National Recycling Campaign to Return for Third Year

This year’s campaign will launch on 5th June and will combine high-profile celebrity support with local activity across the country, to inspire a wide audience to recycle more waste, more often.

And following a record-breaking campaign in 2005, organisers are now inviting additional sponsors to support the 2006 initiative.

In 2005, the campaign:

• involved over 400 local authorities;
• created 90 million media opportunities
• inspired BIG recycle events across the country – from fashion shows to funk concerts;
• generated approximately 530 separate pieces of UK media coverage – including widespread coverage on mainstream national TV and radio; and
• was backed by leading supermarkets Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys for the first time.

Amanda Barry Hirst, Head of Public Relations for WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme), said:
“the BIG recycle has established itself as one of the highlights of the recycling calendar. The reaction of local authorities, members of the public, retailers and the media to last year’s campaign was phenomenal. It helped to create a huge surge of interest in household recycling.

“We’re aiming to attract even more participants this year, to ensure that the campaign is bigger and better than ever. We’re particularly keen to hear from sponsors at this stage. Given the profile and importance of the campaign, organisations stand to gain real benefits from being allied to the BIG recycle 2006.”

‘the BIG recycle’ is jointly organised and funded by WRAP - a UK programme established to promote resource efficiency - in partnership with the leading materials recycling organisations British Glass, Corus, Novelis, PaperChain, the Corrugated Packaging Industry and Recoup.

Last year’s campaign was supported by former Olympic champion Matthew Pinsent, Property Ladder presenter Sarah Beeny and MP Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Local Environmental Quality. Celebrity supporters for 2006 have yet to be announced.

For regular news and campaign updates, supporters can register their details at www.thebigrecycle.com