Blue Bin Recycling League comes to an end
After five years of encouraging the residents of Oxford to recycle more, the Blue Bin League incentive scheme has drawn to a close.
ODS, in partnership with Oxford City Council, ran the scheme, which aimed at encouraging residents to improve recycling and waste less through education and local incentives. On 30 September, the scheme ended.
Cllr Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member Customer Focused Services said:
“The Blue Bin Recycling League has proved its worth, but now it’s time to move on. Over time, there has become less of a need for recycling to be incentivised. As environmental factors make headlines and bring it to the forefront of everyone’s minds, Oxford’s residents are actively engaging with recycling. We are now looking to new in initiatives that will carry on from where the Blue Bin League has left off.
“Although the scheme has ended, ODS and Oxford City Council will continue to fund recycling education throughout the city allowing the Recycling Team to continue working in the community and press onwards to improve waste reduction and reuse levels.”
Over the life of the scheme, the Blue Bin Recycling League team:
- visited almost 20,000 households (1/3 of the city)
- had almost 6,000 door-to-door conversations
- received 8,000 pledges to recycle better
- clocked 100 school visits (nursery, primary, secondary and college)
- ran 300 roadshows and presentations
- gave 120 resident prizes worth up to £100
- awarded 36 community prizes of £400 and eight community prizes of £1,000.
Local good causes received monetary prizes after being voted for by Oxford residents (who pledged as part of the scheme). The funding went towards a variety of causes including the Ronald McDonald House Charities, who support families with children in hospital, Restore, who work with people with mental health issues, and Yellow Submarine, who work with young people with learning disabilities and autism.
Laura Baughan, ODS Project Coordinator said:
“I have had the honour to work as part of the Blue Bin Recycling League scheme for the last five years.
“We’ve worked across the city to help residents recycle well and waste less, and we’ve made a real impact to Oxford’s recycling rate, especially as recycling rates are stagnating across the UK. It’s fantastic to see the effort that Oxford residents have been making to reduce their waste and taking responsibility to recycle well, to look after the community we live in and set an example for the future generation.”
For more details email recyclingleague@oxford.gov.uk, or tweet @Recyle4Oxford
