SCOTLAND URGED TO MAKE SURE RECYCLING IS ON THE CARDS THIS YEAR
2007/08 Xmas Card Recycling scheme announced
First Minister Alex Salmond today urged people in Scotland to recycle their Christmas cards. He was joined by the other party leaders in supporting the national Christmas Card Recycling scheme which starts today.
Now in its seventh year the Scheme aims to collect 100 million cards across the UK. This will generate enough money to plant 24,000 trees – the equivalent of 48 Hampden football pitches of woodland.
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"Climate change is a challenge for us all. Here in Scotland we have an abundance of natural resources and massive renewable energy potential. We have a vast future as a green energy powerhouse for Europe and we must now think big about how to bring it into being.
"At the same time, however, we each have an individual role to play. The decisions we make in our daily lives have a significance that should not be underestimated.
“That’s why I am pleased to support this scheme. It goes from strength to strength each year and I want to encourage even more people to recycle their Christmas cards this year.
“What’s more I’d like to encourage everyone to think about other ways we can go greener throughout 2008 – not just around New Year. We need to adapt to deal with the reality before us and change our behaviour. I want Scotland to lead the way.”
The Woodland Trust Scotland has again teamed up with Waste Aware Scotland - the country’s national recycling campaign - to encourage the Scottish public to get involved in its annual Christmas Card Recycling Scheme.
Backed by leading retailers, WH Smith, Tesco, TK Maxx, and for the first time – Marks and Spencers, the Christmas Card Recycling Scheme 2008 officially launches across the UK on Friday January 4th and runs until the end of the month. During that period, the Scottish public can take their cards to local branches of participating stores and dispose of them in special Christmas card recycling bins.
North of the Border, the Scottish element of the campaign is also looking to top the 8.2 million cards the scheme recycled last year. It is estimated that last year’s efforts in Scotland and across the UK, saved 2,400 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of taking over 700 cars off the road or avoiding over 100 flights.
Welcoming this year’s scheme, Colin Kerr, senior campaigns officer at the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG), which co-ordinates the Waste Aware Scotland campaign said: “Christmas is a time when we all create too much waste. Recycling Christmas cards for the Woodland Trust is a simple way to help reduce this and help a worthwhile cause at the same time. So if you are off to the sales or to exchange that unwanted Christmas gift, don’t forget to take your cards with you and pop them in your nearest recycling box. Hopefully, this year’s scheme will encourage many more Scots to recycle their waste, and make it part of their daily lives all year round. ‘’
Sue Holden, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, which has collected 443 million cards since the scheme began 10 years ago, says: “Everyone who supports the Trust by recycling their cards is helping us to plant thousands of new trees throughout the UK.”
Ends
Issued on behalf of Scottish Waste Awareness Group by the BIG partnership.
For further information please contact: Barry McPherson on 0131 558 3111 or 07776 495 864 or email barry@bigpartnership.co.uk
Jacqui Morris, Communications Officer on 01355 578777 or 07979 706675 or Woodland Trust Press Officers Natalie Clark and Alex Claydon on 01476 581 112, or email
• For more information about the scheme, visit www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cards
Notes to Editors
1 UK mainland stores only – (excludes Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Belfast and Jersey).
2 Including selected Tesco Express stores.
3 Including some M&S Simply Food Stores.
4 Recycling 93 million cards last year saved 2,400 tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases. Source: WRAP ((the Waste & Resources Action Programme).
Christmas card figures
Last year 2006/07, a total of 90 million cards were collected across the UK during the month long Christmas Card Recycling Scheme – with 9 million of these coming from participating stores across Scotland.
The Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme.
The cards collected in stores are taken to Tesco, WHSmith and TK Maxx depots, where they are collected by their own recycling agents (Severnside for Tesco, SCA Recycling for WHSmith and TK Maxx). The cards are then graded and taken to recycling plants where they are treated and eventually turned into new products such as tissue paper, photocopy paper or corrugated cardboard
Waste Aware Scotland Campaign is a national campaign run by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group to raise awareness of, and change public attitudes and behaviour towards Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The Woodland Trust - is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres).
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,100 hectares. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust Christmas Card Recycling Scheme.
The cards collected in stores are taken to WHSmith, Tesco and TK Maxx depots, where they are collected by their own recycling agents (SCA Recycling for WHSmith and TK Maxx and Severnside for Tesco). The cards are then graded and taken to recycling plants where they are treated and eventually turned into new products such as tissue paper, photocopy paper or corrugated cardboard.
Recycling Credits
A Recycling Credit is the value of the saving made by the Council in NOT having to landfill any household waste that is recycled. The Council chooses to pay this saving in disposal costs back to any voluntary or community groups that are involved in collecting household waste for recycling (in the case of the CCRS – the Woodland Trust) because they wish to promote recycling in their area. The value of the credit varies across the different Districts due to differences in disposal costs, and is paid for each tonne of household waste that is recycled. The value of the credit increases each year with RPI (Retail Price Index) and with any increases in Landfill Tax.
