Published on 29th November 2023

Residents asked to recycle more to help increase food item donations by Plan-B, the council’s recycling re-sale partner, to support those most in need.

Cheltenham Borough Council and its recycling resale partner Plan B Management Solutions are calling for residents to recycle more at the kerbside to help foodbanks fill their shelves.

Last year Cheltenham residents recycled 51% of all waste produced in the borough. As a result, Plan B - the council’s recycling re-sale partner - will donate approximately 5,100 items of food to Cheltenham’s foodbank this year.

Residents are being encouraged to throw less items into general waste and recycle even more to help reach a 55% recycling rate which will see an extra 500 items delivered to Cheltenham foodbanks.

To achieve this, residents can help by recycling more of their aluminium cans, food tins, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, tubs and trays, as well as cardboard in their recycling boxes.

The initiative supports the council’s ambition to increase its recycling rate and reduce food waste.

Cllr Iain Dobie, cabinet member for waste, recycling and street services, said: “I’m really pleased with the donations so far and I’d love to see more. It’s simple - the more we recycle the more food donations go to our Cheltenham foodbanks.

‘’Anything we can do to reduce food and general waste and increase our recycling rate is important in supporting our climate change ambitions as well as supporting those most in need in our community.

“I would like to thank residents for their recycling efforts and ask them to keep going as I think we can do even better.’’

Cllr Flo Clucas, cabinet member for safety and communities, added: “Christmas is a special time of year, but for many once again with the rising cost of living it’ll squeeze lots of budgets and foodbanks will be in demand. Recycling more at kerbside is a very simple way of helping those most in need as Plan B will donate food items for Christmas and into the new year.’’

Maz Akhtar, managing director at Plan B management solutions, said: “We are pleased to be working with Cheltenham Borough Council and continuing our ongoing commitment to support the local communities within the areas we operate.”

Cheltenham Foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups and works together towards stopping hunger in the borough. Clients who are in crisis bring their voucher to the foodbank centre where it is redeemed for nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to help solve their longer-term problem.

For more information about Cheltenham Foodbank, how to get involved or how to get help, please visit cheltenham.foodbank.org.uk.

For tips on alternative ways you can repair, reuse, recycle or what household items we can pick up from kerbside visit www.cheltenham.gov.uk/waste_wizard.

For media enquiries, contact: [email protected] telephone 01242 264231.

Video can be viewed on YouTube.  Photo - single use only, left to right: County Cllr Roger Whyborn – Chair of Lakeside Community Project, Cllr Iain Dobie member for waste, recycling and street services, Cllr Flo Clucas member for safety and communities, Kath Lynch - The Fresh Hope Family Pantry and Lucy – young leader at The Rock in Cheltenham Foodbank donation centre.