Recycling was the focus of the June meeting of East Markham WI, with Lesley from Veolia, the waste collection contractor for Nottinghamshire County Council, providing an informative and enlightening talk. Lesley shared examples of items that should not be placed in the recycling bin due to the lack of market demand for certain materials. For instance, soft plastics such as carrier bags should instead be recycled at supermarkets. Lesley explained that the Veolia centre in Mansfield is a sorting facility rather than a recycling one. Materials are sorted, baled and then sent on to companies specialising in recycling paper, cardboard, metals, and other materials. Plastic remains one of the most challenging materials to manage due to its many types and limited recycling infrastructure. Even though many plastics are marked as recyclable, they often require specialist treatment.
Shredded paper is another issue – its small size makes it problematic for sorting machinery and it often clogs the equipment. Contamination from food packaging, like greasy pizza boxes, can spoil otherwise clean recycling. In some cases, entire truckloads can be rejected due to such contamination. A quiz sheet featuring various items prompted members to decide which bin to use. There were many surprises when Lesley gave the correct answers. Some members are due to visit the Mansfield centre soon, and Lesley showed a short video of how the facility operates.
Lesley answered a wide range of questions during and after her presentation. Regarding general waste (green bin), she explained that nothing goes to landfill. Waste is incinerated at facilities in Sheffield or Nottingham to create energy, with modern technology ensuring that only steam is released – not toxic fumes. WI business included details from the recent Annual Meeting and an update on the new committee. Plans for the visit to Stamford on Friday 12th September were shared. After the raffle, members enjoyed refreshments and social time.
The well-attended Strawberry Tea took place on Thursday 10th July in Vicky’s garden. Guests enjoyed a glass of fizz, homemade cake, strawberries and cream, and tea or coffee served in vintage crockery. On Tuesday 15th July, Rosemary Pike gave a fascinating talk on the magic of stained glass. The next meeting, on Monday 18th August will be a Crafty Evening, where members will begin work on the poppy display for Remembrance Sunday.
Visitors (£6.00) and new members are always welcome at monthly meetings. Pro-rata membership is available for those joining partway through the year. For more information, contact 07802 225999 or 07971 291883.