What happens to everything that goes into your recycling bin?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by recycleboy

We do get a lot of enquiries about what happens to everything that goes into the recycling bins in Lewisham. Whilst we take great efforts to explain what happens to all the materials that go into the recycling bins, there are some people that aren’t convinced that a mechanised process can deal with sifting and sorting all of the different materials.

Of course its not an entirely mechanised process and there are whole lines of people who hand sort much of the materials as it first enters the materials recycling facility, also known as a MRF (pronounced merf).

We do organise tours around the MRF so that people can see all the processes first hand and we also direct people to our contractor Bywaters website where there is a video showing what happens to all the materials once they are tipped out of the recycling vehicles. Not everyone will do these things however so we thought we should put the video of the processes involved on our blog to make it a little more accessible.

Below is what happens to the contents of your recycling bin once it has been emptied.

Filed under: Cardboard, MRF, Paper, plastic bottles, recycling, Tetra-paks | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Mr Compost promotes Compost Awareness Week

Posted on May 11, 2012 by recycleboy

Compost Awareness Week has been running from May 6th – 12th. As part of this and as part of a longer term strategy, Lewisham Council have been promoting the benefits of composting by speaking to residents in Lewisham’s Shopping Centre and also in Catford Market.

Lewisham’s very own Mr Compost also came along to the shopping centre in Lewisham to meet and greet shoppers and to talk to them about how compost can benefit the environment by providing a free source of compost made in your own garden.

This saves residents money as well as they get a free source of compost and it also saves the Council money as all your peelings, teabags, leaves, grass and vegetable matter can be dealt with at home rather than be transported to New Cross and be incinerated – which obviously costs the Council money.

Mr Compost meets an unsuspecting shopper

 At the moment we are giving away compost bins to residents with a garden (or with available communal space) by way of encouraging further take up of composting. Mr Compost is modelling the type of compost bin you will receive (220 litre) in the image above and we can also provide a starter booklet with this which gives you a step by step guide on how to use your compost bin. It also details the things that might go wrong and how to correct any problems if and when they occur.

On top of this we are also running workshops where residents can come along and listen to an expert composter explain all about the processes involved and answer any questions that people might have about composting.

Filed under: composting, Food waste, garden waste | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Lewisham schools helping to stamp out cigarette litter!

Posted on May 2, 2012 by recycleboy

How do you best convey the anti-smoking message to younger children? This was one of the challenges faced by Lewisham’s stop smoking service which led to a Smoke free poster competition being run jointly by Lewisham PCT and the Council to raise awareness of the harms of smoking. 

Unlike other anti smoking campaigns focussing on the harm to health, it was decided that Lewisham school children should be asked to consider the environmental consequences and with staggering facts like;

  • it takes one tree to produce the paper for 300 cigarettes,
  • 200 million cigarette butts are dropped throughout the world each day, making cigarettes butts the most littered item in the world and,
  • each butt can take 12 years to biodegrade

 It was obvious why the boroughs children seized the opportunity to take part. 

 We received around 100 entries from Lewisham children and judging was undertaken by Cllr Susan Wise, Cabinet member for Customer Services and Claire Goldie who works with the Lewisham Smokefree service. 

 Entries were of a really high standard and the winner- Katie Makulska of St William of York Primary School had her winning design printed and displayed on the side of a Recycling vehicle. 

Katie’s winning design (shown above with Katie) can been seen on the vehicle in the boroughs roads for the next few months.

A selection of the entries are also being showcased throughout the boroughs libraries and leisure centres and can be found at:

  • Wavelengths, Deptford for two weeks
  • Bellingham Leisure Centre from this week and
  • Downham library from June 26th to July 10th

There are also plans to take the display to Deptford Lounge in August. 

Jo Edun of Lewisham Smokefree Service with St William of York Head teacher- Sharon Lynch and winner- Katie Makulska

If you are thinking about stopping smoking and want some further advice or support, why not contact Lewisham’s Smokefree service by calling 0800 0820 388.  You can also get more information on what’s on offer by visiting their website at; www.smokefreelewisham.co.uk

Filed under: street litter | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Lewisham Canine Care Days

Posted on April 25, 2012 by recycleboy

Lots of free info and advice for your dogs.

