Food and garden waste collected from households in Glasgow City, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils has been used in the development of the Athletes’ Village and other Commonwealth Games venues for Glasgow 2014 (23 July - 3 August), it has been announced.
According to Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS), some of the 50,000 tonnes of food and garden waste that is sent to GP Plantscape’s in-vessel composting (IVC) facility in Blantyre every year has been used to help develop the facilities.
It is currently being used to feed the turf at the Athletes’ Village in Dalmarnock, as well as at some of the sporting arenas.
Creating a ‘truly sustainable event’
Speaking of the use of food waste, Glasgow 2014 Environment and Sustainability Manager Gareth Talbot said: “The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is aiming to be a truly sustainable event, rooted in Scotland. To be able to use household food waste, collected and responsibly recycled by householders all across the west of Scotland, and turn that via composting into the very turf on which athletes will be staying and competing at these very special games, is a great example of the way we’ve embedded sustainability in the games’ organisation.”
Glasgow 2014 has made a commitment to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill throughout the event, with a diversion target of 80 per cent, and a commitment to recycle as much as possible.
Other steps the organising body has taken to boost sustainability in the development of the event include establishing a combined heat and power system and installing photovoltaic panels at the Athletes’ Village.
Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland said: “Around 57 per cent of households in Scotland now have access to a food waste recycling service, allowing this waste to be transformed into a valuable resource, as we can see from its use at the Athletes’ Village.
“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is a great opportunity for Scotland to host a truly sustainable green event, projecting a lasting legacy to be proud of, and as such it’s great to see this valuable material being used in such as efficient way.”
Zero Waste Scotland is currently calling for members of the public to volunteerto be ‘Recycling Ambassadors’ at Glasgow 2014, with those selected advising visitors on how to recycle at the ‘Glasgow Green Live Zone ’ at the event.
Find out more about the Commonwealth Games 2014.
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