Worksop residents raise cash for disease victims by recycling electricals

During a special campaign, waste contractors Veolia offered to donate £5 to charity for every tonne of small items taken to any of its 12 recycling centres, which include sites in Worksop and Retford.

The campaign saw 217.23 tonnes of small domestic household appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters, clocks, mobile phones, kettles, fans, hair-dryers and electronic toys taken to the sites during December and January.

A total of £1086.15 was raised, which Veolia has rounded up to £1,100, for the chairman of the county council’s charity - the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.

Nottinghamshire County Council chairman, councillor Kevin Rostance, said: ‘This campaign has helped us to collectively raise vital funds for Motor Neurone Disease Association. Thank you to everyone who has helped not only the charity, but the environment too by having a greener Christmas.”

Richard Allen, contract logistics manager at Veolia, said: “We are delighted by the total raised for this charity campaign and wish to thank all the householders in Nottinghamshire for their support. Most electrical waste consists of multiple materials, including glass, plastic and metals including lead and mercury. This complex and potentially dangerous mix of components means that electrical items from Nottinghamshire households should always be recycled at the recycling centres and never put into the kerbside bins.”

Sharon King at the Motor Neurone Disease Association said: “The MND Association is delighted to receive support from Veolia to help fund our work locally to help improve the lives of those living with MND in the Nottinghamshire area. MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease which affects the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the nerves that control movement and eventually leaves people unable to move, communicate or breathe. It kills a third of people within a year of diagnosis and half within two years. The funds raised by Veolia will really help to give respite care to families affected, as well fund specialist equipment to help victims live as comfortably as possible.”