RECOUP
L-R: Matt Sargent - Bournemouth Council Environment Services, Stuart Foster – CEO, RECOUP, Sarah Speakman-Jones - Bournemouth Council Environment Services, Cherry Beat - AFC Bournemouth Mascot, Alex Thorne – Seafront Ranger
Bournemouth Council is encouraging beachgoers, holidaymakers and local residents to recycle their plastic this summer in order to be part of a unique World Record attempt.
As part of government-backed national plastic recycling initiative, Pledge4Plastics, the Council is encouraging as many people as possible to recycle in the borough throughout the month of August.
The plastic collected will then be processed by contractor, Viridor, before being used during Bournemouth Arts Festival in October in an attempt to set a new world record for the largest work of art made from recycled plastic packaging.
“Our seafront team work extremely hard every day to make sure Bournemouth’s beach is beautiful for the daily influx of thousands of visitors, and it’s pleasing that the vast majority of people put their packaging in the bin or take it home to recycle,” explained Councillor Michael Filer, Portfolio Holder for Cleansing and Waste, at Bournemouth Borough Council.
“However, we want to make sure even more is recycled, and so we’ve partnered up with Pledge4Plastics to promote awareness and drive home the message that more can still be done.”
Bournemouth handles 361.98 tonnes of rubbish and recycling collected from its beachside bins every year, part of the 86,694 tonnes collected by the borough every year. Viridor then processes the borough’s recycling and each year sends more than 1,842 tonnes of Bournemouth’s plastic packaging to be made into new products including new plastic bottles, furniture or clothing.
“We’re pleased to be supporting quality and convenient recycling in Bournemouth with #pledge4plastics this year. This welcome partnership should help more people to recycle after they have visited Bournemouth’s beautiful beach this summer,” commented Dan Cooke, Director of External Affairs at Viridor.
The Pledge4Plastics team will be visiting Bournemouth beach during August to encourage residents and tourists to pledge to recycle. Anyone signing up to the pledge can share his or her ideas for what should be created from the recycled plastic with the team.
Residents and tourists can find out more here: www.pledge4plastics.co.uk/pledge.