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Free composting workshops

Posted on April 24, 2012 by recycleboy

Our composting workshops are a fantastic way for newcomers to learn about the subject and they can also offer handy tips to composting veterans! In just over an hour you can learn:

  • Best placement and setting up a composting area
  • Do’s and don’ts of what to put in
  • How to treat difficult plant matter
  • Getting the balance of materials right
  • Speeding up the process

Where?

Downham Library

7-9 Moorside Road, Downham, Bromley BR1 5EP

 When?

There are 4 sessions to choose from:

  • Tuesday 1 May      10.30 – 11.45am
  • Tuesday 1 May       1 – 2.15pm
  • Wednesday 2 May   5 – 6.15pm
  • Wednesday 2 May   7 – 8.15pm

 Booking is essential

To book, please email kristina.binns@lewisham.gov.uk

Please title email ‘composting 2012′, state which date, time and how many people will attend.

 Alternatively, call 020 8314 2145, you may need to leave a message as this phone is often “un-manned”.

Please state which date, time and how many people will attend and leave your contact details.

Filed under: composting, Food waste, garden waste | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Real Nappy Week Event Update

Posted on April 23, 2012 by recycleboy

Lewisham’s ‘Maternity, Baby Clothes & Real Nappy Swap’ event, on Saturday 21st April 2012 at the Leemore Central Community Hub was a great success!!

22 people attended through the afternoon and 11 changed their baby’s nappy at the global record attempt time of 5.30pm.
Prizes were also awarded for the fastest nappy change and for the participant whose lucky entry ticket was pulled out in the draw at the end of the event.

The photo below shows the winners:

Rachel Conway (left) fastest change and Harriet Athieno (right) draw winner

Photograph of competition winners
Thanks and very well done to everyone who came along!! We will let everyone know of the overall global result as soon as we know.

Nappy Natters are run throughout the year. The next ones are:

  • Friday 27th April at Lewisham Library, SE13 6LG, 10-12.30 pm.
  • Saturday 16th June at Wearside Service Centre, Ladywell, SE13 7EZ, 2-4pm.

£25 vouchers towards the cost of cloth nappies are available for Lewisham residents throughout the year from Lewisham Council or at an event, with proof of address and pregnancy or birth certificate for a baby under 18 months.

Contact: Beth.sowden@lewisham.gov.uk or Kate.parkinson@lewisham.gov.uk for further information

Filed under: community engagement, Environmental Campaigns, Real Nappies, reuse, waste minimisation | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Roll out of new recycling bin stickers begins

Posted on April 23, 2012 by recycleboy

Work has begun on putting new stickers on all of Lewisham’s recycling bins so that residents will have a clear and easy guide as to what can now be recycled in the borough.

Member of the bin stickering team at work

 From December 2011, the Council started a new contract with the contractor Bywaters in Bow,East London. Under this new contract the Council are able to recycle more materials, which means that you can now recycle, paper, cardboard, glass, cans, plastic bottles, textiles, mixed plastics, shredded paper and beverage cartons (tetra paks). Please make sure all of the above are clean before putting them into your recycling bin.

 The teams that are putting the stickers onto the bins are currently in the Lee area and will be gradually making their way around the rest of the borough to ensure that all residents 240 litre recycling bins receive a sticker. The sticker clearly illustrates exactly what can go into the recycling bins using photographs to ensure we get the message to everyone about the new materials.

 With the Council now receiving an income for everything that is recycled, it is more important than ever for all the residents of the borough to recycle as much of their waste as they can.

With regard to the recycling of textiles, if they are in good condition, we would recommend that they go to a charity shop in the first instance. However, if you feel that they might not be worth giving to a charity shop, then please use your recycling bin.

Filed under: Cardboard, Environmental Campaigns, Mixed Plastics, MRF, Paper, plastic bottles, recycling, Tetra-paks, Textiles, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Do you want to be a record breaker?

