What do three community projects, three sports clubs and two parks have in common?
They’re all winners in the first round of Salford’s new recycling reward scheme after local people increased the amount of recycling in eight areas of Salford.
Green minded residents recycled 8.5% more paper, card and cartons and just over 8% more cans, bottles and foil.
Under the new scheme community groups pitch for up to £1000 for their project and residents vote for the group they think most deserving. If recycling then goes up in that area, the group with the most votes gets their reward.
Councillor Gena Merrett, executive lead member for housing and environment, said: “We’ve seen recycling increase in all eight areas in this first month which is a fantastic start for this new scheme. I hope everyone of the 1000 plus people who voted carries on recycling and encourages family and friends to do the same.
“Salford residents have done a fantastic job pushing recycling rates up to 42% but we need to increase it even more. We just can’t keep burying waste in the ground. It costs the council £300 to dispose of one tonne of general waste whereas we earn £25 for every tonne of recycled waste. Every tonne we can divert from landfill means we can generate income to support essential public services and it’s better for the environment.”
The wining projects are:
East Salford
Bridgewater Salford Amateur Boxing Club – £1000 to buy new gloves.
Claremont and Weaste
De La Salle FC – £1000 for a new pavement outside the club and fencing along the driveway and car park.
Irlam and Cadishead
Cadishead Rhinos ARLFC – £1000 for five volunteers to take their Level 2 rugby coaching badges to increase community sessions
Worsley and Boothstown
Roe Green play area – £1000 towards waste facilities and seating area.
Eccles
Friends of Eccles Rec – £1000 for materials and plants to build planters and add paving stones for wheelchair users.
Little Hulton and Walkden
St Ann’s Hospice – £1000 for new, specialist mattresses to make patients comfortable.
Ordsall and Langworthy
Salford Women’s Aid – £900 to buy mobile phones and help men, women and children affected by domestic abuse stay in contact and stay safe
Swinton
Swinton, Pendlebury and Clifton Care of the Elderly Association – £934 for kitchen items, bookcases and cupboards for the Agnes Hopkins Centre, Swinton, where they provide daily lunches and recreational activities.
Existing bids from community groups now roll over to the second month – but any community group is welcome to submit a new bid.
Projects must be Salford based and benefit the local community. All requests will be considered from buying equipment to repairing a building to putting on an event but goods and services will be provided, rather than cash grants.
The scheme, which is totally funded by a £200,000 government grant, will run until March 2017, with £200,000 available for the community, providing recycling increases. It aims to boost recycling and decrease the amount of waste going to landfill by three per cent which could save the council around £420,000 between now and March 2017.
Details of the scheme and how to apply can be found at: www.salford.gov.uk/recycleandreward
