Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Become a Recycling Champion - come on Ladywell!

From the Council's Press Office. Algernon Road won this in the first year, last year a street Sydenham won it - can we win it again this year in Ladywell?!

Pictured: Geoffrey Thurley, Algernon Road Resident and former recycling champion.

Lewisham Council is launching its annual quest to find the “Best Recycling Street” in the borough.

The Council wants to find dedicated recyclers to champion the recycling cause in their street - to encourage fellow residents to recycle more each week in their street than any other in the borough. Residents can nominate themselves and their road, a section of a road, or even another street. Then all they need to do is speak to their neighbours and persuade them to recycle that bit more!

Councillor Susan Wise, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said: “Residents have always responded well to recycling schemes and our recycling rates are going up, but there’s so much we could all do to recycle more.

“We want to find the best recycling street in Lewisham - so if you’re already a recycling convert, or even if you’re just getting interested, and you want to get more people to act then get involved and make your nomination.”

Lewisham Council will provide information and a toolkit to make sure residents know what can be recycled. Each streets’ participation rate and the types of materials being collected for recycling will be measured when all the nominations are in, and again six weeks later.

The winning street will be the one that sees the biggest increase in recycling behaviour in terms of the number of people recycling three or more materials, such as paper, cardboard, glass bottle/jars, food/drinks cans and plastic bottles.

A special street sign will be erected on the winning street, proclaiming it to be the ‘Best Recycling Street in Lewisham’. The winner will receive a ‘Recycling Champion’ plaque recognising their efforts. All participants will receive recognition for their efforts and contribution.

Last year’s Recycling Champion street was, by a total coincidence, Champion Crescent in Sydenham, where resident participation increased from 21 per cent to 77 per cent!

Reasons to nominate
Lewisham Council wants to reward the dedication of those unique people who go the extra mile to encourage more recycling where they live because we know it can inspire others.

If you would like to get involved call 020 8314 2245 or 020 8314 2053 now or email recycle@lewisham.gov.uk to request an entry form and more information.

Closing for completed forms/to register interest is 16 May.

Recycling Champions
Environment and Community Development
Wearside Service Centre
Wearside Road
London SE13 7EZ. Recycling in Lewisham
Recycling: Lewisham Council offers a door-to-door recycling collection to all houses in the borough – that’s over 75,000 homes.

What can be recycled:
Glass
Paper
Cans
Cardboard
Plastic bottles

Tetrapak cartons: Cartons such as milk or fruit juice cartons cannot be placed into household recycling bins in Lewisham, however there are special bins where you can leave them to be collected for recycling, at:

- Sainsbury, New Cross Gate
- Sainsbury, Forest Hill
- Laurence House car park, Catford
- Grove Park Bus Garage, Baring Road
- Tesco, Lewisham.

Recycling collection services: Any resident who lives in a house, or a house that has been converted into up to three flats, is entitled to a green recycling box which Lewisham will empty each week. There is also a green bag scheme for garden waste.

Recycling facilities: There are 42 recycling sites in the borough and 350 sites on housing estates. Recycling sites can be located here. Residents can also text RECYCLE and provide their full London postcode to 63131 for recycling services in their street.

Guides to recycling.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi there

Not sure how to email you, so forgive the comment here.

You might be interested in this video featuring British eco-designer Oliver Heath on using recycled materials in the home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eii_7WTxoHw

Keep up the great work! Cheers; Kevin Reed