Rosie and Stephanie Harrison recycle at a bottle bank in High Road, Ilford

Swap shops help kick off Recycling Week in Redbridge

Amanda Nunn Thursday, June 21, 2012
9:50 AM

National Recycling Week has kicked off with swap shops held around the borough.

Waste Facts

• More than a third of all waste in Redbridge is recycled (32.58%)

• Last year (2011/12) 32,545 tonnes of rubbish was recycled – more than 4,500 double-decker buses or 6,509 elephants. This included:

Cans – 1,485 tonnes

Paper and card – 7,298 tonnes

Glass – 4,915 tonnes

Plastic bottles – 2,591 tonnes

20.44 per cent dry goods recycled – e.g. cans, bottles (20,416 tonnes)

12.14% organic waste (12,128 tonnes)

Participants were given the opportunity to bring along anything they didn’t need and exchange it for something they wanted.

The first of the five Give and Take days was held on Saturday at the Ilford Islamic Centre, Albert Road, Ilford, and attracted more than 100 people.

Chairman of the centre Ghazanfar Ali, 68, of Seven Kings, said: “It was successful. We, as human beings, need to be really careful as declining resources will affect all of us, especially the young people, over the next 20-30 years.”

He added: “Why waste things when you can reuse them and it’s saving money?”

The next Give and Take Day will be held at the Prince of Wales pub, Green Lane, Ilford, on Sunday from 1.30-6pm.

There will be a barbecue which includes halal meat, DJ and henna and face painting, all for free.

People will also be able to bring along their unwanted goods to exchange.

One of the organisers Wilson Chowdhry, 37, of Ilford, said: “We felt that there was a way to expand the understanding about recycling by holding a community event.”