It is rare these days to hear anything positive about plastic, but Taunton based charity, Compass Disability Services, have found many benefits of working with Terracycle UK.
Terracycle UK work with corporate sponsors to collect and recycle many everyday plastics that would otherwise go to landfill.
Crisp packets, biscuit wrappers, toothbrushes, bread bags and baby food pouches can, for example, last for decades in landfill, barely unchanged and we have all heard of the immediate need to do something to protect our environment from the impact of plastic pollution.
Whilst reducing plastic is always the best approach, we also need to do something to reuse and repurpose the plastics that are in our communities. By keeping these plastics out of landfill, Compass Disability Services feels that they are doing what they can to help.
Working with their local community to collect these plastics has not only helped raise the profile of Compass Disability Services and Compass Wellbeing, it has also helped raise much needed funds for the charity.
Terracycle UK give a donation for every piece of plastic that is collected and dispatched to them. The Charity are fortunate to have been supported by local business and have established collection points at Bedrock Furniture in Bridgwater, Nurtured by Nature in Wellington, The King Alfred Inn at Burrowbridge and Sparks and Daughters in Taunton, alongside existing collection points at Compass Disability Services, Compass Wellbeing and Taunton Shopmobility, based above the Orchard Centre in Taunton Town Centre.
This has made it even easier for people to donate their plastics and has resulted in collections increasing tenfold since the start of the year.
This increase in donations posed a small problem, because every piece needs to be sorted and checked to ensure that it meets the Terracycle UK criteria.
A group from Green Days now comes in every Monday to help sort the plastics ready for dispatch, learning more about recycling and some new work skills, such as team work, communication skills, cooperation skills and organisational skills.
Tushie Tidman, Green Days Support Worker, who accompanies the small group of volunteers said; “Green days are thrilled to be part of the #CashNotTrash scheme and to be working in partnership with Compass Disability Services, who do such fantastic work in the community. The work experience has given my service users so much confidence and a sense of real satisfaction.”
Michelle Edwards, Operations Manager for Compass Disability Services summed it up by saying; “If you can find one thing with lots of positive outcomes then it becomes even more appealing for people to become involved. Whether your interest is in the environment, fundraising for a local charity or supporting others to gain important life skills, this is something that everyone in our community can get behind. We call the initiative #CashNotTrash” and invite everyone to start collecting their plastics and making a real difference.”
More information on the #CashNotTrash initiative can be found at http://www.compassdisability.org.uk/index.php?page=cash-not-trash
Stay up to date with more Taunton News, Taunton Events and Taunton Jobs