Want to start a recycling co-op

starlite_2

Hi I have posted already on small biz/charity board but think i may get responses from a different perspective here (hope this is okay)
so here goes...

My road has recently won an award for the 'greenest' in our borough.
This is due to good relationships between neighbours and the not small feat a few of us have taken up to persuade others to recycle/ reuse/ compost as much as possible.
We are currently at a 91% rate.

I have friends living locally who do not have a recycling collection, and those without cars find it very difficult to store and deposit recycleables. I assume this is the case for many, they would if they could, but the hassle outweighs the benefits.

Not to mention that say, 50 households individually taking their recycling to the banks by car is much more environmentally damaging than one van taking it all.

Myself and some neighbours would therefore like to start a recycling business, many of them have vans, and we would probably aim that all those that sign up buy their own boxes and pay a small fee/donation for collection.

Is this feasible? We would be not for profit, and would encourage as much participation from those signed up as possible.

We have written to our local m.p as the discrepency in recycling facilities across the borough is appaling, and there are no immediate plans to extend the councils current scheme.

Obviously we would have few start up costs , but is it worth the small risk?Are there any national organisations that can help us with this?
Will we have to take into account public liability laws etc?
How do we avoid paying tax on the charges?
How can we apply more muscle on the council to review their appaling policies?
Are there places that pay for bulk amounts of recyclables so that we could do it all free and use the payment to cover petrol/leaflet costs etc?

So many questions..but I know you m.s.er's will be a mine of advice for us.

Thanks in advance.

ancasta_2

I cant offer any information but i think it is a fantastic idea... well done!!!!

starlite_2

Thanks hun!Hopefully many of our local people will feel the same..
I for one know I'd rather pay £1 ish to have my recycling collected than not be able to recycle at all...

lynzpower

yOU Might want to contact waste watch the national charity, if they wont fund it ( i suspect they might) they will know who will be able to offer something. Good for you 91% is a superb achievement

starlite_2

argh..thanks..but waste watch was some council funed very bueracratic sounding orgnisation..so they justsaid to wait for our council to roll out recycling ( which will be 'somtime this year' and only paper collection)

I have really gotten into this now..being on maternity leave I have littles pare time, but with no job to focus on this has becomone of my passions..lol

Caterina

Get in touch with your local cooperative development agency, see if they support your creation of a local co-op, they should be able to help with advice.

Try: http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme213.htm or

http://www.sel.org.uk

Good luck!

Caterina