Published: 14/05/2019
COPELAND Council is using striking images on its waste trucks to encourage residents to recycle.
The designs are part of the council's one year anniversary of its kerbside recycling service. In that year, residents recycled an impressive 3,354 tonnes through the kerbside scheme - equivalent to the weight of 650 elephants.
The eye-catching elephant-themed designs thank residents for their environmental commitment, and highlight the need for this to continue.
The council has used the elephant theme throughout its celebrations of the first year of recycling - an impressive baby elephant sculpture was created from waste materials by artist Sue Jackson and art students at Lakes College. Families can also craft fun pet elephants from recycling materials at the Beacon Portal during May.
Mayor Mike Starkie said: "Seeing these interesting designs on the streets of Copeland will remind residents of the 'tonnes' of good they are doing for our environment when they recycle.
"This is the first year that we have collected card, paper, glass, plastic and metal from the homes of around 96 per cent of our residents. People have responded fantastically and we want to improve our recycling rates even more."
Copeland's recycling crews collected 3,354 tonnes of materials during the first year of the revamped kerbside scheme - 53 per cent more than the previous year.
A further 1,300 tonnes was collected through the network of community recycling sites and 4,600 tonnes of garden waste was sent for composting - making a grand total of 9,300 tonnes of recycled waste.
To find out if they have a kerbside recycling collection, residents can check online at www.copeland.gov.uk, in the My Property section.
Free craft sessions, where families can create cute elephants from plastic bottles, continue at the Beacon Portal in Whitehaven. They are running each weekend in May, including bank holidays, and all of the half term school holiday. Those who leave their creations behind will have them entered into a competition. Find out more at www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk.
Visitors can also see the elephant sculpture by local artist Sue Jackson. The impressive structure is created from recycled materials inside a wire frame and was made with help from students at Lakes College. It will visit various locations over the summer to encourage people to recycle more.
Visit www.copeland.gov.uk to find out more about Copeland borough council's kerbside recycling scheme.
Picture caption: Left to right: Recycling officer Jan Boniface, Waste Team Leader Geoff Eilbeck, Community Services Manager Janice Carrol, Mayor Mike Starkie, Andrew Graham (Waste Operative) and John Agnew (Waste Operative).
The two lorry-panel images feature elephant silhouettes in the council's corporate green and purple, with the wording: "Thank you Copeland - you recycled the weight of 650 elephants in your first year" and "Thank you Copeland - tonnes of you are recycling."
