28 December 2007
Minister reminds schoolchildren to recycle their Christmas cards
A recycling start to the New Year begins with Christmas cards, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing said today.
Jane Davidson joined schoolchildren from Caerphilly over the festive period to see how they were recycling cards.
“As a nation we are using three planets worth of the earth’s resources so it is essential that we all recycle more,” the Minister said during a visit to Ty’n Y Wern Primary School.
“Waste reduction is key to fighting climate change. Reducing waste at source, and increasing the proportion that is recycled, is good for the planet and it’s good for Wales.”
She added, “It’s particularly important at this time of year when there are lots of cards left over from Christmas that we remember to recycle them.”
From 2-31 January 2008 The Woodland Trust will be collecting cards at WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxx and Marks and Spencer for recycling.
The collecting of cards generates income for the Woodland Trust via recycling credits – income paid by local authorities for waste that does no have to be disposed of in landfill sites. So the more cards recycled the better! This year the charity is aiming to recycle 100 million cards, which would enable the planting of 24,000 native trees – that’s a forest the size of 48 football pitches!
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.”
To learn more about how you can help future generations by reducing, reusing and recycling your waste please visit the website at www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cards or www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk
Contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) - 01766 832563 or 07760 171174 Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH Email: roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust Press Office - 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Notes:
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 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 awareness 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). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted a new Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
Waste Awareness Wales
Waste Awareness Wales is a campaign established to promote waste reduction, reuse and recycling amongst all sectors of the community. The campaign is co-ordinated by the Welsh Local Government Association and Keep Wales Tidy, and is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
