London & South East: composting of floating weed & floating invasive species
Site:
London & South east: composting of floating weed & floating invasive species
Date:
Since April 2019 to date
Value:
The Rothen Group have worked with Canal & River Trust since 2019 to assist with the management of weed along 20miles of London’s waterways for 7months each year. As part of the project innovation, we successfully compost some of the floating weed including floating pennywort.
The Project
Researching which waste companies could assist with the composting
Undertaking sampling of the different weeds to ascertain how and if they could be composted
Locating the optimum disposal sites across the country to maintain sustainability targets for the client
‘Innovative thinking’ and versatility to generate an effective and efficient standard of work resulting in high productivity
Organising and liaising with operators, wharves, client representatives and waste disposal companies to empty, transport and compost the weed
Understanding access restrictions, working on busy navigational waterways and liaising with general public
Mobilising the necessary plant to assist with the composting with experienced operators
Developing the optimum storage times of weed which when left in hoppers in warm conditions can lead to odours
Trial of odour treatments
Development of specialist skips to maximise water drainage ahead of transport, these can also be branded with whatever message/design the client needs
Improving efficiencies with transport of the waste with 2 skips on 1 load
Future trials will include using the compost generated in other areas of the clients business
The weed composting was very successful and resulted in an overall saving of 30% compared to sending the weed to landfill. This combined with the obvious sustainability, biodiversity and marketing positives means the project was a success.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
Habitat Creation Coney Meadows, Droitwich
Coney Meadows is part of a nationwide project to restore the UK’s wetlands. Since the 17th century, large areas of reedbeds have been stripped and converted into agricultural land, massively reducing the number of habitats available for wetland animals.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
Changing the Shape of the River Derwent, Derby
Following the storm seasons of 2023 & 2024, the EA set out to review its impact on the UK’s waterways. The River Derwent in Derby was flagged after a sonar scan of its navigation identified a scour hole – a direct result of heavy rainfall pushing sediment downstream.
Our Accreditations
“The Rothen Group’s knowledge has ensured that potential issues were highlighted early, meaning projects run smoothly and on programme. They have a large fleet of plant and operators too, which reassures that the work will be completed safely and with due care.”
Martin Dean
JN Bentley