Published: Tuesday 29 August 2023
Notting Hill Carnival once again took over the borough. Making sure the streets were cleaned up and returned to their usual state was a top priority. Approximately 300 tonnes of rubbish were removed following this year's Carnival, which is about the same as 25 London buses.
This mission was accomplished by a team of over 200 cleaners, backed up by 30 refuse trucks and sweepers, all working diligently throughout Monday night to have everything spick and span for Tuesday morning.
How much rubbish was collected?
• An estimated 300 tonnes of rubbish cleared by Tuesday morning
• Over 200 cleaners and 30 refuse trucks involved in the late-night operation
• 30% of the waste expected to be recycled
Lead Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Safety, Cllr Emma Will said:
“It's truly satisfying to witness the success of Carnival and the incredible efforts that went into its smooth operation. Undoubtedly, the most significant task for our crews is the cleanup. While Carnival beautifully represents our diverse and multicultural community, our aim is to swiftly bring the streets back to their regular state, causing as little disruption as possible. A heartfelt appreciation goes out to the SUEZ waste collection teams and all those who put in their nighttime hours to make this restoration possible.
With 30% of the waste being recycled and the use of chemical-free, waterless toilets, we're committed to making Carnival greener in any way we can.”
What happens to the waste?
The Council does its best to recycle as much of the gathered trash as possible. This even includes composting the waste that's been gathered from over 1000+ toilet facilities. Once again, we've taken a step further by expanding our food waste collections.
Gary O’Hagan, SUEZ Recycling & Recovery UK Contract General Manager said:
“The clean-up for Notting Hill Carnival is organised over a number of months to ensure the operation runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. SUEZ is really pleased with how well our crews pulled together over the weekend on what is easily one of the biggest clean-up operations in Europe.
We’ve been responsible for the carnival clear up for the Council for many years, and we’re proud to have a tried and tested operational plan which gets the streets back to normal for the local residents as quickly as possible. Thanks to our thorough planning and the dedication of our crews who worked throughout the night, we're all set to have the streets in tip-top shape for the early morning commuters on Tuesday.”