The visible clouds from chimneys are steam, not smoke. Electricity generated is fed into the National Grid, enough to power towns like Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge.

Composting your leftover vegetable peelings, food and garden waste can create a nutrient-rich food product for your garden. Compost helps improve soil structure, maintain moisture levels and keeps your soil’s pH balance in check – all important things if you want to keep your garden thriving! Composting at home isn’t as complicated as it sounds as there are different types of composting methods to choose from – all with amazing results!

Read ‘The Ultimate Guide to Composting For Beginners’ for more in-depth information about how to begin composting at home!

An allotment is a plot of land rented by individuals, typically for the purpose of growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers. They are usually part of a larger community garden or allotment site managed by the local council or organisations. Allotments provide a space for people to engage in gardening and cultivate their own produce, promoting local food production, sustainability, and community engagement. They not only reduce carbon footprints, but also improve biodiversity, and promote sustainable practices across the borough.

Find out more on the locations and availability on allotments across the borough – Allotments (tunbridgewells.gov.uk)