Charity round-up

Veolia staff complete Three Peaks Challenge

Scaling new heights, the team undertook the Three Peaks Challenge on June 7 which involves walking to the peaks of Scafell Pike in England, Ben Nevis in Scotland and Snowdon in Wales an 11,179ft ascent in the space of a day.

Veolia, which is current waste contractor for Nottinghamshire county council, raised the money for Variety, which looks after sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.

Matt Spaul, East Midlands general manager, said: This was a great challenge for all involved but it was made easier knowing that so many people were supporting us.

This was the first time most of us had tackled something like this and it proved just as tough as we all expected, but we supported each other right to the finish.

Plastics recycling initiative tops McMillan fund

Over 4.5 million milk bottle tops have been collected by Rotarian and Church groups in Scotland as part of a community charity plastics recycling scheme.

The groups have collected the plastic tops from milk bottles from across the Scottish Borders, sorting them once a month at St Peters Church in Galashiels. Other organisations involved in the project include the Rotary Club of Kelso, schools, cafes, restaurants, shops and individuals.

Once sorted, the tops are delivered to the CK Polymers processing facility in Charlesfield and recycled into outer sheathing for fibre optics cables.

The effort has seen the Galashiels Rotary Club receive a cheque for 1,080 from recycling plastic regrind provider CK Group. The money raised will be used to fund palliative care in the Scottish Borders.

Alan Gillie, operations manager at the CK plant, said: These fund raising efforts are tremendous. Most plastics recycling companies do not have facilities to cope with small individual collections on behalf of charities so the fact these groups have worked together to amass this bulk quantity has ensured its maximum value as recycled plastic can be realised and put to good use to help worthwhile causes.

707 goes the extra mile for charity

Staff from Leeds-based waste company 707 hit the gym on World Environment Day (June 5) for a cycle in aid of the World Wildlife Fund UK and the Marie Curie Charity.

The cycle4recycle challenge, which took place at the companys headquarters was based on the Tour de France Grand Dpart route, and saw the 707 team mount stationary gym bikes to peddle their way across the distance of the route.

The team of riders collectively cycled 549km by 5pm on the day, equivalent to the distance cycled in the Grand Dpart, the first two stages of the Tour.

The team also received a helping hand from Team Sky rider Josh Edmondson, a 21-year-old professional cyclist who shot to national recognition in the 2012 Tour of Britain.

707 managing director David Adams, said: We were overwhelmed by the support we were given by everyone. It was a fantastic way to raise money and also give kick off the countdown to the Grand Depart on July 5.

With some keen cyclists in our offices, Josh Edmondson not only helped the team in their last few miles but he also motivated and inspired them to achieve it in such a good time.

BPI backs 2,400 mile Pacific solo row

Derbyshire-based plastics recycling firm bpi.recycled products (BPI RP) is backing athlete Elsa Hammond as she attempts to row across the Pacific Ocean solo in aid of charity.

Ms Hammond will take part in the inaugural Great Pacific Race, which sees rowers compete over a 2,400 mile course from Californias Monterey Bay to Honolulu in Hawaii.

The athlete, who is raising money for environmental charity Plastics Ocean Foundation, will pass through the notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch during the challenge a stretch of ocean polluted by tonnes of post-consumer waste.

BPI RP, which recycles up to 70,000 tonnes of polyethylene ever year, has pledged 5,000 in sponsorship of Ms Hammonds solo bid. In total, she hopes to raise 200,000.

Andrew Green, managing director of BPI RP, said: We wish Elsa all the very best in her solo row and look forward to following her amazing journey every step of the way!