Botanist Bellamy’s big-up for Basildon (From Echo)

Botanist Bellamy’s big-up for Basildon

11:18am Tuesday 5th December 2006

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It be more immediately recognisable as the heart of consumerism in Basildon, but the Eastgate shopping centre is attracting attention by proving its green credentials on the national arena.

In the past five years it has scooped almost every major environmental retail award, both locally and nationally, for its work in putting the centre at the forefront of green issues.

On Friday general manager Hans Wustefeld welcomed TV environmental guru David Bellamy to the Eastgate to witness some of the initiatives the centre is installing to further its commitment to the cause.

Dr Bellamy believes initiatives like those installed in the shopping centre embody his beliefs in how we can work together to save the planet.

The veteran green campaigner said: "Every day we hear stories we are all going to be dead by 2050 because of carbon emissions, the forests being cut down and the fishing stocks being depleted, but we have the solutions in technology and our scientists, we just need more money invested in them.

"What we don't hear about so much is the green renaissance that is going on and you here in Basildon are part of that."

Some of Eastgate's initiatives include the first-ever reverse vending machine in a UK shopping centre, in which plastic bottles and cans are collected for recycling rather than going to landfill sites.

There is also a state-of-the-art new public toilet suite which harvests rainwater to flush the toilets.

It houses Dyson hand driers which use 25 per cent of the electricity of normal driers.

Mr Wustefeld said: "It is true to say we have been hyperactive as far as the environment is concerned.

"But it is an issue very close to our hearts and one we have integrated fully into every aspect of the centre's management.

"We feel we have a responsibility as part of the community to not only educate and inform people about this issue, but to start at home' and make a difference ourselves."

And making a difference is what they have been doing.

Aside from the latest green developments, the centre's work in recycling waste such as cardboard boxes from all the shops it houses has allowed the team to employ two full-time recycling officers.

All of the electricity used by the centre comes from renewable resources, including the installation of two wind turbines on the roof of the centre.

And its Bikeability scheme encourages shoppers, centre staff and tourists to borrow one of the white bikes located in the centre for a small deposit and ride around the town rather than take the car.

Mr Wustefeld said: "We have 14 million visitors a year to the Eastgate so we have a fantastic opportunity to promote the environment and what can be done to help save resources.

"Obviously November and December are our busiest months and because of the Christmas lights and grotto we consume even more electricity, which we do feel guilty about.

"So we have also signed up to the Tree Appeal and this year 200 trees will be planted in the Eastgate forest on our behalf to offset that use.

"We hope to increase that 300 next year and even more the year after."

The centre also takes its corporate social responsibility seriously and has been working closely with local schools on green projects.

These include the siting of more than 50 bird boxes made by students from Beauchamps School.

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