Torfaen’s recycling dog is set to be immortalised in a comic strip alongside other environmentally-friendly superheroes.
Tubby the Labrador, who has recycled around 30,000 bottles, will appear in Torfaen Council’s cartoon strip, The Trash Titans, to help promote green issues in the local area.
The seven-year-old will feature alongside recycling mascot Dan Can the Super Recycler, Dan’s sidekick Billy Bottle and three residents who have already been turned into comic characters.
Bryan McDowell, 74, of Cwmbran; Chantel Daniels, 43, of Pontypool, and eight-year-old Callum Lewis, of Blaenavon, were recruited as the local authority’s recycling superheroes last year and will also appear on posters around the County Borough later this year.
Since the Council revealed Tubby’s feat a year ago, he has been featured worldwide in newspapers and magazines and on television and radio and been showered with gifts including a luxury dog bed, a £200 voucher for dog food and a body warmer. The Council presented him with a bone to thank him for his efforts.
Twice daily the pooch goes out for a walk and usually picks up at least six plastic bottles from wherever he can find them.
He then happily crushes them in his mouth and takes them back to his owner Sandra Gilmore, of Cadoc Road, West Pontnewydd, who recycles them in her black box.
Mrs Gilmore, 52, said: “I’m thrilled that Tubby is going to be immortalised in a comic strip and I can’t wait to see what adventures he gets up to.
“He is already a local superstar. People always recognise him, especially if he’s got a bottle in his mouth.”
Councillor John Cunningham, interim Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, added: “I’m delighted Tubby is keeping up the good work. It’s great that residents and their pets are so enthusiastic about recycling. Everyone’s efforts have ensured we are the best recycling authority in South Wales, recycling 45% of our waste.”
