Robin Hood encourages residents to recycle as 'Go Green September' returns to Nottinghamshire

The campaign, set to run throughout September, will see Nottinghamshire Council and Veolia, the council’s waste management contractor, share top tips, challenges and activities aimed at encouraging residents to reduce waste and improve recycling habits.

The campaign was launched at Veolia’s materials recovery facility on Warren Way, Forest Town, with leading councillors and Veolia staff, alongside Nottinghamshire’s very own Robin Hood.

Coun Neil Clarke, council cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “We hope to encourage the people of Nottinghamshire to really think about recycling – and to recycle more.

“To reduce the amount of waste that either goes to landfill or gets incinerated.

“It is important to think about which rubbish needs to go in which bin to ensure that we can recycle as much as we possibly can.

“People can get involved with ‘go green’ by looking at tips, tricks and lots of advice on how to increase the amount of recycling that we do.

Coun Mike Adams, council environment ambassador, said: “Being the environment ambassador for the council means I am involved with getting the council through the process of becoming net zero and also helping with the council’s push to deal with climate change and account for that.

“A lot of stuff we do is around tree planting, and carbon – to reduce the use of natural elements, the things we mine for these products.

“For example, plastic uses oil which relies on mining whereas here with the recycling process, that product can be made into another product without that mining being necessary.

“It is important we help people understand the benefits of this and what it means to them.

“It is key we get the message across about what goes in each bin.

“It can sometimes be confusing about what can be recycled and what can’t.

“It is important as a county we are working towards using less and re-using more.”

The £14 million material recovery facility is where recyclable materials collected from households are sorted into different typs – e.g. plastics, cardboard, paper, metal – using a mixture of manual and automated methods.

When the materials have been sorted they are sent to reprocessors and manufacturers, where they are used to create new products.

A Veolia spokesman said: “It is important to have a MRF to sort mixed materials and to ensure we can remove anything not recyclable.

“The process also helps provide quality recyclables that manufacturers need to make certain products and goods. If they could not rely on the quality of the recyclables, they would need to use more raw materials.

Veolia’s Forest Town facility has the capacity to sort 85,000 tonnes of Nottinghamshire’s recyclable waste each year.

Julie Adams, Veolia contract and performance manager, said: “When your wheeled bin is collected and goes into the back of the vehicle, that might be the end of the journey for you, but for us it is the beginning.

“Once it has been collected, the refuse collection vehicle will arrive at Mansfield and tip in the tipping hall.

“The material is then loaded onto a conveyor belt.

“It goes through a high-tech sorting process where materials are separated.

“Once that process has taken place it then moves on to a human sorting process.

“Then, about 60 of our employees will be looking at the materials and removing any items that should not be there.

“We know the people of Nottinghamshire want to recycle and it is important we do.

“I think over the last few years we have all become more aware about climate change and the importance of resources and using them wisely.

“Please think before putting items in the bin.

“The correct information can be found on the council website and on Veolia’s site.

“We will be bringing out a recycling checker to make it easier for residents.

“We hope to see people continuing to recycle.”

And Robin Hood – who traded his outlaw attire for on-site personal protective equipment, before joining the picking line – had a message for the people of Nottinghamshire.

He said: “It is important to recycle – like living in the woods, you do not waste anything.

“Everything is a resource. Everything can be used again. And it is sustainable.”

Coun Clarke added: “It just goes to show everyone in Nottinghamshire is doing their bit in the battle against climate change. It’s not everyday you see Robin Hood hand sorting recycling, but it is those small changes we can all make everyday that make such a big difference.”

Residents are advised to find out more about how to get involved with the campaign at veolia.co.uk/GoGreen

Ten top tips for reducing your waste

1. Opt for loose products with zero or minimal packaging, or packaging easily recycled from home, on your next shopping trip;

2. Aim to buy and cook in bulk where possible rather than individual portions each time;

3. Save resources and money by reducing food waste – see lovefoodhatewaste.com;

4. Plan your meals for the week and take a shopping list with you to avoid buying more than you need;

5. Remember packed lunches, in reusable boxes or wraps, aren’t just for kids;

6. Get into the habit of using a refillable water bottle and reusable shopping bags;

7. Look for multi-purpose products rather than buying lots of different bottles;

8. Only print or photocopy when really necessary and use both sides where possible;

9. Try home composting your garden cuttings and vegetable peelings, egg shells and even coffee grounds;

10. Opt out of unsolicited junk mail by contacting [email protected] or mpsonline.org.uk.