Hubbub launches Neatstreets.org.uk
Environmental charity Hubbub has launched a new website to help local authorities and other organisations to combat litter, using a range of tried and tested ideas.
Artwork for posters and bins, audience insights and ideas for litter interventions are some of the free tools available on Neatstreets.org.uk. In addition, McDonald’s, which is funding the website, has also provided funding for five grants of £10,000 to be made available to councils, to help subsidise funding already in place to combat the issue.
According to Hubbub, litter costs UK local authorities alone, £699 million per year – and that excludes spending by other authorities such as Highways England. New research from Hubbub revealed that 62% of people feel “angry” when they see litter on the ground and two in five find it frustrating that there aren’t more bins or campaigns to tackle litter.
Gavin Ellis, director and co-founder at Hubbub, said: “We have a wealth of experience in tackling specific types of litter in very targeted environments and are delighted to share our learnings with organisations wanting to develop litter-busting initiatives in their local area. Equipped with public polling, audience insights and a library of creative assets and tools, we hope to provide inspiration for the best tactics to use and are thrilled to also offer funding to support this.”
ReFood utilises plug-in AD-powered collection vehicle
ReFood has taken delivery of its first plug-in collection vehicle. The Volvo FM Electric is said to be powered by “100% renewable energy” generated on-site via the anaerobic digestion (AD) process.
Based out of the ReFood Doncaster food waste recycling facility, the new model has already been put to work collecting food waste from customer sites across South Yorkshire. Boasting zero tailpipe emissions and almost silent operation, managing director Philip Simpson said that the FM Electric is the “perfect addition” to ReFood’s growing fleet of collection vehicles.
He commented: “The latest milestone in ongoing plans to decarbonise our national operations, we’re delighted to unveil our very first plug-in collection vehicle. Powered entirely by green electricity generated on-site at ReFood Doncaster, the new model demonstrates the potential of harnessing alternative energy sources to further reduce our transport emissions.”
Natural World Products helps Ireland get its Green Flags
Irish organics recycling firm, Natural World Products (NWP), has helped “significantly boost” the Eco-Schools programme in the Derry City and Strabane district council area during its first year of supporting the initiative.
Over the past 12 months, NWP has partnered and funded environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB) to deliver the international Eco-Schools scheme in the region, enabling 25 schools in the Derry City and Strabane District area to receive their Green Flags.
The Eco-Schools initiative, now in its 30th year, educates students on various environmental issues, including biodiversity, energy conservation, waste reduction and more.
Gareth Lamrock, field officer for Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “In 2022, the percentage of Derry and Strabane area schools with the Green Flag was only 9%. Thanks to the support of NWP, nearly 50% of the region’s schools have achieved Green Flag status in 2024, surpassing the Northern Ireland average of 42%.”
Sharon McMaster, community outreach manager at NWP, said: “It has been rewarding to see how the programme has empowered schools in the Derry and Strabane area to adopt more sustainable practices. This initiative is helping to create a greener future by bringing gardening and conservation skills to the next generation.”
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