31/07/03 - A three metre high mechanical rubbish bin and a huge aluminium can wrapped around a tree are just some of the attractions on show at Darlington's 'Rethink Rubbish Roadshow' being held in the Market Square next Monday, 4 August.
With the launch of the Council's kerbside recycling scheme just weeks away, the Council is bringing the Rethink Rubbish Roadshow to Darlington to get people to rethink their approach to rubbish and recycling.
Throughout the day, the Council's Recycling and Environmental Response Teams will be on hand to provide residents with advice and guidance about recycling; the Council's new kerbside recycling scheme and its anti-litter campaign. A number of attractions, free items and offers will be available during the day including:
· The Giant Bin - a three metre high, rechargeable electric engine dustbin will be making its way around the Market Square. The bin is part of the County Durham and Darlington 'Rethink Rubbish' campaign which aims to encourage people to think about what they throw away and what could be recycled. The bin is the world's largest motorised dustbin and is fully licensed to drive on UK roads.
· Free compost bin trials - residents can take up the offer of a free, sixty day compost bin 'try before you buy' trial. Approximately thirty per cent of the average bin contents is made up of organic rubbish which can be composted. At the end of the trial the bins can be bought for a discounted price.
· The Alupro challenge - the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) is challenging local people to recycle even more aluminium cans. For every tonne of aluminium cans collected and recycled in Darlington, Alupro will plant a tree in the area. A giant aluminium can will be wrapped round a tree trunk near the Market Square to symbolise the link between recycling aluminium and the tree planting programme.
· Free information packs - a limited number of free information packs will be handed out to visitors to the Rethink Rubbish Roadshow. The bags contain information about recycling as well as free items made of recycled material including mousemats, rulers and fridge magnets.
Chris McEwan, the Councils' Cabinet Member for Community Protection, said: "The Rethink Rubbish Roadshow will be a great way of highlighting the importance of recycling. Local people will be able to find out more about how they can help protect our environment and how they can support the Council's new kerbside recycling scheme, Time to Recycle, which is being launched next month. The giant bin will be a fun way of getting the important recycling message across."