Open your mind (and your door) to recycling

Experts to go door to door to encourage Green Box use in Ealing

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EalingToday.co.uk

 

Ealing's residents will be opening their doors to some very green visitors this summer, but don't worry, there's nothing alien about Ealing Council's new recycling campaign.

From Tuesday 17th August, experts on Ealing's green box scheme will be calling at homes in the borough that are eligible for the scheme, explaining how it works and encouraging residents to take part. Areas with low recycling rates will be targetted first, but most eligible household will receive a visit during summer 2004 or 2005.

Councillor John Delaney, Cabinet Member for Streets and the Environment hopes that talking to residents face to face will help them understand how important, and easy, it is to recycle:

"The green box scheme has already been a great success with 44% of residents who are eligible for the scheme making good use of their green box. But we have tough government targets to meet for recycling, and we need residents' help to increase Ealing's recycling rates. Green boxes are an easy way for people to get involved, as their recycling is collected from right outside their house."

The door-stepping project has been funded by the London Recycling Fund who awarded Ealing £195,000 over two years to increase awareness about recycling. The money was awarded as part of a joint bid for door-stepping with neighbouring boroughs Hounslow and Brent. Other London boroughs who have embarked on similar projects have seen an impressive increase in participation rates for household collection of recycling.

The recycling enthusiasts who will be visiting residents across the borough work for national waste organisation Waste Watch and will be able to answer questions about Ealing's green box scheme, as well as handing out boxes to those residents who want to participate.

Councillor Delaney added: "We all need to get involved in recycling and everyone who is eligible for a green box has a fantastic service available to them. I hope residents will give the "door-steppers" a warm welcome, and start recycling today if they aren't already."

Green boxes are available to approximately 77% of residents. Unfortunately it is not possible to provide the same service to many residents living on estates, in flats, or on red routes. In these areas, Ealing is rolling out an estate’s recycling scheme to ensure that recycling is easy for all residents. If a resident wants to find out if they are eligible for the green box service they can call 020 8825 6000.

The "door-steppers" will be wearing a distinctive orange jacket and will carry Waste Watch identification. They will NOT try and enter your home for any reason - if anyone claims to be from Waste Watch and attempts to enter a resident's home they should close the door and call the police.

Ealing Council's recycling team has won a total of £2.2 million of government funding over the last year to pay for local recycling projects, including the redevelopment of Greenford Re-use and Recycling Centre, and huge investment in estate recycling.

August 20, 2004