Page 38 - link magazine

38 The Link Magazine • October 2005
Autumn leaves more time Wheelie good recycling target
for volunteering Despite negative publicity about Swindon Council's wheelie bin
experiment in West Swindon - where recyclable materials are col-
Don't leave it until the depth of winter or Christmas to feel sorry for
lected weekly and waste for landfill is collected every other week -
older people, say volunteer organisers at Age Concern Swindon.
the majority of people living in the area have enthusiastically em-
They need at least a dozen peo- ing service. braced the scheme and are recycling more than ever before.
ple in October to boost their vital Nearly 100 older people are Since 6 June when the experiment started the recycling rate has shot
volunteer good neighbour visit- regularly contacted by an Age up from 20 per cent to 27 per cent and waste collection managers at the
Concern Swindon visitor every council hope this will soon achieve the 30 per cent target.
New premises week, or once a fortnight. If this is not met next year, the government will hammer the council
Age Concern Swindon has "These volunteers make all the and its taxpayers with fines for sending too much waste that could be
moved to 1 Milton Road. difference to people who tell us recycled to landfill sites.
Opening hours for general in- they become lonely as the evenings Recycling officer Andrew Cook said, "the dry materials collected for
formation and advice are Mon- draw in," said Sarah Jefferies, vis- recycling make up 32 per cent of total household waste. So reaching 27
day to Friday, 10am to 4pm. iting service coordinator. "Please per cent in two months of curbside collections is a remarkable perform-
Welfare benefits advice sessions think about offering some of your ance by West Swindon residents."
are held by the Pension Service on time to help. No special skills are He added that the collection rates at the West Swindon recycling
Wednesdays, 10am to 1pm and needed - we want people who are banks continue to be impressive (tonnages):
by Age Concern advisors on Fri- caring and reliable. In return we April May June July August
days, 10am to 12.30pm. offer support, out of pocket ex- Plastic: 0.05 0.92 2.83 4.23 4.48
Personal callers for Age Con- penses, training where needed; Paper: 8.3 12.96 8.42 6.26 Data coming
cern insurance services do not and, of course, an opportunity to Glass: 9.61 7.54 10.68 10.95 Data coming
need an appointment on Mon- give something back to the corn-
days, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, munity." Recycling - no problem
10am to 12.30pm. To get volunteering call Mel
The telephone number remains Richards at Age Concern Swindon Claire and Colin Winslow from Corfe Road, Toothill cannot see why
the same: 692166. on 692166. there have been complaints about the introduction of wheelie bins.
With two daughters of 13 and 10
years, and two dogs, they produce
a pretty average amount of waste,
D.A. DRIVEWAYS & PATIOS LTD but don't have a problem with the
two weekly bin collection.
0 Block Paving I Landscaping Fencing Claire, the Oliver Tomkins Jun-
0 Decorative Stone General Maintenance ior School cook, said, "one recy-
cling box was not big enough so I
For a professional and affordable service,
went to the council and bought
free consultation and written quotation
two more. And when we go to the
Tel: 01793 878062 or 07866 523898 West Swindon Centre it's one of
the chores for the girls to take plas-
tic to the bank.
"We're a typical family, so I re-
AIAID k!/. been having problems with the
ally cannot see why people have
-
new system."
wfIvvQo _ ing sweet Claire recommends
To keep their wheelie bin smell-
Geoff Gould who runs Bin Cleaned Recycling support from Claire & Colin
cleaning service on 632863.

River Ray help wanted
The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have started regular mid-week working
parties at the River Ray regeneration project close to Westlea, and you
could get involved.

-FREE DELIVERY -
"COMPETITIVE
PRICES
OPEN 7 DAYS
Jo Sawyer with the volunteer river bank workers, from left, Phil Rainey, Louis
Kitchen, Ted Hewes, Neil Pullen
BUILDING MATERIALS
Volunteers are cutting back trees in advance of the arrival of heavy
xB#pck paving • Driveways • machinery to remove banking, increase the size of the flood plain and
+^ ^ es Decking dig new channels for the river.
r
The volunteers will then build walkways and platforms where
` tc o.^ % -: _^ . •,fix ^ : :b_ insect, bird and wildlife can be viewed as the river bank comes back to
Side of Manor Garden Centre, Cheney Manor Ind Est, life once the new environment has been created.
Swindon. Tel: 484455 For dates of working sessions call Neil Pullen on 526228. For details
of the River Ray regeneration project, speak to Jo Sawyer.