40th Southend Recycling Champion signs up

Eight new Recycling Champions were trained up during Recycle Week, boosting the network of green-minded residents to 41.

The Recycling Champions network was set up to help Southend reach its 60 per cent recycling target by 2015. It recruits residents to help boost recycling rates by encouraging their friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to recycle more.

As part of the programme, Recycling Champions learn more about recycling and waste prevention through training sessions and information packs. Twelve Champions visited Aylesford Paper Mill in Kent in March to see how paper from the mini recycling centres is recycled.

This Friday 10 champions are visiting Bywaters Materials Recycling Facility to see how the materials within the pink recycling sacks are separated for recycling, witnessing first-hand what happens to the recyclable materials they present each week.

Kudzai Muronzi, 23, is one of the youngest Recycling Champions. She joined the network because she is interested in environmental issues and believes that recycling is a worthwhile activity.

Kudzai, who attended the visit to Aylesford in March, said: "It was great to see the recycling process with my own eyes."

She educates her friends and family by explaining the benefits of recycling and by providing information about how the kerbside recycling collections work.

Christine Jee attended the first Southend Recycling Champions training last year. She became a Recycling Champion because she believes it is very important for everyone to do as much as they can for the environment for the sake of their children and grandchildren.

She said: "The visit to Bywaters was particularly useful because I saw how the pink bags were processed and I now have an answer for those who believe that materials are not really recycled."

Christine enthuses about recycling to all her friends and family.

Norman Robbins, Chairman of the Woodgrange Residents' Association, is passionate about recycling.  He became a Recycling Champion in June 2009 to convince other people to recycle as much as they could and to protect the environment and the planet from the downward spiral.

Norman, who has visited both Bywaters Materials Recycling Facility and Aylesford Paper Mill, said: "These trips were the highlight of my Recycling Champion journey as they shed light on the recycling process.

"As a Champion, I talk about recycling to people at the Residents' Association meetings and on the other committees that I sit on and encourage them to use the service that Cory Environmental and the Council provides. Knowing what happens to the recycling is really helpful."Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Public Protection and Waste, Councillor Tony Cox, said: "We are delighted to have trained our 40th Recycling Champion this Recycle Week.

"Our Champions do a great job to boost recycling in Southend. We encourage green-minded residents to join the network and help us reach 60 per cent recycling by 2015."

To find out more about becoming a Recycling Champion in Southend, please call Rutendo Chitiga on 07894-515875 or e-mail Rutendochitiga@sauceconsultancy.co.uk.

For more information about this media release please call the press desk on 01702-215000 ext 5505 or e-mail media@southend.gov.uk