Pupils from St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Thamesmead joined Local Green Points, local dignitaries and residents for the Big Recycle to mark the official launch of the London Jump (Green Points) scheme in Bexley on Monday.
The London Green Points scheme incentivises residents to reduce the amount of rubbish they send for disposal by reducing, reusing and recycling their waste. The residual waste and the amount of recycling are measured at a neighbourhood level, not by individual households, and all households with activated accounts share the Green Points equally. Green Points earned can be redeemed for a range of eco products and exciting days out or donated to selected local charity projects. Participates will also have access to range of offers and discounts provided by local retailers.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the London Borough of Bexley had received funding from the London Waste and Recycling Board’s Flats Recycling Programme and Recycle for London to support the scheme in partnership with Gallions Housing Association. The first phase will reach just over 2,000 flats in East Thamesmead with a potential expansion to 15,000 flats across Bexley planned for 2012.
Councillor Gareth Bacon, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, is delighted that Bexley is the first council in the country to adopt the scheme: “We’re proud that Bexley is already London’s top borough for recycling with a recycling rate over 50%. However we recognise that we can still do more and see the London Green Points scheme as an excellent way to encourage even more people to recycle more waste, as well as helping to build community cohesion.”
Tony Cotter, Chief Executive at Gallions Housing Association is equally enthusiastic at the launch of the scheme in Thamesmead: “There is a great sense of community here and we recognised early on that the London Green Points scheme has a very strong community element, supporting local charities through the donation of Green Points. We also see the partnerships with local retailers as benefiting the local economy”.
Residents began to receive their welcome packs at the beginning of September and are starting to activate their accounts with over 10% of flats in East Thamesmead already signed up. The three selected local charities, The Youth Awareness Project, MyBnk and Trees for Cities, were also present at the launch along with many of the 30 local retail partners who are already signed up and supporting the scheme. Graham Simmonds, Partner at Jump (Green Rewards) LLP, the company behind the scheme, says that reaction from the community has been very positive: “I spent some time recently out and about in Thamesmead talking to residents about the scheme and their enthusiasm for it was really encouraging. Of course, the ultimate test will be the reduction in waste that’s sent for disposal and the increase in recycling, but the initial positive reaction from residents and the local community is a great start!”
