Bridport: TLC in need of some TLC (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport: TLC in need of some TLC

10:08am Thursday 4th February 2010

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AN award-winning recycling project run by volunteers is needs a hand to help it survive.

Bridport TLC is in its fifth year and has kept more than 1,000 tons of materials out of Dorset landfill sites.

Project co-ordinator Leon Edwards said: “Bridport TLC needs stronger community backing. Understandably, having already contributed over 16,000 volunteer hours and nearly £18,000 of our own finances and fundraising since 2005, unless we know we have wider public support we feel our efforts are not worth continuing.

“We know that our 27 active volunteers are an asset to local businesses and organisations but now need to know if we have full community support before deciding whether to keep going.

“Contrary to popular belief the financial fundraising from waste materials is very small, particularly when concentrated on a local level as our project is.”

Mr Edwards said they have sent out letters asking for help and needs responses by March 1 to gauge its future.

He said: “Our basic running costs are £18,750 per annum of which £15,000 is raised through membership of our collections scheme, donations and the small returns on recyclable materials.

“Since Jack & Ollies Crisp factory closed we can no longer raise funds through biodiesel sales but the shortfall over the last two years was met with a one-off grant from Grassroots Awards.

“With the Household Waste Recycling Centre in South Street due to close this summer we need to know whether we can keep going or be swamped with materials we do not have the time or personnel to deal with.

Bridport TLC has introduced bicycle rickshaws, a gull-proof bin bag, a Scrapstore, an affordable waste reduction scheme for businesses, behavioural change promotions, community biodiesel production and plastics recycling to Bridport.

Bridport Town Council is likely to discuss the plea at its best value sub committee on March 9.

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