Competition to encourage carton recycling

Shropshire Council’s waste management team is encouraging local residents to enter a national competition that aims to get residents to squash their used food and drink cartons before recycling them.

Run by carton maker Tetra Pak, the ‘How do you squash yours?’ competition challenges residents to come up with the most original, but safe, way to squash their empty cartons, film it and post their clips online at www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk.

Ideas include sitting on it, flattening it with a space hopper or getting the local rugby team to squash it in a scrum.

The winning entrant – voted for by the public later this year – can choose either a ‘chance of a lifetime’ place on an international environmental adventure – from a wildlife conservation trip in South Africa to volunteering with turtles in Panama - or an Eco TV, 50 DVDs and a supply of wine or smoothies in Tetra Pak cartons.

There are currently more than 20 recycling banks for food and drink cartons across Shropshire.

According to tests carried out by carton industry body ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment), every resident could fit in at least three times more milk or juice cartons into such banks if they simply squashed them first.

Councillor David Roberts, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for local environment and economy, said: “We are pleased to support this competition to get more people squashing their food and drink cartons every time they recycle. This will mean even more can be fitted into each bank, and into the lorries that empty them. We hope this competition will encourage them to recycle as many of their cartons as possible.”

Tetra Pak’s Recycling Operations Manager, Fay Dashper, added: “The response to the carton recycling facilities in Shropshire has been stunning, but we want everyone to be able to make the most of them. We were surprised to find out just how much difference squashing cartons could make to increasing the capacity for people to recycle – at least three times more cartons can be included in the collection trucks!”

To enter the competition or view the videos already created by other entrants, visit www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk.

For more information on beverage carton recycling, visit www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk or www.ace-uk.co.uk.

Further information

1. During August 2009 the new recycling containers for paper-based food and drinks cartons were installed at the following sites.

Bridgnorth area
- Aston Street Car Park, Shifnal
- Sainsbury's, Smithfield Car Park, Bridgnorth,
- Household Recycling Centre, Barnsley Lane, Bridgnorth
- Innage Lane Car Park, Brignorth

South Shropshire area
- Lacon Childe School, Cleobury Mortimer
- East Hope Car Park, Church Stretton
- South Shropshire Leisure Centre, Ludlow
- Household Recycling Centre, Craven Arms Business Park
- Crowgate Recycling Centre, Bishops Castle

Oswestry area
- Stan’s Supermarket, St. Martins
- Household Recycling Centre, Maesbury Road, Oswestry
- Somerfield, Oswestry
- Trefonen Village Hall, Trefonen

Shrewsbury area
- Sainsbury’s, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury
- Co-op supermarket, Radbrook Green, Shrewsbury,
- Frankwell Car Park, Shrewsbury
- Asda, Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury
- Minsterley Parish Hall, Minsterley
- Tesco Extra, Sundorne, Shrewsbury
- Household Recycling Centre, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury

North Shropshire area
- Household Recycling Centre, Waymills Industrial Estate, Whitchurch,
- Lorry Park, Off High Street, Wem
- Talbot Street Car Park, Ellesmere

2. About the ‘How Do You Squash Yours?’ competition
· Visit www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk for full details
· Entrants are required to film a video of what they think is the most original way to squash a paper-based liquid food and drink carton, such as those made by Tetra Pak. The carton must end up squashed at the end of the video
· Videos must be uploaded onto YouTube and tagged with the words how do you squash your Tetra Pak carton competition to be eligible to enter the competition
· The closing date for entries is midnight on Sunday 1 November 2009
· A shortlist of entries will be selected by a voting panel comprised of a Tetra Pak representative, a known waste reduction blogger, a representative from a local Wrexham school and a representative from WRAP.
· The shortlist will be placed on www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk for public vote, which will close at midnight on Sunday 29 November 2009
· Please see full Terms & Conditions available on www.howdoyousquashyours.co.uk
7 September 2009

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