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Scout fundraiser axed due to costs

Stour and AvonNovember 26, 20200 Comment0

A paper recycling scheme that raised money for St Mary Gillingham Scout Group has been scrapped after more than 40 years after new owners started charging the group for the skip. Thorngrove Garden Centre has hosted the Scout Paper Skip most recently, raising much needed funds for the scouts.

However, after Viridor took over Martock Waste Paper the group received an unwelcome bill, as Viridor says not all the paper could be recycled and that resulted in landfill costs.

Group scout leader Colin Westbrook said: “It is with regret that the collection of waste paper will finish on the 24th November due to it becoming uneconomical. The group has been recycling paper for over 40 years, my first recollection was in the Red Lion car park since then we moved to various locations ending at Thorngrove. The group actually started collecting waste paper 40-plus years ago to raise funds towards the build of the Scout Hut in Hardings Land, which we have now handed over to Gillingham School as we have the new facility at Milton on Stour. The group would like to thank all those that have supported them over the years.”

He added: “For many years we have been with Martock Waste Paper, who did not charge any transportation costs giving us a rebate per tonne. They were taken over by Viridor who earlier this year closed the Martock site. “We were informed that they would not be able to operate on the same basis, this resulted in us owing them money after the skip was emptied in July.

“Following further discussions they confirmed that they could not reduce the transport cost or increase the rebate per tonne. In discussions it appears not all the paper is suitable for recycling with the balance going to landfill. As a charity we thus took the decision to stop collecting paper.”

To support the group in other ways, go to stmarygillingham scoutgroup.co.uk or northdorsetscouts.org.uk