Wigan recycling centres see 279,000 visits in six months
Wigan’s three Recycling Centres have recorded their busiest ever start to the year, with 279,000 vehicle visits logged between January and June – up from 247,000 during the same period last year.
The surge, which rivals peak COVID levels, has been driven by a mix of garden clear-outs, DIY projects and household decluttering.
FCC Environment area supervisor Tracy Roe said: “The data surprised even us, typically we would expect to see about 200 thousand visits to site but instead we had logged a whopping 279 thousand visitors by the end of June alone.
“We are proud to say that the sites have coped well with the volumes of both visits and managing the materials brought to us for recycling and disposal.”
The sites handle a wide range of materials, from electricals, textiles and scrap metal to garden waste, mattresses and paint tins.
Roe added: “There are some ways the public can help us keep the sites running smoothly for them. By pre-sorting as much as you can at home, it will be easier to recycle your waste and make your visit to the tip quicker.”
Ballinora Scouts use DRS to fund new tents
Ballinora Scout Group in Co. Cork has been named one of five winners in Re-turn’s Small Town, Big Difference campaign, which highlighted how community groups are harnessing Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
The Scouts have turned returned bottles and cans into vital funds for new tents, rallying local residents to contribute while promoting recycling.
As part of their prize, the group will be featured in a local advertising campaign across bus stops, billboards and radio, helping them raise further funds and encouraging other organisations to follow suit.
Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said: “Ballinora Scout Group is an example of how the Scheme can achieve more than just environmental benefits.
“Every deposit returned represents not just a container saved from landfills, but a step towards funding projects that bring people together, create opportunities, and improve local communities.”
Mark Williams Foundation granted charitable status
The Mark Williams Foundation has been officially granted full charitable status by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
Established in memory of Mark Williams, late CEO of The NWH Group, the Foundation focuses on two core missions: supporting fathers facing barriers to contact with their children and empowering disadvantaged young people to pursue entrepreneurship.
The announcement comes ahead of two programme launches.
In October 2025, the Legal Support Referral Programme will provide financially disadvantaged fathers with access to legal advice through partnerships with leading family law firms.
In December 2025, the Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Scheme will offer mentoring, coaching and seed funding to help 18–25-year-olds start their own ventures.
Nicola Williams, founder and wife of the late Mark Williams, said: “The Foundation was born out of Mark’s vision for fairness, resilience, and hope. Achieving charitable status allows us to scale up and reach even more families and young people – something I know Mark would have been immensely proud of.”
DS Smith completes main building for £48m Kemsley Paper Mill
DS Smith’s Kemsley paper mill has reached a milestone in its £48 million F-Line Project, with the main building for the new fibre preparation plant now complete.
The F-line will supply high-quality recycled fibre to PM3, the mill’s versatile paper machine producing white top testliner, paperboard liner and a range of corrugated case material grades.
The next phase will see installation of process equipment, extensive piping and an electrical suite requiring 77km of cabling.
Once operational, the plant will be centrally managed from the existing NSP control room, with an on-site operator station providing local support.
As part of DS Smith’s Now and Next sustainability strategy, the F-line will aim to maximise material recovery from recycling while reducing both water and energy use.
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