Gardeners Hackney: Recycling and Sustainability for a Greener Borough

The mission of Gardeners Hackney is to create an eco-friendly waste disposal area and a thriving sustainable rubbish gardening area across private and communal plots. We champion local circularity by prioritising reuse, composting and careful separation of garden waste streams so that soil, plants and people benefit. Our approach aligns with borough waste policies and helps volunteer gardeners and small horticultural businesses reduce landfill contributions.

Our practical programme supports everyday recycling activities common in Hackney and neighbouring boroughs: clear separation of paper and card, glass and mixed plastics at collection points, and dedicated food-scrap lines for composting where available. We also advocate on-site separation for woody material, green cuttings, and inert waste so that recycling streams are cleaner and transfer station processing is more efficient.

Targets, Transfer Stations and Local Infrastructure

We have set a tangible recycling percentage target of 65% by 2030 for our community-managed plots and partner sites — a realistic yet ambitious aim that supports borough-wide goals. Achieving this requires improved sorting at source and smarter logistics to local transfer stations. Gardeners Hackney coordinates collections to established transfer hubs where garden organics are separated from mixed waste, ensuring materials can be processed into compost, mulch and recycled aggregates rather than going to landfill.

Local transfer stations in and near Hackney provide a vital link between neighbourhood collection and treatment facilities. By routing plant cuttings, soil, timber offcuts and pots through these centres we can guarantee proper processing, reduce contamination and maximise the material returned to productive use in parks, allotments and community gardens.

Partnerships, Charities and Community Collaboration

Partnerships are central to scaling green waste reuse. Gardeners Hackney partners with local charities, food redistribution groups, community composting networks and social enterprises to divert usable materials from the rubbish stream into positive projects. These collaborations create multiple benefits: low-cost soil improvements for community plots, training opportunities for volunteers, and donated materials for local environmental programmes.

Examples of recycling activities we promote include:

• Community composting for kitchen and garden organics to produce soil conditioner;
• Tool and material swaps to extend the life of pots, supports and hand tools;
• Wood chipping for mulches from prunings and small branches sent to green waste processors.

To reduce transport emissions and support a low-carbon logistics chain we operate a fleet of low-carbon vans — including electric and hybrid vehicles — for short-range collections and redistribution. These vans serve both communal greenspaces and small private gardens, consolidating loads to transfer stations and charity partners and thereby lowering the overall carbon footprint of waste movements.

Our transport plan emphasises route optimisation, scheduled consolidation of loads, and regular maintenance to keep emissions low. When heavier or bulk transfers are needed we prioritise contractors that demonstrate low-emission credentials and that deliver the best environmental outcomes for reused or recycled materials.

Gardeners Hackney also promotes behavioural change through simple, repeatable practices: clearly labelled bins for green waste, separate containers for recyclable plastics and glass, and bins for contaminated or hazardous garden waste like treated timber. These practices complement the borough's approach to waste separation and make it easier for residents and volunteers to meet recycling targets.

Education and community engagement are part of our sustainability programme — not as formal guides, but as hands-on demonstrations and drop-in sessions at community plots and allotments. We host seasonal drop-off days for bulky green waste, co-ordinate swaps and redistribution with local charities, and display clear, visual instructions to reduce contamination and increase the share of material that can be composted or recycled.

Financially, the model balances affordable service for gardeners with investments in low-carbon delivery and improved separation infrastructure. Savings come from reduced landfill fees, shared logistics, and reusing processed materials within community spaces, creating a virtuous cycle where less waste equals higher local benefit.

By combining a measurable recycling target, smart use of transfer stations, active partnerships with charities and a transition to low-emission vans, Gardeners Hackney aims to create a resilient, local system for sustainable rubbish and eco-friendly waste disposal. The result is healthier soil, lower emissions, and stronger community stewardship of green spaces across the borough.