By Isle of Wight Observer
Four tonnes of reusable items were diverted from landfill and donated to Island organisations in 2017, the Isle of Wight Council has revealed.
Under its ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’ scheme, in partnership with Amey, items were diverted from Lynnbottom Recycling Centre, Newport, such as paint, carpets, oxygen cylinders and even golf balls to good causes.
The main item given away was paint, with organisations including the Classic Boat Museum at Cowes, Cowes Community Club, local football and cricket clubs, Island Speedway and Niton Pre-school all benefiting.
Paint collected at Lynnbottom is sent to a specialist recycling firm for treatment, but many tins may be nearly full or unopened and can be given to organisations to paint things from goal posts to murals and changing rooms to boats.
The V-Dub Festival and Gift to Nature both benefitted from free carpet for their events, while Island Diving were grateful to receive a large number of used oxygen cylinders.
Among the more unusual items recovered were several dozen golf balls, which were given away to Browns Golf Course, Sandown.
“The Island’s diversion from landfill rate last year was 59% and is something I am very proud of and that result could not have been achieved without our residents’ ongoing support and enthusiasm,” said Councillor Michael Murwill, Cabinet member for waste management.
“However, it can be difficult to recycle certain products and it is great news that we have been able to, in partnership with Amey, divert some of those harder to recycle products to benefit local Island good causes and avoid them being landfilled.”
Simon Butler, Amey’s community engagement manager, said: “We’re very pleased to have been able to help these organisations with free materials for their own and their users benefit.
“For example we helped provide paint to Shanklin FC to repaint part of their clubhouse that had recently been damaged, saving the club hundreds in material costs. Savings like that really help local organisations.”
Other Isle of Wight organisations are now being encouraged to get in touch if they are interested in receiving materials such as paint as part of the council’s re-use scheme.
For more information or to request items, email waste.contract@iow.gov.uk
Isle of Wight Observer