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Jan Lloyd, Chief Executive, Covent Garden Market Authority, said:
"There are 250 companies based at New Covent Garden Market, employing over 2,500 people.  We currently recycle 29% of our waste, including: cardboard, plastics, wooden pallets and organics.  We saw an opportunity to recycle more, particularly of our organic waste, which is the largest proportion.  The Enhance programme is helping us plan for our aim to send zero waste to landfill."

Enhance is the support service for green enterprises in London.  It helps develop businesses and social enterprises that reduce London's waste, reuse resources or work with recycled materials.  The programme is supported by £4.8 million from the London Development Agency and delivered by London Remade and the London Community Recycling Network.

The project is helping the CGMA improve the recycling facilities needed for a sustainable market.  Market businesses have been surveyed about their concerns over the excessive waste produced on site and a detailed waste audit was conducted over four days.

Kate Nelson, Senior Project Manager, London Remade, said:
"New Covent Garden Market is the UK's largest horticultural market and has a large concentration of catering distributors.  This, together with the 340 different types of fruit and vegetables they sell, demonstrates a complete waste system and unique opportunity for recycling and reprocessing.  Through the Enhance programme, we have been helping the CGMA to identify opportunities to future-proof their waste management processes and facilities.  We hope to help make New Covent Garden the most sustainable market in the UK."

Food waste is one of the most difficult types of waste to manage, due to its environmental impacts.  It is also one of the most valuable waste streams in terms of its compost production and potential for digestion to produce electricity.  Enhance is keen to hear from businesses in London looking to reduce the amount of food waste they produce through the implementation of food waste management facilities.