The Woodland Trust has confirmed that it will be running its successful Christmas card recycling campaign this year, once again supported by retailers WH Smith and Tesco.
The woodland conservation charity hopes to recycle more than 50 million cards this year – last year's scheme recycled 45 million cards, about 833 tonnes of material. The scheme allows shoppers to deposit their Christmas cards in special recycling bins in WH Smith and Tesco stores throughout the UK.
The scheme is being supported by the Recycle Now campaign, and the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers. The recycling service will be administered by Nottinghamshire county council, with cards being recycled by SCA Recycling and Severnside Recycling.
As well as recycling Christmas cards that would otherwise go to landfill, the Woodland Trust scheme will raise money for the planting of trees in UK woodlands.
Ministers sign waste prevention framework
A new “Framework for Waste Prevention” has been signed by environment ministers in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Framework has been drawn up by the National Resource and Waste Forum, a membership organisation run by the consultancy the Environment Council representing councils, waste management companies and NGOs.
The document encourages local authorities and communities to minimise waste through community composting, to reduce packaging through “smart shopping” and clamp down on junk mail by signing up to the Mailing Preference Service. It also aims to maximise the re-use of nappies and the refurbishment of used products.
UK environmental ministers including Ross Finnie, Carwyn Jones and Elliot Morley signed a statement supporting the Framework, saying: “The biggest task of all is now underway – the prevention of waste. This ambition is universally supported by everyone concerned.”
New trees reward aluminium recyclers in Guildford and Waverley
Guildford and Waverley borough councils have been awarded 112 native trees following their successful efforts to recycle more aluminium drinks cans and foil.
The trees were donated by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), which has been donating trees to councils throughout the UK as an incentive for them to collect aluminium. Over 35,000 trees will be planted across the UK, one for every tonne of aluminium collected by councils.
Guildford and Waverley's trees will be planted at a ceremony on December 1 with the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Keith Taylor, and the Mayor of Waverley, Cllr Victor Duckett, in attendance.
Cllr Duckett said: “Aluminium is very expensive to produce, it is more cost effective to recycle old aluminium. The energy saved in recycling aluminium is in the region of 95%, which is a huge saving. Guildford and Waverley residents did exceedingly well with their aluminium collection.”
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