Cardboard collection creates charity cash

More than 1,000 people dropped off unwanted Christmas packaging and other items at collection points across Shrewsbury and Ludlow earlier this month. The event, on January 5, was organised by environmental groups Transition Town Shrewsbury and Ludlow Pride of Place.

It follows the scrapping of council kerbside cardboard collections in 2011.

Which left hundreds of thousands of householders to drive to one of the county's five recycling centres or recycling banks to dump unwanted cardboard.

This is the second year in a row the event has been organised and it generated more than £400 for the Severn Hospice, Hope House Children's Hospice and North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours.

Ali Thomas, of Transition Town Shrewsbury said: "What a fantastic result – we'd like to thank everyone who got involved, especially our 52 fantastic volunteers.

"People ran collections in their streets, local companies gave their help – it was a real community effort."

During the event volunteers at the Spar Precinct in Castlefields, Shrewsbury filled 25 bags.

Councillor Alan Mosley, for Castlefields, said: "The initiative was a major success. The 25 large bags filled is evidence of the great concern people have to ensure such waste is recycled but also shows the need for the kerbside collection."

Volunteers from Transition Town Shrewsbury are trying to organise a regular pick-up system for community cardboard collections around the town.

For details e-mail alison. thomas08@gmail.com