Wonder Day 2017

25 August 2017

Veolia, Southwark Council’s recycling and waste partner, will be inviting the general public to visit the Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility on Saturday 16 September. This annual event is in conjunction with Open House London, where visitors are can explore the intriguing world of waste along with many fun activities for the whole family.

Event Date: Saturday 16 September 2017
Time: 10am until 4pm
Where: Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility
43 Devon Street
London 
SE15 1AL (for information about how to get here see the FAQs at the bottom of the page)

The Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility is a feat of modern design and engineering. Built to deal with over 200,000 tonnes of waste annually, the facility separates Southwark’s mixed recycling ready to be turned into something new. All black bag waste from the borough is brought to the facility and turned into a low carbon fuel, which provides energy to the National Grid, and heating for around 2,500 Southwark homes via a district heating network. Tours of the facility take place throughout the day to give residents a thought provoking and intriguing insight into how waste is actually used as resource that can help us to build a sustainable future. 
Taking place on the day:

Recycling Waste Tours: See what happens to your recycling...

Take a fascinating tour, hosted by our recycling tour team and learn how recyclables get sorted at our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).  Watch our state-of-the-art machinery and our hard working staff sort different materials into separate recycling stream ready to baled up and turned into something new.

Tours will take place every 20 minutes throughout the day, bookings can be made at reception on a first come, first served basis. 

General Waste Tours: Learn how we turn waste into green energy

Discover what happens to general waste at the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) Facility, Veolia’s first in the UK. See how we prevent almost all general waste from being landfilled. Watch the processes that take place using state-of-the-art machinery along with a tailored biological process that enables us to produce a fuel that can be used to create energy.

General waste tours take place throughout the day on a first come, first served basis.

Site tour rules:

• Children must be over 137cm to be part of a tour. There are a limited number of children’s tour available, see below for details
• All children up to the age of 16, must be accompanied by an adult, with no more than two children per adult
• No high heels or open toe shoes can be worn inside the facility
• Unfortunately the tour is not accessible to wheelchair users and all participants must be able to walk unaided. All other visitor areas are fully accessible on site
• For those with hearing aids, please be aware, certain aids are not compatible with our headsets
• People with pacemakers unfortunately cannot go on the Recycling Waste Tour, however they can go on the General Waste Tour

Kids Recycling Tour

Two children’s tours will take place for those who are too young or don’t meet our requirements for a standard Recycling Tour. Please note this is subject to availability. 

These tours will take place in the early afternoon, but spaces fill very quickly so please book early at reception. All children must be accompanied by an adult and must be able to walk unaided.  

Ask the experts

Join us for a thought provoking and intriguing insight into how your waste is actually a resource that can help us build a sustainable future:

So if you have a question about the future of waste or want to quiz someone about recycling? Our waste and recycling experts will be on hand to take your questions and provide a comprehensive understanding into the fascinating world of waste.

• Fabrice Bouchon - is the general manager for the site and has worked for Veolia for over 15 years. He can provide vast insight into what happens to waste, how the site was built, and its operations
• Julie Angulo - is the plant manager and is in charge of ensuring that the whole site runs smoothly. Julie also has a great deal of expertise in the waste industry and the logistics of making waste work both economically and environmentally
• Cathy Cook from Resource London - who can provide a wealth of knowledge on waste in London and the possible future of waste disposal

Arts and Craft workshops 

Want some upcycling ideas? Then check out our craft sessions taking place throughout the day. Including a glass painting workshop. If you have any vases or glass that you would like to decorate, please bring it along.  

Doctor Bike

Dr Bike will be on hand to look at your brakes, tyres, gears and the general road-worthiness of your bike, all for free. 

The Dr Bike mechanic will fix basic problems with your bike if it's possible to do it there and then. Otherwise they will advise you on what is wrong so you can take your cycle to a bike shop and explain the problem. 

Dr Bike is an experienced London cyclist and will be able to chat to you about good routes, cycling safely and being confident on the road.

Old Kent Honey for sale

We work hard to improve the biodiversity on site. Our latest addition are the beehives you can see on your way into the site. Since the bees were installed last spring they have flourished to produce some very tasty honey. Visit the main marquee by reception to see if you can get your hands on some in return for a donation to FoodCycle.

Money raised on the day will be donated to FoodCycle a charity that combines surplus food, volunteers and spare kitchen spaces to create nutritious three-course meals for people at risk of food poverty and social isolation. They currently have 1200 volunteers who provide an amazing service to their local community week after week.

FoodCycle have 29 hubs across the country, the nearest one to Southwark’s Integrated Waste Management Facility is at All Saints Church in Peckham. 

What’s on for Children? 

• Recycling Discovery Centre - Discover why we recycle and where the raw materials that make everyday products come from. Our interactive games will keep the kids amused and the adults too
• Get close to big machines - Children fascinated by diggers, shovels and trucks will love exploring our vehicles close up
• Junk orchestra - Make and play instruments using recycled materials
• Story Corner - If your child loves books they can have a nice rest and have some lovely stories told to them by our wonderful storyteller from Peckham Library
• Wild bird display - See some magnificent birds up close and learn all about them. Children over a certain age can also hold a bird under supervision
• R3CYLE Robot - Meet our remote controlled R3 robot who has been made using recycled bins. This friendly robot will fascinate and entertain small children 

Plus there will be a bouncy castle, lots of free refreshments and games to keep all little ones entertained.   

FAQs

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event? Not exactly, however children must be over 137cms tall to be part of the tour. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with no more than two children per adult.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event? There is no parking on site.

Buses 
The following buses operate along Old Kent Road, with the nearest bus stop to the IWMF being Commercial Way, close to Devon Street. 21 - Newington Green to Lewisham (N21 - 24hr) (via London Bridge) 53 - Plumstead to Whitehall (24hr) (via Elephant & Castle) 172 - St. Paul’s Station to Brockley Rise (via Waterloo Station and Elephant & Castle) 453 - Deptford to Marylebone (24hr) (via Charing Cross and Elephant & Castle) P12 - Surrey Quays to Brockley Rise (via South Bermondsey Rail)

Train Stations 
We are a 7 minute walk from Queens Road Peckham, 25 minutes from either South Bermondsey or New Cross Gate. Further information on public transport serving the IWMF can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk 

Driving 
The A2 Old Kent Road is a primary route running northwest to southeast between Central London, Southeast London and Kent. The major junction to the northwest is Elephant & Castle roundabout and to the southeast is New Cross Gate gyratory.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions? Please email your question to vesuksouthwarkenquiries.vesuk@veolia.com

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event? Yes and present it at our tour booking on desk, 15 mins before your tour is due to begin. These tours are very popular and if you do not check in 15 mins prior to your tour, your space will be given to someone else.

Is my registration fee or ticket transferrable? You can give your ticket to someone else prior to the event.

Is it ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn't match the person who attends? Yes.

Is the tour accessible for disabled guests? Unfortunately tours are not accessible to wheelchair users and all participants must be able to walk unaided as there are many stairs within the facility. All other visitor areas are fully accessible and there are many fun things to see and take part in on the day. Please visit https://www.veolia.co.uk/southwark/WonderDay for more details.

I have a pacemaker, can I go on the tour? Unfortunately people with pacemakers cannot go on the tour as we have electromagnetic equipment in operation within the facility.

Page last updated: 25 August 2017