Since its launch at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management conference in Torbay last month, 80 councils have expressed an interest in the Rescape recycling bank system.
Developed in partnership with waste container supplier Egbert H Taylor and compliance scheme Valpak, Rescape is designed to change the image of bring to site banks.
 Valpak's Duncan Simpson with Taylor director Alston Taylor at the launch of Rescape in Torbay |
“Historically, recycling centres have had an image of being scruffy, ill-lit and unappealing,” Valpak head of business development Andy McCaffery said. “By designing them to become part of the everyday built environment they become far more appealing and inviting for the public to use, so helping to increase recycling rates.”
The banks can be custom built and come in a range of different colours with built in lighting as an extra option. Lockable doors enclose Taylor's conventional containers so that the public are met with a clean faade.
Designed by street furniture specialists SMF International, the centres also include public information boards that could also be used to carry advertising to provide extra revenue. The banks' design was informed by consultation with Valpak's member companies including supermarket chains, which could next be encouraged to take up the new system.
High rise
It is hoped the new centres will be picked up by authorities responsible for multi-storey social housing where kerbside schemes are particularly inconvenient.
Taylor director Alston Taylor added that the firm's containers could be placed inside attractive units. “This will be particularly beneficial for high profile sites or sensitive areas where the siting of containers may be contentious.”
Rescape is the latest in a string of diversification projects for Valpak. “We really hope that the introduction of Rescape will increase recycling rates as it will impact back upon our core business,” a spokeswoman explained.
The firm has received around 80 inquiries from local authorities interested in the banks, and Valpak is about to promote the system in the business sector, she added.
Last year Valpak launched new recycling centres designed to attract both the public and advertising for Tesco car parks (see letsrecycle.com story). As with Rescape, the banks were set up as a bright, clean environment to encourage shoppers to recycle paper, plastic, bottles, cans and textiles.
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