First Recycle Bin Made From Recycled Materials

A new innovation has been launched to help increase recycling of the 30 million tonnes of rubbish generated in UK streets each year1. Of this, it is estimated that at least 50% is recyclable and currently less than 10 % is being recycled.  TV Producer Matthew Bird often reached home with a drink can, plastic bottle or free newspapers before finding somewhere to recycle them, this frustration led him to develop his own solution – The Greenie.

The Greenie is a split rubbish / recycling street bin; one half is for rubbish and the other for recyclable materials – sounds like a good idea but split bins have often lead to confusion and people don’t use them properly. The Greenie however, is clearly labeled bin and hopes to change this. The Greenie is also a European first as it is itself made with recycled materials. The adaptable tops allows local authorities to synchronize their ‘on the streets’ collection with other collections making The Greenie the most multi-functional bin on the market.

The Greenie makes great financial sense with the rapid rise in landfill costs – set to double in the next three years – the bins will not only provide a benefit to our environment but also to Public budgets. A recent consultation paper from Defra found that more than 95% of respondents thought that public recycle bins should be readily available.

Hugh Smith from London Remade said: "We think The Greenie is perfect for recycling on the go. More and more people are recycling at home and they should be given the facilities to recycle when they are out and about. It is fantastic that Matthew has designed the bin using recycled materials – it is the first of its kind in Europe and we look forward to seeing them popping up all over London." Matthew Bird said: "
Much to the delight of all my family and friends I can now talk rubbish for hours! "

The London boroughs of Camden and Lewisham will be piloting The Greenie from August this year.  Anyone who thinks that this simple, clever, innovation should be available on their street can visit www.recycle-rubbish.co.uk and sign the petition. The Greenie even has its own Facebook page for those keen to make friends with this initiative.

About Matthew Bird
Matthew, 49, has produced TV Drama for the last twenty years, working on such diverse programmes as Linda Green, Anna Karenina and The Lakes, and most recently Plus One, a new Channel 4 comedy.  

As a TV producer Matthew has learned a lot of skills that are transferable to the recycling industry.  His interest in alternative systems for public place recycling originally started on filming trips abroad. But it is as a father of three children that his interest in the environment has really grown.

Having won a place on an Enviro-Entrepreneurs Course in 2005 Matthew went on to conceive The Greenie and since then the Bin has been in development, going through several different formats and is now ready for a general release.

About London Remade
London Remade is a not for profit company working to develop and improve waste management, recycling and green procurement in the capital.

London Remade delivers the Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code, a free support service for London based organisations to reduce their environmental impact through responsible purchasing.

London Remade delivered the Enhance programme for the LDA from October 2004 to March 2008, during this time London Remade supported over 250 businesses to enter the green economy including the administration of the Enhance Capital Grant Scheme under
which Matthew was award £20,000 for the development of The Greenie.

This week two groundbreaking Brits will start their attempt to break a new speed record in the most advanced wind powered vehicle ever produced.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity MD, and engineer, Richard Jenkins, will attempt to break the 116.7mph land speed record for a wind-powered vehicle (WPV), held currently by an American team, on Australia’s Lake Lefroy.

The Greenbird is a highly-evolved vehicle that uses a combination of technology found ordinarily on Aircraft and Formula 1 cars to achieve staggering speeds- with no engine in sight.

The chosen name is a nod to Donald Campbell’s all-conquering Bluebird, The Bluebird achieved incredible speeds in a golden age of fossil fuels – when oil was cheap and no one had thought that one day it would run out. Fast forward to today and we are coming to the end of the age of fossil fuels and the dawn of the age of Renewables. The Greenbird symbolises this historical watershed better than anything else.

“Cars of the future won’t be running on fossil fuels they will be running on Renewable sources of energy like the Wind. And with today’s technology we can achieve incredible speeds, using only wind power” said Dale Vince.  

Vince became involved in the Greenbird project as a result of his dedication to wind-generated technology – his pioneering power company Ecotricity introduced the concept of green electricity to the world, and has been building wind turbines and selling green electricity across the country since 1996. Ecotricity now supplies 35,000 homes across the UK.

The company also directly reinvests money that customers spend into new forms of clean power. Over the last four years Ecotricity has spent an average of £460 per customer, per year, on building and developing new renewable energy sources.

The Greenbird craft is a culmination of 10 years hard work, thousands of man hours and 5 prototype vehicles. For any powered speed record, the basic principles are pretty straightforward: more power means more speed and it is really only a factor of budget, engine size and guts to raise the record.

The Greenbird team saw no challenge in that. “We wanted to develop a purely technical solution that would deliver ultimate performance from a free and available resource – the wind. After 10 years I now have the right vehicle, in the right part of the world with the right team in support. We now just need the weather to cooperate!” said Richard Jenkins.

Dale Vince and Richard Jenkins will be blogging from the outback in the run up to the attempt. Sign up to RRS feeds and follow the team’s progress at the Greenbird website

Duncan Bannatyne, entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den tycoon, said:  ‘When I employ someone I look for initiative and drive; someone who is a self starter and can work well as part of a team.  Volunteering for a programme like Platform2 demonstrates these young people have the desire to do something extra with their lives and help others in the process.  These are qualities employers are looking for on a CV and show more about a person than their qualifications alone.’

Platform2 is a free global volunteering scheme funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and run by Christian Aid, BUNAC and Islamic Relief.  Open to 18-25 year olds who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to volunteer abroad, it offers the chance to spend 10 weeks living and working in a poor community in countries like Ghana, South Africa, Peru or India.

The scheme gives volunteers the chance to learn about development issues as part of a diverse team, experience new cultures and improve their practical, communication and organisational skills.

On their return to the UK, participants attend a three-day workshop where they devise interesting _and exciting ways of communicating what they have learnt about global issues with friends, family and their local community. They will continue to build on their life and employment skills by making videos, writing blogs and songs, organising talks, putting on exhibitions and getting local press coverage.

Zina Lewis, a Platform2 volunteer from London who has just returned from Ghana, said:  ‘It’s a life-changing experience…..It will be very helpful when it comes to getting jobs because it was quite character-building and shows a lot about you: that you’ve donated your time and gone to live with a group of people that you don’t know, Big Brother-style; that you’re a team player who can work with others and that you have social skills.’

Mark Vyner, Platform2 Head of Programme, said:  ‘Employers have told us that volunteering on a CV looks good – it shows someone has initiative, drive and will have a level of maturity above those coming straight from education. Platform2 offers all participants a great experience and will help them stand out from the crowd in the job market.’

For more information on how to apply for Platform2 visit www.myplatform2.com

Controversy may be surrounding this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing, but in Twic county in southern Sudan, the true spirit of the Olympics is alive and kicking.

The county – ravaged by civil war for 25 years – has hosted its very own version of the Olympic Games, helping to bring peace and reconciliation to a previously conflict-ridden community.

The Twic Games, held annually and organised by Christian Aid’s partner the Sudan Production Unit (SUPRAID), include football, volleyball, tug-of-war and distance running. Teams from six districts compete for the winning trophy and a chance to host the following year’s event, but the real motivation for the Twic Olympics is peace.

The games aim to bring together people from the previously divided districts of Twic and give participants and spectators a chance to get to know one another in a friendly competitive environment. Peace and reconciliation education is also provided in the hope that any future conflict can be fought with words instead of guns.

The games also provide an essential opportunity for young people, returning to the area after a peace agreement in 2005, to become part of a team and integrate back into their communities.

One participant said: "The Twic Olympics challenges everyone who thinks nothing good can happen in Sudan."