Christmas calls for Eco-Ernie
Monday 12 December 2011
Southampton Solent University’s award-winning eco-float, Eco Ernie, and his trusty team of elves has hit the road again for a special yuletide round.
Eco Ernie donned his Santa hat this week and took recycled items across the city centre to local charity SCRATCH (Southampton City and Region Action to Combat Hardship.)
The bags of recyclable items, kindly donated by Southampton Solent University students, will help to relieve the effects of poverty for families and individuals in Southampton and the surrounding area, mainly through starter kits for people setting up in new homes. Some of the items included crockery, toys and even a mini pool table.
The items were collected by Eco Ernie over the past year during the University’s annual campaign in partnership with the Students’ Union to collect recyclable items from student housing to reduce waste on the streets of Southampton. The project encourages a resourceful approach to recycling for students and supports fundraising for the community.
A favourite with the community, Eco Ernie has a wealth of followers. Many volunteers who work alongside him are either students, local residents or from Southampton City Council, Solent Students’ Union or Hampshire Police.
Dan Prendergast, Solent Students’ Union President commented: “We thought a festive round would be a great opportunity to sort through our collections and provide charity donations - ‘tis the season to be generous!”
During June and July this year, most items collected on the rounds were passed to charities for their own fundraising whilst some of the more desirable items were resourcefully resold to the community and local students. Some of the many duvets collected also went to provide bedding for rescued horses via a student entrepreneurship project called The Horse Power Company.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9038
-
Eco Ernie was shortlisted for the 2011 National Recycling Awards earlier this year.
-
Eco Ernie is a collaborative project between Southampton Solent University and its Students’ Union whilst working closely with Southampton City Council and a number of local charities to improve student waste issues.
-
Students, staff, council employees and members of the community volunteer their time to help drive the milk-float and sort through the donated items.
-
Eco Ernie co-ordinator, Louise Drake, was recently named 'Outstanding non-teaching staff social entrepreneur' at the national Dare to be Different Conference – the culmination of a £1m programme delivered by UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and HEFCE