Millfields Waste Depot was officially opened by Hackney’s elected Mayor Jules Pipe last week (Wednesday, 23 September) as part of the Council’s commitment to improve waste services in the borough.

The redeveloped waste depot, located on the site of the old Power Station in Millfields Road, Clapton, is an investment of £3.7 million by the London Development Agency (LDA) in partnership with the Council.

The site, previously used as parking for the Council’s fleet of waste vehicles, now includes a new, fully accessible public office; a new waste transfer station; a two-bay vehicle workshop; new fuelling system, new vehicle wash; as well as parking space for waste vehicles.

To mark the occasion, Mayor Pipe was joined by the Council’s Chief Executive Tim Shields and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Cllr Alan Laing. Guests from the LDA, building project manager Capita Symonds and Blackwell Builders, as well as senior managers and staff from waste and recycling services were also in attendance.

Mayor Jules Pipe welcomed the completion of the redevelopment project and praised staff and everyone involved for their efforts during the construction work. He also presented certificates to seven waste operatives who were among a group to have successfully completed NVQ Level 1 and First Aid training courses.

Speaking at the opening event, Mayor Pipe said: “Thank you to everyone who has worked hard to keep our waste services going and improving over the past 18 months. The redevelopment of the Depot has been incredibly important for the Council, helping us to make the borough cleaner and greener while maximising benefits for our residents as we prepare for the 2012 Games and beyond.”

The new office building at the redeveloped waste depot has many sustainable features, including a biomass pellet boiler that will be the main source of constant hot water and heat exchange air conditioning units. It also boasts a living roof covered in turf, grass and wild flowers that provides insulation, while helping to reduce carbon dioxide and improve air quality, all of which has helped the building achieved a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating.

The Depot also has a new CCTV security system and high-quality lighting system that will take account of the wildlife along the River Lea, which borders the site, with light spillage minimised as far as possible.

Over the last six months new vehicles have been introduced to the Council’s waste services as part of an ongoing commitment to provide one of the cleanest emission fleets in London. Currently, 80 per cent of the Council’s fleet meets Euro 4 emission standards and five per cent of the fleet already meets Euro 5 emission standard.

For more information about Hackney’s waste services call 020 8356 6688 or visit the Council’s website: www.hackney.gov.uk