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Caithness News Bulletins December 2003
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Pennyland Kids Get In On Recycling With UKAEA &
Vulcan Thousands of soft drink cans are collected every year at Dounreay and sent to an aluminium recycling plant in Ross-shire, with the proceeds going to needy causes in the far north. The initiative has reduced the amount of commercial waste produced at the site which otherwise would be sent to a local landfill. |
Now, site operator UKAEA is backing a similar initiative from a local environmental group by providing free transport for the cans it collects in the community. The proceeds from the recycling initiative, co-ordinated by aluminium packaging recycling organisation ALUPRO, are being used by Thurso in Bloom to spruce up the most northerly town on the British mainland. The initiative has also spread to staff working for Rolls Royce at the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment, with UKAEA agreeing to transport their cans to the recycling plant as well. The Dounreay scheme was launched in May 1998 and is co-ordinated by Lorna McDermid, Training & Safety Facility Manager. "It seemed such an obvious way to help the environment and good causes locally at the same time," she said. "So far, we've raised well over £1,000 and this has been spread across a wide range of organisations, from the specialist baby care unit to Macmillan nurses and the local autism group." Dr Guy Owen, head of safety and environment at Dounreay, said: "Staff across the site are doing their bit to help the community and the environment. By providing transport free to other groups that are following their example, UKAEA can also do its bit to put something back into the local community." Mike Potts, vice-chairman of Thurso in Bloom, said: "We've raised almost £1400 so far from recycled cans, which is a great boost to our efforts to make Thurso a greener place to live and work. It wouldn't have been possible without the contribution from UKAEA." |