Olympics move waste by water

Large 350-tonne freight barges can now enter the Olympic Park in East London following the completion of a multi-million pound dredging programme that cleared the water freight route on the Prescott Channel, creating the £20 million Three Mills Lock.

A purpose built jetty on the Waterworks River, opposite the Aquatic Centre of the Olympic Park, is being used to load the materials onto the barges. The materials, such as timber, cardboard, plastics and packaging, set aside for recycling and reuse, are then being taken to a special recycling centre in Rainham, Essex.

The waterways project is part of the Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) 2007 Sustainable Development Strategy, which aims to transport 50 per cent of materials used during the Olympic construction phase by rail or water.

ODA Environment manager Richard Jackson said: "The waterways will be a key feature of the Olympic Park, characterising the parklands and open spaces for spectators in 2012 and the local communities after the Games. During the 'big build', they will also play a key role in our logistics strategy, with barges bringing construction materials into the park and waste out again. This is vital in helping us meet our sustainability targets and will cut down on the number of lorries travelling on the roads."

British Waterways director London, Mark Bensted, said one of the key reasons British Waterways took on the Three Mills Lock project was to see water-borne freight being moved in and out of the Olympic Park. "This freight movement is a fantastic start for the new lock, proving that where conditions and logistics are right, water transport is a great way to move materials," he said. "I hope that the lock will help make a real difference, removing lorries from local roads and promoting water transport as a viable option to contractors both in the build up to the Games and in legacy."