Eco Ernie
Eco Ernie is Solent's award-winning eco-milkfloat used by students during the student changeover period and throughout the academic year to collect rubbish and recycle textiles and recyclable items.
The project was developed to tackle issues in an area fairly densely populated with student houses and has turned into an award-winning initative. It aims to work with the local city council to provide an opportunity for all residents to recycle.
This has been achieved through regular attendance at residents’ meetings and through ideas generated by staff and students at Solent. This approach has enabled the project to use the resources of all the agencies 4250x375.jpg)
involved and to increase coverage of the project. As a result several local charities have benefitted from Ernie’s collections including Bag It Up (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance) who received their single largest textile donation thanks to Ernie.
Pat Middlewick, local resident and Ernie volunteer, said:
“Student changeover used to be a misery for residents but it’s turning into an enjoyable community event.”
Bag It Up’s Danielle Mugridge says:
"We are very proud to be part of this innovative scheme. It’s a fantastic way of involving students in the local community and helping raise funds for the life saving work of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.”
Ernie's accolades
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Local Government Chronicle award for Community Involvement 2010
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CIPR Pride awards for best Community Relations Campaign 2010
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Times Higher Education Award - Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community.
