Extra rounds for Ernie
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Eco Ernie is unstoppable! After weeks of collecting bags of unwanted textiles and reusable recyclable items as part of Southampton Solent University’s innovative approach to the student changeover period, Ernie has hit the road again- this time to all of the University’s Halls of Residence.
Solent Students' Union arranged the first ‘Halls Collection Day’ as an addition to the usual Polygon collections in response to a request from the Student Residence Operations Management team. The special extra collections involved Ernie arriving at each of the Halls to collect recyclable and re-useable donations which raise funds for local charities.
The streets are cleaner thanks to green-minded students and Solent University’s own enviro-champ – Eco Ernie, the award-winning milkfloat. Discarded duvets are a common sight on the rounds and resourcefully these are being donated to local organisation, The Horse Power Company, to provide bedding for their horses.
The University’s innovative collaborative project with the Solent Students’ Union and in partnership with Southampton City Council and Bag it up (Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance) was first launched in 2009 to help combat the mounds of waste left behind by students moving out of their rented accommodation in the heavily student-populated Polygon area.
Solent Students’ Union President, Dan Prendergast says:
“We’ve put Ernie back on the road for extra rounds to collect much needed unwanted goods from students living within Halls of Residence across the city.
Everyone benefits from this innovative scheme. The streets are cleaner, charities get much needed donations and the environment benefits from the reduction of landfill waste.”
The remainder of the items will be sold at a special event where hidden gems ranging from vintage clothing to textiles will be on sale on Friday 1 July 2011 at Central Baptist Church on Devonshire Road (Polygon) from 11am onwards.
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