Newport Council has today joined forces with carton maker Tetra Pak to launch a competition to get residents to squash their used cartons before recycling them.
To celebrate that residents have embraced carton recycling since the introduction of bring bank collection facilities in September 2007 and to minimise the chances of bins overflowing, the council and Tetra Pak are challenging residents to come up with the most original way to squash their empty cartons in the ‘How do you squash yours?’ competition.
According to tests carried out by carton industry body ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment), every resident could fit in at least three times more milk or juice cartons in the bring banks located throughout the city if they simply squashed them first. Not only would this help save space in kitchens across Newport, it would also ensure more people can fit their cartons in the banks and also help keep trucks off the road.
Whether sitting on it, flattening it with a space hopper or getting the local rugby team to squash it in a scrum, there are lots of ways that people can squash their empty cartons. The council and Tetra Pak are challenging Newport residents to film their most imaginative ways of flattening their cartons, and post their clips on www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk.
The winning entrant – voted for by the public later this year – can choose either a ‘chance of a lifetime’ place on an exciting international environmental adventure – from a wildlife conservation trip in South Africa to volunteering with turtles in Panama – or an Eco TV, 50 hot DVDs and a supply of wine or smoothies in Tetra Pak cartons.
Councillor David Fouweather, cabinet member for the environment and community safety said:
“We are supporting the ‘How do you squash yours?’ competition to get more people squashing every time they recycle, as this helps reduce the number of vehicles needed for collecting material. Residents have responded really well to the availability of carton recycling facilities in the area, but we wanted to do something exciting to encourage them to recycle as many of their cartons as possible.”
Tetra Pak’s Recycling Operations Manager, Fay Dashper, added:
“The response to the carton recycling facilities in Newport] has been stunning, but we want everyone to be able to make the most of them. We were surprised to find out just how much difference squashing cartons could make to increasing the capacity for people to recycle – at least three times more cartons can be included in the collection trucks!
“We’re also hoping people can have fun coming up with new ways of squashing their cartons – our team certainly has!”
Tetra Pak bring bank locations for Newport are:
- Sainsbury (Crindau)
- Household Waste Recycling Centre (Docksway)
- Harlech Retail Park (Cardiff Road)
- Maindee Car Park (Chepstow Road)
- Newport Retail Park (Spytty Road)
To enter the competition or view the amusing videos already created by other entrants, visit www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk.
For more information on recycling in Newport call 01633 656656 or visit www.newport.gov.uk.
For more information on beverage carton recycling, visit www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk or www.ace-uk.co.uk.
Please remember: squash your cartons before recycling. These cartons can be recycled into envelopes, plasterboard liner, paper carrier bags, broom handles, roof tiles and even garden furniture.