Posted on April 19, 2012 by recycleboy

You don’t have to be the tallest, the smallest, the fattest, the thinnest for this, you just need to bring a baby along with some cloth nappies, as the Cloth Diaper Change world record attempt will take place in Lewisham at 5pm. This is all happening  during Lewisham’s ‘Maternity, Baby Clothes & Real Nappy Swap’ event, on Saturday 21st April 2012 from 2pm at the Leemore Central Community Hub, Bonfield Road, Lewisham, SE13 6BZ

'Lets beat that world record'

 Bring the items you no longer need & exchange for items you DO need! (No need to bring items, in order to take.)

 If you are coming just for the ‘Diaper Change’ only, please arrive promptly at 4.30pm to allow us enough time to get everyone organised!

Oh, and good luck to all that participate.

(photo: imagerymajestic)

Filed under: community engagement, Real Nappies, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

How safe is your drink

Posted on April 19, 2012 by recycleboy

Every so often we run stories from our colleagues in the Council that aren’t necessarily related to the environment or recycling.  This week we are highlighting an issue from our Food Safety Team.

Have you ever wondered whether the ice in your drink is safe to consume or where it came from? If not, maybe its about time you did! 

Lewisham Food Safety Team have recently carried out ice sampling from a range of businesses including, pubs, clubs, hotels, restaurants, takeaways and shops that use ice for display purposes such as fishmongers.  The results are in!

There are many reasons why ice can become contaminated;

 a)      contaminated water

b)      bar staff using their hands to put ice in your drink

c)      dirty ice machines

d)      dirty ice scoops

e)      poor personal hygiene & inadequate disinfection

Dirty ice making machine

 What did we find?

Over 30% of samples taken from premises was found to be contaminated with high levels of Coliforms and one sample tested positive for E.coli . 

Coliforms are a broad class of bacteria found in our environment, and is found in human and animal faeces. The presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water may indicate the possible presence of harmful, disease-causing organisms.  Consuming contaminated food and ice can result in gastrointestinal illness, resulting in diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and in the worst cases, renal failure and neurological complications.

What action did we take?

Unsatisfactory premises were targeted for follow up action.  The Food Safety Team has worked with businesses to educate them in  improved cleaning and disinfection procedures.  Re-testing of the ice will be continued and enforcement action will be taken against those premises that fail to improve.

 A free fact sheet is available to businesses and can be obtained through contacting the Food Safety Team 0208 314 2082.

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Update on the chewing gum campaign

Posted on April 17, 2012 by recycleboy

The Council ran a chewing gum campaign during March 2012 and the following activities were undertaken during the campaign period.

Gum protesters in Lewisham High Street

A launch at Lewisham Shopping Centre on Sat 10 March featuring street theatre performers performing with a large splat of gum to raise awareness of the issue. 

An Ad-bike cycled around Lewisham Town Centre with advertising ‘A’ Boards carrying campaign messages.

 Lewisham College made a documentary and a short film to promote the issue

Kieran Lang, the Young Mayor of Lewisham attended Lewisham College to watch a premier of the film produced by the students.

 Gum Boards were erected around Lewisham Shopping Centre: people were be encouraged to use these boards to dispose of their gum. During the campaign period the boards were well used and 98 incidences of gum were removed.

See the video of the interesting characters that supported the protest against gum http://vimeo.com/39060139

 2000 gum disposal pouches and ‘wrap-its’ were supplied and distributed via businesses and other organisations during the awareness month to the key target audience.

 LewishamCollege helped to distribute posters whilst students at Goldsmiths Union distributed Wrap-its’

 Millwall Football Club put messages up on their electronic sign board during their home matches.

 Campaign posters were distributed to libraries.

 The chewing gum artwork was installed on the Refuse truck posters as part of the campaign.

 20 free lamppost banners were installed inDartmouth Road and Deptford High Street as part of the campaign.

 Thanks to everyone who took part in the campaign and please continue to dispose of your gum correctly.

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Green waste collection points service starts soon

Posted on March 19, 2012 by recycleboy

For all the green fingered residents amongst you, the Council are starting up their green waste satellite collection points soon. The scheme officially starts on Saturday 24th March 2012 and finishes the last Sunday in November, which is the 25th November.

Grass clippings and shrubbery welcome © Simon Howden

The green waste collection points are in the usual places, which are,

  • Riddons Roadjunction withMayeswood Road
  • Girton Roadcar park, Sydenham
  • Laurence House car park, Catford
  • Kitto Road, outside The Hill Station, Telegraph Hill

Please remember that plant material should be no bigger than 4 inches in diameter (logs, large branches etc.). The green waste can be brought in plastic sacks or preferably reusable bags.

