London City Airport Consultative Committee
The Environment
The policies, procedures and projects aimed at keeping the Airport environmentally sustainable
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London City Airport Consultative Committee |
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The Environment |
The policies, procedures and projects aimed at keeping the Airport environmentally sustainable |
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On this Page:Introduction |
Other Environmental Pages |
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Introduction
LONDON CITY is a city centre airport and a close neighbour of a number of residential communities, especially to the south in Silvertown and North Woolwich where there are homes within approximately 100 metres from the runway. The Airport is keen to minimise the environmental impact of its operations on these communities and generally to keep the Airport sustainable in environmental terms On this Page, and the Airport Operations, Noise and Air Quality pages, we describe in detail the policies, procedures and projects recently agreed with the local planning authority, the London Borough of Newham, to secure these important objectives. Annual Performance ReportThe Airport has agreed that on 1 July each year it will send to the local planning authority an Annual Performance Report describing its performance and compliance with the latest planning agreement in the preceding calendar year. The Report is to be published on this website. The Report for 2010 along with Appendices 1-11 and Appendices 12-20 was posted to this website in August 2011. Airport Monitoring OfficerTHE local planning authority employs a full-time senior officer to monitor compliance with the planning agreement, the associated planning permission and other Airport related matters. The cost of this, and any necessary consultancy support, is met by the Airport which makes annual index linked payments. Noise
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| Proportion of waste segregated for landfill, recycling and energy recovery at LCY |
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| Year | Landfill (Tonnes) | Recycled (Tonnes) | Incinerated for Energy Recovery (Tonnes) |
| 1999/00 | 673 |
0 |
0 |
| 2000/01 | 708.5 |
3.7 |
1.9 |
| 2001/02 | 738 |
10.9 |
5.4 |
| 1002/03 | 774.8 |
16 |
6.5 |
Grosvenor operates an MRF (Materials Recycling Facility) at Crayford, sorting dry recyclables collected from the airport. The MRF uses proven technology in the UK and combines this with new technology sourced from around the world. Utilising what is known as a ballistic separator, the machine separates materials as to their weight and shape: paper products plane off the machine; glass, cans and plastic fall back. The facility can separate any mix of materials from the list below:
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Any residual material is shredded and then made into a brick for use as a coal substitute to generate electricity.
ON 31 July 2008 the Airport brought into use the the airport's first ever solar energy initiative. Part of the Airport's noise monitoring equipment is now entirely powered by solar panels and once this has proved a success they plan to upgrade all noise monitors to similar technology.
THE Airport has agreed that by October 2010 it will develop Sustainability and Biodiversity Strategies. Once approved the Airport will have six months in which to implement the agreed measures including the Airport Sustainability Action Plan (ASAP) which will form part of the Sustainability Strategy
Each July the Airport will include in its Annual Performance Report details of its performace against the targets in the ASAP and every two years on its performance against the objectives and measures specified in the Airport Biodiversity Strategy ABS). In addition every five years after its approval the Airport will prepare a full review of its performance against the ABS.
THE Airport is located within the Royal Docks, between the King George V Dock (KGV) and the Royal Albert Dock. The quality of the dock waters is directly influenced by the quality of the water in the tidal Thames. Water is pumped into and out of the Thames so as to maintain water levels in the Docks at a reasonably consistent level. Levels do of course vary, for example because of continual water seepage through the dock bed or rainfall and surface water running off in to the docks.
The Royal Docks Management Authority (RoDMA) monitors the docks fortnightly at six pre-selected sites. They are responsible for the maintenance of the marine infrastructure, impounding and the maintenance of water quality through dredging and the removal of litter, leaves and other floating debris. The observations at each site take into account the colour of the water, the presence or absence of oil film and floatables and weather conditions. Continuous measurements record the pH levels, electrical conductivity, water and ambient temperature and the transparency of the water as well as dissolved oxygen saturation.
Using the information interpreted from these results, RoDMA is able to make recommendations regarding the safety of the water for recreational sports. For example, if the pH level gets high, it is recommended that showers should be taken following all activities. Often changes in pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations result from temporal and seasonal changes. During the summer months the warm weather encourages the growth of algae, thus depleting the level of carbon dioxide within the water increasing the acidity and pH levels.
As a major player in the Docks it is vital that the Airport should play its part in maintaining the quality of the dock waters. Many of its activities have the potential to affect the water quality. These include the de-icing of aircraft and the runway as well as the use of pesticides and herbicides for habitat management. It is therefore imperative that the Airport should have both a drainage system which minimises any potential contamination by containing it on the airport site and a comprehensive system of operational procedures.
With the extension of the apron a new set of slot drains and pipes was constructed including a new fuel/oil interceptor. This has an automatic closure device, so that any pollution from the apron is detected and contained.
To maintain the quality of the water it is important
wherever possible to avoid the use of polluting materials. To this
end the Airport's Fire Service has been experimenting with a newly
developed ‘Fluorine Free Foam’ (F3). This is thought to be more environmentally
friendly than the Film-Forming Flouro Protein (FFFP) foam which is
commonly used in fire fighting at UK airports.
FFFP contains Fluorine compounds, essential for providing rapid extinguishment of fires. However, recent concern over the potential long-term toxic effects of these Fluorine compounds led to the trial of F3 at London City. The Airport's Fire training ground has a fully contained system of interceptors, so that contaminants are contained on site and stored for collection by an authorised waste collection contractor for appropriate treatment and disposal thus avoiding the release of any potential contaminants into the public sewerage system.
An independent Consultative Committee established by London City Airport pursuant to Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982
Chairman: John Adshead Secretary: Stuart Innes
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Page last modified: 22 January 2011
Wake Turbulence
Street Car 
In July 2004 the Airport commissioned a new waste contract with Grosvenor Waste Management Ltd. Grosvenor is an independent waste management company based at Crayford , Kent . The company has its origins in waste paper and from this has expanded to handling all types of waste including dry recyclables and general and clinical waste. Grosvenor currently recycles 96% of all waste handled and is therefore able to provide the Airport with an efficient method of waste recycling that has had a minimal impact on the previous collection service. 