A Swansea family is to have its council tax paid for a year – thanks to a superb recycling competition.
The Corcorans, of Heol yr Eryr, Cwmrhydyceirw, use Swansea Council’s kerbside recycling services which have been promoted by the contest.
During the past 12 months, residents throughout Swansea have been urged to attach special address labels to green recycling sacks collected from the kerbside.
Bi-monthly prize draw winners have received a selection of green goods and the Corcorans scooped the big annual prize.
The Corcorans – mum Belinda, dad Kevin, sons James (18) and Tim (11) and daughter Jemma (note: correct spelling) (19) – were selected from thousands of entries as the winners.
Kevin, who works at the Land Registry, Swansea, said, “We were surprised and delighted to win this prize. Belinda’s the driving force with recycling in our house and me and Tim are pleased to do all we can.
“Jemma and James are away in university now so they’re keep up the recycling habit in Aberystwyth and Cardiff.
“Recycling is something that can be easily integrated into modern lifestyles and it’s important because it will benefit us all in the long run.”
Kevin and Tim, a pupil of Bishop Vaughan Comprehensive School, are enthusiastic members of Swansea Harriers and undertake recycling at the athletics club.
Kevin said, “The club shop sells a lot of sports drinks in plastic bottles and we encourage members to recycle them through the club.
“The Harriers hope to increase their environmental efforts in future months to help the city hit its recycling targets.”
John Hague, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “Thousands of residents took part in the Make Me a Winner kerbside recycling scheme during the past year. It will hopefully have encouraged more residents in Swansea to recycle their waste.”
Naomi Pope, communications manager of competition sponsors Corus Steel Packaging Recycling, said: “Corus is the largest steel recycler in the UK. We are working hard to increase awareness of the benefits of recycling steel packaging and the number of recycled steel cans has more than doubled over the last seven years.
“This initiative has encouraged even more households in Swansea to join in recycling by putting everything from food and drinks cans to caps and lids from food and drink containers in their green bags.
“Steel can be recycled over and over without loss of quality, which is great news for the environment as the recycling of good quality steel packaging means that less of our natural resources are diminished.”