The things that we don’t want you to bring along are,

  • Kitchen waste (food waste, peelings etc.)
  • Soil
  • Turf,
  • Stones, rocks, bricks etc.
  • Japanese Knotweed

Proof of address and ID must be shown to enable you to use the service and we don’t accept any trade waste or trailers and open back vehicles. We would also take action against anyone caught flytipping at these sites.

For further information about the Reuse and Recycling Centre,Landmann Way, New Cross or the Council’s garden waste kerbside service, please contact EnviroCall on 020 8314 7171.

photo: Simon Howden

Filed under: composting, garden waste, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Ariel Love Clean London!

Posted on March 14, 2012 by recycleboy

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has today joined forces with Procter & Gamble (P&G), Worldwide Partner of the London 2012 Games, to deliver the Mayor’s annual Capital Clean-up campaign, now titled the P&G Capital Clean Up.

Over the next three months a series of clean up events designed to bring Londoners together to spruce up neglected areas of the city will be hosted as London gears up to host the greatest show on earth this summer.

Supported by prime time actress Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs / Ashes to Ashes), the P&G Capital Clean-up will be taking place across London from March to June 2012 and an army of around 1,700 community champions is expected to join the transformation, dedicating up to 5,000 hours to scrubbing, sprucing and polishing London’s streets and green spaces.

It is hoped that this year’s clean up efforts will be the biggest yet, with more than 20 individual events take place across March – June 2012 in preparation for the London 2012 Games, clearing in the region of 1,000 bags of litter, removing unsightly graffiti, and restoring swathes of habitat. The public can get involved by signing up to participate in one of the organised clean up events at www.pgcapitalcleanup.com

Some of the UK’s most recognisable household brands – Flash, Febreze and Ariel detergent and stain remover– are behind the P&G Capital Clean-up and committed to working with the Mayor of London, the GLA, and Londoners to help add sparkle to our host city full of heritage and culture ahead of the London 2012 Games.

  • Flash will be using its amazing cleaning power to create shining landmark images on the Southbank that will help get Londoners excited about the clean up campaign
  • Febreze is planning to make London a fresher, greener place by creating a series of Fresh Havens to help Londoners breathe happy
  • Ariel is on a mission to make London stain free using the ‘Love Clean London’ app: a call to arms for Londoners to report grime and stains across the capital

For the full calendar of the P&G Capital Clean-up events and to register people can visit www.pgcapitalcleanup.com

Filed under: street litter | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Can you help to clean up Britain?

Posted on March 9, 2012 by recycleboy
Litter free streets is something we all want but are we prepared to do something about it? Would you write a letter to a fast food company whose litter gets blown up and down the high street? Would you use your mobile to send in reports of dumped waste? Would you take the time to pick the litter up yourself or join a litter pick group?
 
 
Clean up Britain is hoping to start a ‘people’s revolution’ to create a litter free movement in Britain and you get onboard today by making a pledge.  Please visit http://www.cleanupbritain.org/faq.php to sign up and find out more!  First News article

Filed under: street litter | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Fairtrade Fortnight poster winner has borough-wide exhibition

Posted on March 1, 2012 by recycleboy

Last month, we ran a poster competition and invited children from the boroughs primary and secondary schools to submit entries to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight running from 27th February until March 9th. The theme was ‘take a step’ and we were really pleased that seven schools submitted over one hundred entries.  We received some fantastic designs and the children demonstrated that they had researched and understood what Fairtrade is and how important it is to farmers and communities worldwide. 

Esosa and his poster winning entry on a recycling vehicle

The winning entry was done by Esosa Joe-Oshodi from Bonus Pastor Catholic College.  His design has been turned into two large posters which have been placed onto a recycling vehicle and will be driven around the borough for the next two weeks. Esosa’s entry stood out as it was not only very skilfully drawn but also very original and well thought through.  Due to the overall high standard, we also compiled a list of highly commended entries.   Fairtrade fortnight runs for the next two weeks from Monday across Lewisham.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

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