February 17, 2015

Keeping materials cycling – refurbished bikes scoop Keep Britain Tidy “Waste Less, Live More’ award

A London bicycle scheme collected one of the top honours at Keep Britain Tidy’s Diamond Jubilee Awards Ceremony last week, in a category co-sponsored by the RSA Great Recovery. Respoke – Gascoigne Cycle Exchange project  provides opportunities as well as bikes for local people by refurbishing bikes instead of sending them to landfill. As well as preventing waste the project enables local people to buy an affordable bike, and also works with young people, teaching them all the skills needed to refurbish a bike, which they can then keep.

Since 2013, the project has refurbished and exchanged almost 300 bikes, while servicing and repairing more than 300 more. Phil Barton, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “The success of the Respoke project and the continuing support of its partners and local residents are testament to the work and commitment of the team. Stronger links have been formed with schools, colleges and private and public sector organisations to help support cycle promotion initiatives. Well done to all those involved.”

The Waste less Live more Award recognises work that is engaging people in reducing their waste while, at the same time, improving their happiness and wellbeing, a category we were delighted to sponsor.

Gascoigne Cycle Exchange was one of 11 winners whose achievements were recognised at the ceremony, in the presence of Environment Minister Dan Rogerson MP (who also recently visited us at Fab Lab). The awards celebrated the exceptional contributions that Keep Britain Tidy’s partners and supporters have made to the local and global environment.

Environment Minister Dan Rogerson said: “The kind of innovation and creativity shown by the nominees and winners of these awards plays a huge role in inspiring this action and I congratulate them on their efforts to keep our neighbourhoods clean and tidy. I hope their success inspires more initiatives across the country to help manage waste and keep England litter-free.”

The runner-up in the Waste less Live more Award category was Foodsave, London:

By establishing strong links between food businesses and their local communities, this project is helping food get to those who really need it across London, instead of going to landfill.