Hospice Christmas Tree recycling scheme a huge success

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has declared its first ever Christmas tree recycling scheme a success after more than 130 people took part in the pilot initiative.

Thanks to the gift of time and two vehicles from Altek Midlands Environmental Services (Ames) in Frankley, the charity was able to turn the idea into reality, raising around £1,600. The money, raised by people making a donation in return for the collection of their tree, will fund care for people in Birmingham and Sandwell with life-limiting illnesses and provide support to their families.

 Christmas trees were collected in the B15 and B17 areas of Harborne and Edgbaston during the trial on Saturday, January 7. Fundraisers are now looking to January 2013 when they plan to roll out the scheme to a larger area, dependent on volunteers coming forward with transit vans.

Hospice community fundraiser and collection organiser Joanne Field said: “We’re incredibly pleased with how our first Christmas tree recycling scheme went, the response has been brilliant.

“We were unsure about how many people would sign up, so to get 133 is really good news. In total 160 trees were collected, as some people had more than one tree. Many thanks to everyone who took part.”

She added: “And judging by the interest we had from people outside the pilot area, particularly on Twitter and Facebook, we know there is real potential to develop this into a major event covering Birmingham and Sandwell for the Hospice.

“Anyone out there who has a transit van and would like to get involved for 2013, we’d love to hear from you. You will be making a real difference to local people coping with a life-limiting illness.”

The collection was supported by Ames, Veolia and Birmingham City Council. Ames Operations Manager Russell Thompson was among two three-strong crews who collected the trees and took them to the council’s Lifford Lane Household Recycling Centre, where the trees are being turned into compost by Veolia.

Russell said: “It was a real pleasure to have been a part of this scheme, to help it get off the ground. The response from the public was wonderful and we’re looking forward to taking part again next year. The lads who took part also had a lot of fun too.

“We managed to collect 160 trees in one day, so it gave us a great idea of what can be done.”

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If you are interested in helping to support Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice 2013 Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme please contact Joanne Field on 0121 472 1191 or email: joanne.field@bsmh.org.uk.

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