RECYCLER KICKS WASTE INTO TOUCH AT MATCH DAY
A contract to collect and recycle the tens of thousands of plastic beer glasses that will litter the Welsh capital during rugby match weekends has been clinched by a leading South Wales environmental specialist.
Because of safety rules, pubs and clubs in Cardiff are not allowed to serve drinks in glasses during major event days and instead use disposable plastic glasses.
But with an estimated 90,000 people in the city, collecting the throwaway glasses has become a major headache.
This Saturday, Newport-based waste company GD Environmental will be rolling-out its Carbon Neutral project and kicking waste into touch.
GD will have a team of more than 20 staff working before, during and after the Wales v Scotland Six Nations battle.
GD Environmental – which will be working for Cardiff Council’s Keep Cardiff Tidy Campaign – says Saturday’s initiative will be the first of many for the company.
It has already been appointed to work during all home Six Nations games, the EDF Energy Cup semi finals, the Heineken Cup final and the Autumn Internationals.
“During any major rugby international at the Millennium Stadium, the streets can become awash with discarded plastic beer glasses,” says GD Environmental Marketing Manager Gerwyn Holmes.
“It looks awful for visitors, causes consternation amongst businesses and adds to needless landfill.
“The introduction of plastic glasses has been a very positive safety feature, but the volume of pub and club goers is such on a match day that the litter bins just cannot cope,” adds Gerwyn.
He estimates that more than 20,000 plastic glasses will be collected by GD staff – a mixture of students, promotion girls and the general public who are keen to have a positive impact on reducing the carbon footprint of sporting events in Wales.
One of them will also be dressed as a 6ft welsh dragon walking, round the streets to entertain children and help spread the recycling message to a younger generation.
“We are hoping to take this Carbon Neutral project to all councils across the UK to reduce this problem on a national level.,” says Gerwyn.
The initiative is also being supported by Media Wales, owner of The Western Mail and South Wales Echo, which has come on board the project as a sponsor of posters which have been distributed to pubs across Cardiff to encourage drinkers to return their glasses to the bar.
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Caption: The GD staff will be at work on Saturday collecting thousands of plastic glasses.
Gerwyn Holmes
http://www.carbonneutrals.co.uk
Marketing Manager Tel 01633 277 755
