Thursday, January 9th 2003

Severn Trent PLC sponsor new van for Brumcan!

The Education & Community Involvement Services Team will be receiving a vehicle from Severn Trent plc to help with their work with the schools and communities in Birmingham on Monday, January 13th at 12.30pm.

The Ford Escort van will be handed over by the company at a meeting of the Environment Club at St Bernadettes Catholic Primary School in Yardley. The school is part of Brumcan's Schools Waste Action Zone Project and will also receive their Level 1 certificate of achievement.

ENDS.

Press photo-call opportunity :

12.30pm handover of van and presentation of certificate.

At : St Bernadettes Catholic Primary School, Hobmoor Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8QL on Monday 13th January 2003.

Handover of vehicle and presentation of certificate by from at Severn Trent PLC.

Notes to Editors :

1) Brumcan is a Birmingham based community recycling business, established in 1991 by Friends of the Earth. The organisation integrates education & community involvement activities with practical collection & recycling services.

2) The Schools Waste Action Zones Project is a 3 year project, part funded by a 15,000 pound grant from Severn Trent PLC. The project will be working with 18 junior schools in Birmingham to encourage and promote waste minimisation, re-use and recycling. A comprehensive waste action plan will be developed for each school setting goals for sustainable waste management.

3) Birmingham City Council collects over 500,000 tonnes of waste from its one million inhabitants each year and currently has a recycling rate of 8.36% (2001/2002). Keen to increase recycling and composting, the City Council has established a partners group with voluntary sector organisations to co-ordinate recycling and composting activities across the City. The Council believe that working with Brumcan through their Schools Waste Action Zones Project will increase awareness of environmental issues amongst tomorrow's decision makers and lead to better waste management in the future. (Stuart Lattimer, Waste Disposal Operations Manager, BCC).

4) For more information contact Ann Brookman, Waste Action Project Co-ordinator, tel 0121 327 8877 (day), email ann@brumcan.co.uk or Stephanie Heath, Schools Project Officer, tel 0121 327 8894 (day) email stephanie@brumcan.co.uk