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Celebrity impersonator hopes to start copycat trend in waste

Celebrity impersonator hopes to start copycat trend in waste

BBC impressionist Alistair McGowan has made a rare appearance as himself to promote a National Waste Awareness Initiative campaign in London's Leicester Square.

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Alistair McGowan gets behind the Rethink Rubbish campaign

Mr McGowan, known for his impersonations of David Beckham and Richard Madeley, kicked off the Rethink Rubbish roadshow by getting behind the wheel of a specially-motorised dustbin, big enough to hold a family of four's rubbish for a year.

In the borough of Westminster, people throw away enough to fill 4,300 London double-decker buses or cover Leicester Square in more than 37 metres of rubbish, Mr McGowan explained.

He continued: “The problem is getting worse, so we need to look at new ways of dealing with all of this rubbish.”

The motorised bin is 3m high by 2.5m wide and has a top speed 15 mph. It will call at 22 UK towns and cities during June and July as part of the roadshow, which also includes games, competitions, live music and an interactive show.

Gareth Morton from Rethink Rubbish said: “Although most people are concerned about the amount of rubbish we are producing, very few people are aware of how they can make a difference to help improve the matter. The Rethink Rubbish roadshow will provide many simple ideas to put into practice, such as taking cans, glass jars and paper to one of the many recycling banks across the city as part of a weekly shopping routine.”

People recycle 9% of rubbish in Westminster, but London must raise this figure to 12% by 2003-04.

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