ZSL Re-usable 'Zoo Poo' - Zero waste goal closer to becoming a reality

Aug. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- More than 2,500 tonnes of zoo poo is being composted and used as high-quality farm fertilizer each year by The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in a bid to achieve zero waste-to-landfill.

ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos have designs on massively reducing their environmental impact and have joined forces with ACM Environmental Plc, signing a six year contract to dramatically reduce the impact of Zoo waste on the environment.

With more than 1.5m visitors to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos each year, the zoos generate 22 different waste streams every day. ZSL joined up with ACM because of their strong green credentials and together developed an innovative approach to waste to help achieve their realistic mission to divert 95% of waste from ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo from landfill with minimal adverse impact on the local and global environment.

They developed a process where over 2,760 tonnes of ‘zoo poo’ from herbivores, including giraffes and camels, is composted and used as high quality farm fertiliser. Carnivore waste is converted into usable energy by an ‘energy from waste’ plant.

Barry Bolton, Chairman of ACM Environmental Plc, said: “When ZSL were looking for a company to help them reduce their waste to landfill, ACM Environmental were excited to take on the challenge of how best to divert the 22 waste streams in the most efficient and cost effective way. Our broad range of environmental waste management solutions has allowed us to tackle all areas of waste and we are proud to be helping ZSL towards achieving their goal of zero waste to landfill.”

Jamie Turner, Grounds Manager at ZSL London Zoo, added: “We are delighted to be able to turn our tonnes of zoo poo into something beneficial. Working with ACM Environmental we have set ourselves high targets for the diversion of waste from landfill, but we are confident the targets will not only be reached, but exceeded.”