3 Inspirational Recycling Initiatives In The UK
Here at Go Greener, we take recycling very seriously and aim to recycle as much of the material that we handle as we can. We’re very proud of being South Worcester and Malvern’s only licensed waste centre and even more proud that, last year, we recycled 90 – 95% of all the waste we received.
Looking further afield, however, we’re constantly inspired by the way that some of the UK’s organisations and artists are utilising waste. Here are some of the nation’s most impressive art projects and organisations, which have a recycling ethos at their core.
The Eden Project
The Eden Project is the UK’s beacon of environmentalism. Inside the iconic hexagonal dome there are mediterranean, western Australian and rainforest biomes filled to the brim with a dizzying array of plants. The very foundation of all of this life – the soil – is the result of recycling. With help from Reading University, the people at The Eden Project harvested the mineral component for the soil from local mine wastes.
However, they don’t stop there. Their ‘Wasteline’ initiative, which they introduced in 2016, aims to design out all waste from their products and services and then send out as much as possible for recycling. Currently that figure is 50%. Even their coffee is waste free, as the waste coffee grounds are utilised to power the bean roaster.
Richart Sowa
British national Richart Sowa made headlines back in 2014 as a self-styled Robinson Crusoe, living on Joyxee Island with a supermodel. If that’s not extraordinary enough, the island he lives on is made entirely of waste that he collected on the beach! The island sits on a lagoon near Cancun, Mexico and is made of air-filled bottles, wooden pallets and sand.
It even cultivates life, with mangroves, palm trees, fruit trees and edible herbs and plants growing from the sand and the soil which, in amongst the plastic waste, makes the bedrock of the island. Richart’s story just goes to show that you can even create a tropical paradise with nothing but waste!
GroundWork Gallery
GroundWork Gallery is the UK’s only art space to focus its attention solely on the environment. Based in King’s Lynn in Norfolk, GroundWork opened an exhibition this year called TrashArt by Jan Eric Visser. Jan Eric has created some stunning sculptures created entirely from the waste in his own home. All the paper, card and plastic packaging that he uses is then transformed into abstract sculptural forms in his art studio. For a lot of people, this waste would have no value beyond its original purpose, but GroundWork bought into Jan Eric’s vision and has championed the use of waste as a form of art.
If you want more information on our household waste recycling, skip waste recycling and our skip hire services, you can find us at Guinness Park, Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire, WR13 5EQ or call us on 01886 832590.
