New waste disposal system built in Barking Riverside

The system allows residents to dispose of waste whenever is convenient

An underground pipe network has been developed in Barking Riverside to provide a new way of waste disposal.

The system, built by Swedish company Envac, sees household and recycled waste transported to a center on the edge of the 11,000 home site.

The concept means residents no longer have to wait for weekly collections and can dispose of waste whenever required via fob accessed ‘inlets’.

Waste is shot through the pipes at 40mph to the outside area.

Managing Director of Envac, Dave Buckley, said: The waste is collected into separate fractions, pneumatically moved to a central storage point, and then collected.

“They’ll have two inlets outside their house; one for recycling and one for general waste. The furthest anyone will have to walk is 30 meters from their front door.”

Waste is collected through the system and moved to a central storage point

The system built in the Barking site is the largest single automated waste system in Europe.

It also ensures no requirement for waste vehicles is necessary, as it is estimated it would take collections every day of the week to keep up with the waste.

Planning Director at Barking Riverside, David Watkinson, said: “In the UK, we’re using technology that’s 200 years old. Waste was collected by horse and cart and we’re still doing that now.

“That’s why bin lorries are called a dust cart but we need to move on. We need to be more innovative and that’s what we’re looking to do here.”