Recycling incentive scheme leads to 24% increase in steel packaging recycling in Swansea
04 Sep 2008
A recycling incentive scheme run by Corus and Swansea Council has delivered an impressive 24% increase in steel packaging recycling rates in just 12 months.
By attaching special ‘Make Me a Winner’ address tags to their green recycling bags, residents in Swansea were automatically entered into a grand prize draw to win a year free of council tax. Since its launch in August 2007, the competition has attracted more than 40,000 entries and has helped to achieve this significant increase in recycling rates. In the year prior to the launch of the scheme, Swansea Council recycled 428 tonnes of steel packaging whereas in the last year when the competition was running, this increased to 530 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of more than 100 African elephants.
Naomi Pope, Communications Manager at Corus Steel Packaging Recycling, comments: “Corus is the largest steel recycler in the UK. We are working hard to increase awareness of the benefits of recycling steel packaging and the number of steel cans recycled has more than doubled over the last seven years. This initiative has encouraged even more households in Swansea to join in recycling by putting everything from food and drinks cans to caps and lids from food and drink containers in their green bags.
“The incentive scheme has been so successful at increasing the amount of steel packaging recycled that we have decided to extend our sponsorship of it for a further year. The scheme is an excellent example of local authorities and industry working together to boost recycling rates and encourage consumer participation in recycling schemes
John and Barbara Roach from Kittle, Swansea, won the grand prize of a council tax free year. Their winning tag was selected at random from more than 40,000 entries by The Lord Mayor of Swansea, Gareth Sullivan.
John Hague, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "Thousands of residents took part in the scheme during the past year and we’re thrilled that Corus is on board with us again.
"Mr and Mrs Roach are an excellent example of responsible residents who clearly care about the environment and are doing their bit to assist the council. Residents have a number of excellent services at their disposal for recycling their domestic waste and we are continuing to develop these services even further to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill in Swansea.”
