Recycling Through Underground Tubes

London's Wembley City development is the proud owner of the first automated waste collection system in the U.K. Recycling or garbage are deposited in bins, then sucked underground, eliminating the need for trucks or garbage collectors.

1 minute read

December 11, 2008, 7:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


"The system, made by Swedish specialist Envac, has been installed at developer Quintain's mixed-use Wembley City scheme adjacent to Wembley stadium in London.

Residents are moving into the first completed building on the 34ha scheme and have been using a conventional waste collection service until today.

The building features a courtyard containing three collection points adjacent to the building entrances. Each collection point has three separate chutes which look similar to a post box. Residents separate their waste into three streams, organic material, recyclable items including glass, paper and plastic and non recyclable waste. The waste is placed in each chute through a door similar to a washing machine where it drops into a holding point.'

Monday, December 8, 2008 in Building

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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