Worcestershire | Archive | 2001 | September | 25
From the archive, first published Tuesday 25th Sep 2001.
RESIDENTS of a Worcester street are to embark on a weighty challenge to slim their bins for the good of the environment.
Eighteen homes in Primrose Crescent, St Peter's, have signed up to Worcestershire County Council's initiative aimed at reducing the amount of waste produced.
The project hopes to encourage recycling, re-use and reduction of waste by asking volunteers to weigh the amount of rubbish they produce every week.
Rachel Parker, of Worcestershire County Council's waste management unit, said the scheme, which involves people living in one road from each of the auithority's six districts, had been very successful when it was launched last year.
"Last year was very successful," she said.
"Overall waste in Fort Royal Hill, where we launched the initiative last year, was reduced by 50 per cent.
"Some families reduced the weight of their waste by 80 per cent which was brilliant, and everyone involved become enthusiastic re-cyclers.
"Families helped each other out be dropping each other's re-cyclables off and gave each other tips and advice to lose weight."
Households taking part in the scheme collected their recycling and compost bins for the challenge at the Timberdine pub, St Peter's, last night.
Hannah Phoenix, from Worcester City Council, said the initiative, being held throughout October's National Waste Month to highlight different methods of reducing waste, had been "enthusiastically received".
"We've had 18 households volunteering to take part and that represents a real cross section including families and single people," she said. "Everyone is very enthusiastic to get started and really seem to be looking forward to the initiative."
"I think this kind of scheme is long overdue and everyone should be doing their bit for recyling," added Sheila Winter, who will be joining in the project with her family.
"We can't keep on dumping rubbish in holes in the ground so we should start off as we mean to go on."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008