DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (162/08) issued by
The Government News Network on 2 June 2008
People will soon
find it easier to recycle when they're out and about,
Environment Minister Joan Ruddock pledged today.
'Recycle on the Go' is a new drive to put accessible
recycling bins in public places. And it's already started,
with The Royal Parks rolling out a recycling bin pilot in Hyde
Park over the next three months.
A good practice guide and a code of practice will help those
responsible for public places to make recycling easy and
accessible. Wherever possible bins will feature the familiar
Recycle Now signage so people can easily identify where and how to
recycle their cans, bottles and paper.
Visiting Hyde Park to launch Recycle on the Go, Environment
Minister Joan Ruddock, said:
"We need to take recycling beyond the office and home into
our public spaces - that's what this initiative is about.
'We know that most canned and bottled drinks are consumed
outside the home, when people are out and about. Even the most
dedicated recycler is unlikely to take these home with them and
add them to their household recycling. Often, the only responsible
option is to put them in litter bins, and this means that large
quantities of aluminium, plastic and glass are slipping through
the net and effectively become rubbish, end up in landfill, and
are lost as a resource.
'Recycle on the Go is about making recycling a natural part
of everyday life no matter where people are. But the bigger issue
here is about a pushing a behaviour change around how people
dispose litter when they're away from the home.
'It's especially fitting that Recycle on the Go is
being launched during Recycle Week, when the spotlight is on
giving an extra push to our recycling efforts.'
Colin Buttery, Deputy CEO of The Royal Parks said:
'Recycle on the Go is an excellent way to encourage greener
waste management in public places. Building on the success of our
recycling programme at events, the new code of practice is further
informing the Royal Parks' approach to our recycling pilot in
Hyde Park.'
Notes for Editors:
1. Recycle on the Go consists of a Voluntary Code of Practice on
public place recycling; and a Good Practice Guide. These are
available from http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/recycleonthego/
2. The Voluntary Code of Practice sets out key principles for
managers of public places who want to offer facilities for
recycling in public areas. It can apply to locations managed by
public and private bodies; and sites that are indoors and outdoors
to which the public has access. This voluntary code can be signed
up to at http://www.recyclenowpartners.org.uk
3. The Good Practice Guide contains advice on setting up public
place recycling schemes, information about setting up schemes that
suit particular circumstances, and guidelines on using the Recycle
Now iconography on recycle bins in public places. For more
information on Recycle Now iconography, see http://www.recyclenowpartners.org.uk
4. The launch of Recycle on the Go follows a 2007 Defra
consultation (in association with Encams and Recycle Now) with
public-place managers, to find out whether they support public
place recycling and to consult on proposed guidance and use of
Recycle Now signage. The consultation found strong support for the
Code of Practice principles and the Good Practice Guide, and use
of the Recycle Now iconography. Information on who was consulted
and the outcome of the consultation is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/recyclebins/index.htm
5. WRAP research carried out in 2007 shows that two-thirds of
consumers recognise the Recycle Now brand, and three-quarters of
local councils already us it in some way. Recycle on the Go is
simply encouraging better use of what is already in place.
6. Recycle Week runs from June 2-8. For more information contact
Susan Nisbet at WRAP on 01295 819 677.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
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