#LoveYourForest Launches Recycle Reward Machines in Forest of Dean
#LoveYourForest Launches Recycle Reward Machines in Forest of Dean
Trial aims to incentivise people to recycle their bottles and cans.
Two new characters have arrived in the Forest of Dean today, in the form of Recycle Reward Machines, as part of the ongoing #LoveYourForest initiative to reduce litter and boost recycling in the area.
Sir Recyclesalot and Buddy the Bottle Crusher, have been installed in the area by environmental charity Hubbub and can be found at The Midcounties Co-operative's Coleford Food store and the Dean Heritage Centre in Soudley. The machines are being trialled to encourage residents and visitors to recycle their empty bottles and cans in exchange for prizes.
Named by Dee-Ann Sheerin-Wilson and Evan Pezzarini- Hodges, as part of an online competition run by the #LoveYourForest campaign, the Recycle Reward Machines have been designed to accept empty bottles and cans in exchange for tickets, which recyclers can then use to claim their prize.
The machines are programmed to reward recyclers based on the volume of recyclable materials they deposit. Each can or bottle that gets recycled equates to one ticket which can then be collected and exchanged for a reward.
Prizes include:
• Forest of Dean lottery ticket, with a chance to win a jackpot of up to £25,000 (for 16 year-olds and over only)
• #LoveYourForest merchandise including an organic cotton tote bag, wind up torch and reusable water bottle
Prizes can be claimed at the Tourist Information Centre in Coleford or at the Dean Heritage Centre.
#LoveYourForest is run in collaboration with local employer Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, Forest of Dean District Council, Forestry England, Foresters’ Forest, and Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism.
Each year, over 250 tonnes of rubbish is removed from the Forest of Dean area, costing local taxpayers £450,000 per year to clean up. In 2016, Hubbub and local partners launched the #LoveYourForest campaign to tackle the issue, trialling a number of interventions which in four years has seen more than 800 bags of litter collected in the area.
A survey of over 3,000 adults in the UK, commissioned by Hubbub, found that 44% of people had noticed litter in their local area become a bigger issue since COVID arrived in the UK, with 43% seeing an increase in litter in their local green spaces and 39% noticing an increase in fly tipping.*
In 2020, #LoveYourForest broadened its activity beyond its “Take your litter home” messaging to include “recycle it”, by installing new eye-catching bins in the town centres of Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Newent. The new Recycle Reward Machines mark the second phase of this, as we emerge out of lockdown and start spending more time outside.
Abigail Arden, Project Coordinator at Hubbub, said: “Our research suggests there has been a shift in attitude towards how people view outdoor spaces in light of the pandemic, with half saying they have been appreciating nature and wildlife more. But with two in five people visiting their local green spaces more often, yet seeing more litter than they had before, it is important that interventions are put in place to help people understand the importance of taking their litter home or recycling it.
“The new Recycle Reward Machines are an invaluable asset to help reduce litter in the Forest of Dean and what’s more, they put the area one step closer to creating a circular economy, by keeping litter out of the forest and in the loop. We look forward to seeing the response they get from locals and visitors alike.”
Michelle Norman, Director of Sustainability at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said: “Part of our Growing for Good vision is to minimise our environmental impact and keeping our bottles in circulation is a crucial part of this. A major transformation project to optimise our bottles for recycling is well underway and we’re determined to do all that we can to get our bottles back.
“That’s why today is so exciting; with more bottles being recycled and collected we can not only keep our forest floors clean, but also help keep a valuable material in circulation and reduce our carbon footprint in doing so. We truly believe this model, when scaled up, will help drive the circularity we’re striving for and hope that people embrace the new recycle reward machines as they have done with our new recycling bins.”
Phil Ponsonby, chief executive at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “Social responsibility is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re so pleased to be able to get involved in this very exciting initiative.
“We’re committed to making change and encouraging our members and customers to work us with us to build a better environment for our future, and recycling is a big part of that.
“We’re hopeful that the new Recycle Reward Machine in our Coleford Food store will not only encourage more people to recycle their bottles and cans but help to keep our local communities free of litter too.”
Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Member of Parliament for the Forest of Dean, commented: “The Forest of Dean is a beautiful part of our country that I am proud to represent in Parliament, but littering knows no bounds. The #LoveYourForest campaign has made a significant contribution in tackling the blight of litter and promoting recycling in the Forest of Dean since 2016. The new Recycle Reward machines that are being introduced today will encourage us to return empty bottles and cans for recycling.
“It’s important that we encourage recycling and on-the-go recycling infrastructure plays a hugely important part.
“I welcome Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I’s support for the campaign, as an innovative local employer committed to reducing its impact on the environment, as well as littering.”
For more information or to join the #LoveYourForest campaign, visit: www.hubbub.org.uk/love-your-forest
Explore Gloucestershire
12 May 2021
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