Bag It Up Limited are a National Recycling Awards FINALIST; nominated for the Best Partnership Project for Recycling for their work with Southampton City Council.
Bag It Up Limited has been working in partnership with the Waste & Fleet Transport Division at Southampton City Council. It has been a key strategic decision for Southampton City Council as it has underpinned a number of successes that relate to waste minimisation and a reduction in disposal costs.
The 'Bag It Up' recycling schemes enable the council to recycle materials that are unsuitable for the ‘blue lidded’ recycling bin. These items include unwanted clothes, shoes and household textiles, such as blankets, curtains, duvets. By recycling these items Bag It Up Limited generates sustainable funds for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity.
2008-2009 was a particularly successful year for this partnership. Together we achieved significant:
- Greenhouse gas savings by diverting materials from landfill
- Income for the air ambulance charity [Our donations alone keep the helicopter flying for two days a week]
- Waste disposal savings
- Increase in the number of textile banks in the city
Just as important is the generation of vital funds for the charity partnership, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. The donated items help save the environment, provide an affordable clothing supply to communities worldwide and the income that is generated helps keep the helicopter flying and saving lives. Win, win all round.
The Partnership
Bag It Up's collaboration with Southampton City Council, is pivotal to the work the council undertake with their residents and other stakeholders in the city, including the universities, community groups and local hospital, to name a few. Southampton City Council and Bag It Up promote each other’s services and the importance of recycling/reuse to save lives, as well as recycling in general for the benefit of the local environment and the city.
There are 51 textile banks in the Southampton City area, which have diverted over 544 tonnes from landfill since just 2006. These banks alone have raised over £74,000 for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, which is a fantastic achievement.
Key achievements that this partnership has delivered include the following:
- 212% growth in textiles recycled since 2006
- Prevented 337.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases being generated in 2008/09
- Saved over £11,000 on waste disposal in 2008/09 and this is predicted to rise to £15,425 in 2009/10
This partnership is unique and goes beyond the mutual benefits of reducing waste and encouraging reuse and recycling. It is about shared values, involving residents, jointly promoting the recycling ethos, motivating and exciting stakeholders and working with local communities. Additionally, it helps fund a critical emergency service, that has NO goverment funding. By operating in such an innovative way, we are not only looking after the environment, but also helping to save lives.
Working in partnership really does make a difference.
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