Winning recyclers turn waste into prizes

By Jenny Barwise

Last updated 11:48, Friday, 10 October 2008

THREE Cleator Moor families have won shopping vouchers for recycling their waste.

Winners: The prizes for the re-cycling initiative went to Catherine Thursby, left, and Jean Smith who were also presented with vouchers the vouchers to spend in store

The competition, organised by Copeland Council and its Resource Cumbria partners, has seen recycling rates in the town soar.

The winners of the Great Big Recycling Giveaway, were Jean Smith of Dent Place, who won £500 of vouchers; Catherine Thursby of Crag Road, who won £350 worth; and Mr Symon of Threaplands who won £150.

They were encouraged to use their kerbside recycling scheme, in return for the vouchers for the Cleator Moor Cooperative store.

Anybody who used the kerbside recycling was entered into a raffle and the winners were then drawn.

Because of the promotion, the amount of recycling increase from 27 per cent to 45 per cent of households using the kerbside recycling.

On some streets, the number of households using the scheme more than doubled.

The overall amount of material provided for recycling in the town increased by 2.6 tonnes over the period of the promotion.

An extra 300 recycling boxes have been given to households who sis not have one.

Also to support waste reduction and particularly the use of plastic carrier bags around 1200 Resource Cumbria shopping bags were given away free, and a further 300 re-useable bags were sold in the Co-op store.

Kerbside recycling is available to more than 27,000 households across Copeland, via the black box. Those who receive the service can recycle paper, glass bottles and food and drinks cans from their kerbside.

Following the success in Copeland, Resource Cumbria intends to repeat the promotion elsewhere in the county to continue to boost awareness.