Mr Woodford, star of BBC2's Ready, Steady, Cook, joined celebrities such as former footballer Gary Linker, actress Joanna Lumley, GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips and chat show host Graham Norton in making the 'Glass Promise'.
 Kevin Woodford and Jenny Jar |
Mr Woodford said: “As a chef I use a lot of food and drink packaged in glass. Recycling bottles and jars is a way we can all reduce the amount of rubbish we generate and make a positive contribution to the environment.”
For 2003, National Glass Week will focus on recycling jars as well as bottles, and increasing the amount of clear and brown glass recycled.
Mr Woodford explained: “In the UK we drink a lot of imported beers and wines which tend to be packaged in green glass.
“We need people to recycle more clear and brown glass, so recycling your food jars as well as your bottles is really important.”
Trade body British Glass, which has organised the week, is encouraging everyone to take the Glass Promise at its website, www.glasspromise.com. The pledge states: “I promise to choose products packaged in glass and to recycle glass whenever possible.” Visitors to the site can download a Glass Promise certificate after taking the vow.
The UK recycled about 587,000 tonnes of waste jars and bottles into new containers in 2001 – about 33% of glass containers used. And about 50% of the glass currently collected in the UK is green.
Survey
In research commissioned for National Glass Week, British Glass revealed that people living in southern England were better glass recyclers than those living in the north. According to a survey carried out by NOP, 53% of northerners recycle “some or all” of their glass, compared to 67% of southerners and 66% of people in the Midlands.
The survey concluded that “consumers want to recycle more but it's got to be made easier or more convenient for them.” About 66% said they would recycle more if facilities such as kerbside collections and more bottle banks were made available.
To this end, British Glass director David Workman said the organisation aimed to work more closely with local authorities and the government to increase the number of kerbside collections and bring banks for recycling glass.
Subscribe for free