Olympic hero urges local people to become ‘recycling champions’
Four times Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent is urging residents in Wealden to become ‘recycling champions’.
Matthew is supporting a high profile campaign called The BIG Recycle, which aims to encourage more people in England to recycle more of their household waste, more often. The week is being jointly organised and funded by WRAP - the Waste & Resources Action Programme - a major UK programme established to promote resource efficiency.
Wealden will be playing its part in the campaign, which launches on June 27. There will be a recycling display in the reception area of the Pine Grove Council Offices at Crowborough providing information and advice on recycling throughout the District.
June 28 will see the official opening of the new paper storage area to the Bellbrook Materials Reclamation Facility in Uckfield and on July 1 officers from both Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council will be taking the Rethink Rubbish bus to Luxford Field car park in Uckfield. Information regarding all aspects of recycling and waste management will be on display, staff will be available to answer questions on recycling and there will also be a competition to win a compost bin and recycled products.
Matthew Pinsent, who even recycles his own rowing kits, is keen to back the campaign:
“I’ve always been a big believer in recycling and use my local council’s doorstep collection service. I don’t even have to think about it now, I just do it. If we all realised what a massive difference we could make by recycling used packaging, such as soft drinks and food cans, paper, glass, plastic bottles and jars, I think we would all do it,” he said.
“I know from my own experience that it has never been easier to make recycling a part of your everyday life. That’s what The BIG Recycle is all about – letting people know how and where they can do it, wherever they live.”
Wealden District Council supports recycling through both its network of 67 Neighbourhood Recycling Points and the C.R.O.W.N. (Composting and Recycling Our Waste Now) kerbside scheme which currently covers two thirds of the District. In January this year the Council were ranked ninth in the national league table drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which monitors the recycling and composting efforts of over 390 local authorities.
Councillor Mrs Pam Doodes said: “We’re delighted to be involved in The BIG Recycle again this year, and we will be encouraging everyone in Wealden to take part in whatever way they can, even if it is just by recycling one extra bottle, can, paper or magazine each week.”
This is the second year of The BIG Recycle. In 2004, its first year, the campaign reached millions of people around the country, and attracted the support of nearly 250 local authorities. More details about the campaign, and how to get involved, are available at www.thebigrecycle.com
For further information on local recycling facilities, the C.R.O.W.N. scheme, compost bins and washable nappies, contact Wealden District Council’s Waste Management Team on 01892 602626 or email recycling@wealden.gov.uk
