Village's recycling volunteers

A doorstep recycling scheme set up in Kingston in November by a band of committed volunteers is proving a roaring success.

Kingston Recycling Scheme was set up in response to demand from residents who wanted to do something positive towards preserving their environment. The scheme has now been running for three months and is proving to be not only well supported by villagers, but also fun.

Scheme organiser, John Fellows, says: 'The scheme would not have succeeded had it not been for the massive support of the villagers in volunteering to help.

The residents who have subscribed to the recycling project were provided with large plastic tubs at the start of the scheme. The recyclable materials are then collected from doorsteps every two weeks using an environmentally-friendly modified electric milk-float. Thirty-seven volunteers work in teams on a rota basis to collect materials from around the village.

Volunteer Pat Eynon said: 'It is tiring, but because there are so many of us we don t have to do it too often, which means nobody minds .

The people of Kingston can now recycle much of their household waste easily. This has meant that many people who previously could not find the time or inclination to sort their recyclable rubbish are now doing so. The volunteers collect newspaper, plastic bottles, glass and tins.

Volunteer Dinah Morgan said: 'It helps if people know exactly what and how they can recycle. For example, glass bottles have to rinsed. It helps if plastic bottles and tins have been crushed because we can fit twice as much rubbish on the van. Cardboard boxes need to be folded down otherwise it takes us ages to dismantle them as we go round. Also we can t take Yellow Pages as the recycling centre won t accept them .

The recyclable materials are taken to the designated collection points next to Furniture Now in North Street, Lewes, and the float is unloaded by volunteers.

In the two months running up to Christmas the teams collected 12 tonnes of waste, equivalent to 140 wheelie bins and 300 mail-room sacks of recyclable material. The percentages, by weight, were paper 40, green glass 20, clear glass 14, brown glass 9, tins 7, card 7, plastic bottles 3, plastic bags 1, foil 0.1.

Ms Morgan, like many of the volunteers, enjoys being a part of the recycling team. 'It s good because there is such a wide variety of people of all ages involved in the recycling, and because we all have a common interest in looking after the environment, we enjoy doing the rounds together .

Mr Fellows added: 'Collecting rubbish is a very different activity for most of the people who are involved. It s also good exercise. I used to walk over the Downs regularly anyway, but I am certainly fitter now than before the scheme started. Doing a round is like two hours of aerobics. It s going really well .