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WHAT’S GREEN IN BIRMINGHAM?

Climate change (or climate chaos as some people call it) is a reality which will increasingly dominate the 21st century. As citizens of Britain’s second city, we can help create a city to be proud of, leading the way in reducing global warming to help save the planet for future generations.

If you’re looking for green products and services, green spaces, green initiatives and groups in Birmingham UK, start here. With your help, we can help everyone cut the carbon by pooling our knowledge on all the different initiatives in the city to cut CO2 and other greenhouse gases – and other forms of pollution.

GREENING BRUM:

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The Bull statue in Birmingham Bull Ring Shopping Centre

What's Green in Brum?

Sustainability in Birmingham UK

The Green Machine

Mar 25th, 2008 by Chris Duggan, GreeninBrum | No comments yet

Selly Oak Methodist Church has a novel approach to recycling …

Prominent in the lobby of the church is a large colourful collection point for 18 different items, many for re-use rather than recycling. They don’t collect bottles, glass, clothes, shoes, books, cans, paper and cardboard, which are covered by the City Council and other agencies.  But they do collect everything in the list below, and their leaflet helpfully tells us what they do with them, which could inspire others to set up something similar.  Individuals in the church take responsibility for one item each.

  • Spectacles go to World in Sight and used in Africa and Asia. World in Sight collects via Help the Aged branches, Dolland & Aitchison branches, or World in Sight, Freepost LON13109, London N1.
  • Egg Boxes Local farm shops and smallholders are delighted to receive them.
  • Envelopes (especially A4 & A5) Local charities stick new labels on them for sending out newsletters.  The church also uses some of them.
  • Aluminium foil is sold to Alcan (0121 327 3225) and the money given to charity.
  • Printer cartridges and toner refills PC World collects these (proceeds to NSPCC), but the church thinks that Action Aid (www.nru.org.uk, or 0117 929 8818) gets the best value for them.
  • Pill boxes - the small brown ones with safety top – PDSA and RSPCA clinics normally welcome these if the labels are taken off and the adhesive cleared away.
  • Mobile phones and accessories There are several national schemes, includiing Action Aid as above.
  • Foreign and old British coins are given to the children’s charity NCH www.nch.org.uk 08457 626 579
  • Left over Knitting wool is distributed to housebound volunteers who knit and crochet for Oxfam (who even provide knitting patterns!)
  • Candles: old candles and candle was is sent to All Saints Church Kings Heath where they make it into new candles.
  • Used stamps are sent to the Leprosy Mission (Stamps & Collectables, 26 Drift Rd, PO8 0JL) – other charities also collect them.
  • Wrapping paper (especially from florists) is used to distribute church flowers after the Sunday Service.
  • Plastic “envelopes” used for mailing magazines used to be sent to Polyprint NR13 6LJ, but changes in postal charges have closed off this route.
  • Hearing Aids, particularly children’s ones, are sent to MOYO, a Malawi charity, c/o Pam Douglas, Sheep Leas, Duke St, Settle, BD 24 0AN
  • Wood and metal working tools are sent via Northfield Methodist Church to Tools for Self Reliance (01703 869697) for use in developing countries.

If you know of other creative recycling schemes, please add a comment below.

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