Residents in Potters Bar will have to get used to new recycling bins this week, as Hertsmere Borough Council make alterations to the recycling within the area. In response to requests from residents, new brown recycling bins will be given to households and will mean that for the first time, glass can now be recycled.

Glass and plastics can now be placed in the new brown wheelie bins. In something of a shuffle around, the new brown recycling bins will replace the old black recycling boxes and new green bins will replace the old brown garden waste bins! No doubt the local council will supply residents with a plethora of literature, promotional merchandise, leaflets and promotional products to explain the changes!

Indeed, any local council which make changes to recycling methods, or are just keen to promote any current campaigns they have running, should consider using environmentally friendly promotional products. Using items of Eco promotional merchandise for campaigns, such as Eco Friendly Magnets – which are made from recycled CD cases and can be fully customised – ensures that the message sent out is done so in as green a way as possible!

Two local councils will be piloting a scheme to increase the volume of metal that is recycled within their boroughs. Joining forces with ‘Metal Matters’ and also several drinks can manufacturers, the recycling scheme is aiming to break through current barriers and make metal recycling a concern for every household.

The campaign will use posters, promotional products, leaflets and promotional merchandise to spread the word that foil and cans, aerosols and tins, can all be dropped into household recycling boxes, or brought to local recycling centres.

Who knew that metal was so versatile and lent itself to recycling so very easily? Indeed, according to the MetalMatters website, household waste (such as, tin cans, wrapping and cooking foil and aerosol cans) are all 100% recyclable and have an incredibly fast turnaround, to boot. Indeed, according to those in the know, “within six weeks, a can that was put in one of the kerbside recycling boxes, can be back on the shelves, as a new tin of beans!”.

The two council boroughs which will be spearheading this marketing campaign are East Hampshire and Nuneaton & Bedworth. It is thought that if all goes well and the results are promising, the campaign may be rolled out across the country.

The campaign will of, course, be relying on promotional materials to facilitate its smooth running. Indeed, many councils choose to use promotional merchandise made from recycled materials for eco related projects. Indeed, using sustainably sourced promotional products has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Some of the most popular and best selling eco friendly promotional products, include Saturn Duo Pens, Recycled Newspaper Pencils and Cotton Shopper bags. Items of Eco promotional merchandise which are also popular include Indus Pens, Recycled Sticky Notes and Organic Pencil Cases.

The new coalition Government may be big on taking things back to their ‘grass roots’ and handing more power to local and community levels – in theory – but in practice, as one local borough council found out this week, things are still firmly controlled from the top! Terry Cutmore, councillor for Rochford District Council – England’s most successful recycling borough – has spoken out against Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman’s, plans to ’streamline’ and ‘uncomplicate’ recycling methods in his area.

As reported in a local newspaper, Rochford District Council have just recently hit their 65 per cent recycling targets and have done so using a three bin system. The straight forward method requires residents to separate rubbish into either ‘food waste’ or ‘dry recyclable items’ or ‘other rubbish.’ Compared to the complicated (and as yet unproven nine bin fiasco some residents are faced with), the Rochford method clearly shows that simplicity works for the general public – with all important statistics to back it up!

It seems that now all anyone can do is wait to find out the final verdict on the recycling system overhaul – with the public, local councils and businesses all being invited to share their opinion with the Government over the coming months.

Whichever method is finally chosen and however many bins everyone ends up with, one thing is for sure, the public will have to be clearly informed of any changes that are going to be made. What better way to spread the word than with a marketing campaign that relies on promotional products that have been sourced from sustainable materials and promotional merchandise made from recycled goods.

There are many promotional products available that are eco friendly and vast amounts of promotional merchandise that promote a green ethos, whilst helping to inform the target audience of any necessary changes being implemented!

Having conducted extensive research, South Derbyshire County Council has regrettably concluded that it’s residents are not recycling a sufficiently high proportion of their household waste. South Derbyshire Council has even been in discussions with refuse collectors, hoping to identify the areas that leave the lowest volumes of recycling out for collection.

In addition to using promotional products, promotional literature and promotional merchandise to spearhead campaigns in encouraging residents to recycle more, the council is going to create two positions for ‘Door Stepper’ agents. The ‘door steppers’ will visit residents in their own homes and offer advice and guidance as to what items should be disposed of in an eco friendly way and which items from household waste can be sent via regular bin collection to landfill.

Funding for the new positions will be covered by Government cash that has already been allocated to Derbyshire’s county and district councils for new recycling schemes and associated promotional merchandise. ‘This Is Derbyshire’ reports that money from the rest of the budget will be allocated to pay for ‘anti’ fly tipping campaigns; recycling-related promotional products; and for the new Derbyshire Kerbside can collections campaign.