27th January 2004

DATE: THURSDAY 29th JANUARY 2004

VENUE: BALSALL HEATH CHURCHES CENTRE, EDWARD ROAD

EVENT: BRUMCAN RECYCLING EVENT CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF DOORSTEP COLLECTION SCHEME

Birmingham based recycling charity Brumcan is holding a recycling event this week to celebrate almost 50 tonnes of rubbish being recycled in the area since the kerbside collection scheme began a year ago.

Black plastic boxes were provided to 2,000 households in the Balsall Heath area with Brumcan volunteers making weekly kerbside collections. A total of 48 tonnes and 689 kilograms of newspapers, bottles and household rubbish have been recycled.

The doorstep recycling scheme is part of a regional waste action programme by Brumcan that is funded by a grant of £67,068 from The Onyx Environmental Trust through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.

When the scheme began Brumcan pledged to give 50% of the recycling profits back to their community partners to further improve provisions for the local area.

Ann Brookman, Project Manager for Brumcan said: "We are delighted with the success of the doorstep recycling scheme. The residents have supported the scheme very well, and we are looking forward to building on this success and recycling more and more over the coming months."

Margaret Cobbold, General Manager for The Onyx Environmental Trust said: "Brumcan continues to make progress in the region, improving education of recycling issues as well as improving the infrastructure to provide better recycling facilities in the community. This is an excellent example of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme benefiting an entire community."

A cheque presentation will be made to the community partners at 1.00 p.m. on Thursday representing their share of the proceeds from the first year of the recycling scheme.

ENDS.

Editorial Notes

The Onyx Environmental Trust was founded in August 1997 and is an approved Environmental Body formed under the Landfill Tax Regulations, and Registered Charity.

For more information visit the website- www.onyxenvtrust.org.

The Landfill Tax Regulations allow landfill site operators to contribute up to 6.5% of the landfill tax they collect to enrolled environmental bodies, enabling them to undertake or fund environmental projects which meet one or more of the Scheme's stated objectives.

Onyx Environmental Group plc has supported this initiative by contributions to The Onyx Environmental Trust in excess of £24 million of landfill tax.

For press information and photography contact Maggie Morrissey

Tel: 01543 423541, Fax: 01543 423541, Mob: 07968 997141

Email: maggiemorrissey@mmpr.fsnet.co.uk

Project Reference: R3/C/119