West Devon Borough Council and FCC Environment give money to charity for empty drinks bottles

At the annual Tavistock Goose Fair, taking place today, West Devon Borough Council and its waste and recycling partner FCC Environment are proud to be showing residents Devon’s first Reverse Vending Machine.A reverse vending machine does exactly what it says, instead on inserting money and getting a plastic bottle filled with drink, you insert an empty plastic bottle and earn money for one of the chosen charities – you decide which one.

This exciting addition to this week’s Goose Fair in Tavistock, is being brought to Devon for the very first time with  Tavistock Town Council kindly offering the space at this year’s event.

Working together,  West Devon Borough Council and its waste and recycling partner FCC Environment are committed to increasing recycling of plastics in the Borough and are also using this opportunity to promote the new and enhanced recycling service which will start in West Devon on 2 December.

Cllr Caroline Mott, West Devon Borough Council’s Lead Member for the Environment said: “This is a really interesting new machine, and I am so delighted that FCC managed to bring it here for Goose Fair. 

“While it is a bit of fun and generates some money for charity, it also carries a serious message.  We remain committed to increasing recycling and doing what we can to reduce the effects of climate change. As we said during recycling week this year – the power is in our hands and every bottle really does counts.”

During Goose Fair the reverse vending machine will be located in Market Road opposite the Butchers Hall.  Once an empty bottle is put into the machine, the touch screen asks which charity you want to donate to.

The charities chosen are the Mayoral Charities for this year for West Devon Borough Council and Tavistock Town Council. 

Cllr Tony Leech, Mayor of West Devon, said: “My charities to benefit from the money raised from this innovative recycling scheme are Community Transport Groups within West Devon. 

“With the demise of town buses and the closure of local hospitals, the Community Transport Groups around West Devon have become even more important to people who are unable to use their own transport or can’t afford taxies.  The groups provide vital transport links for residents needing to attend hospital and doctors’ appointments, as well as other necessary journeys.”

Councillor Anne Johnson, Mayor of Tavistock, said: ‘This initiative shows that, working together, we can find all sorts of ways to improve community resilience and promote a more sustainable approach to our environment.”  

Cllr Johnson continues: “My chosen charity to receive donations from the reverse vending machine is the New Tavistock Youth Café.  It was originally established in 2005, and offers a safe, friendly and fun environment for young people of secondary school age. The café offers support and advice on personal issues, mental health, cyber bullying, exam stress, drug abuse etc.”

FCC Regional Director Steve Longdon said: “The Governments of England and Scotland have committed to bringing reverse vending machines to all of our high streets by 2023 to help us all recycle more of the packaging that we use ‘on the go’ so we are delighted to be bringing the unit to the Goose Fair and to hearing what people have to say about how it works in practice.”

Tavistock Goose Fair, known locally as Goosey or Goosie  Fair, is the annual fair in the stannary town of Tavistock on the western edge of Dartmoor. It has been held on the second Wednesday of October since 1823 and it is one of only three historically established traditional fairs in the UK to carry the name, the other being the larger Nottingham Goose Fair, and the smaller Michaelmas Goose Fayre in Colyford, also in Devon.

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