LAWR

NEWS July 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 7 Selfies and heroes A Facebook page in Tunisia is harnessing the power of the selfie to draw attention to piles of rubbish littering the nation's streets. A selfie is usually designed to portray its subject in a positive light - but Tunisian citizens are subverting that idea, according to the BBC. More than 12,000 people have "liked" a new Facebook page, "Selfi Poubella", set up on 16 May, and scores have sent in pictures of themselves on rubbish-strewn streets. "I wanted to show another image of Tunisia," Cheker Besbes, the journalist who started the page, told BBC Trending. Selfies have been widely used by the Tunisian government itself as part of its drive to connect with the public - in particular by the country's tourism minister, Amel Karboul. But Besbes argues the government images present a glossed-over and idealised image of the country. A new breed of super hero is set to inspire a green generation of chil- dren to save the world from climate change. (www.theecoheroes.com). Created by duo Dave Robinson and Stephen Parkinson, the Eco Heroes show how easy it is to become an Eco Hero and improve the environ- ment where you live. With their motto, "Who Cares? We Care!" the Eco Heroes inspire children to be like them and do more to look after the Earth. This includes recycling more and using less energy. After over two years of design and development, the Eco Heroes are now set to come to life in their very own computer game. In Animal Alert, the Eco Heroes save animals in danger from environmental disasters such as chemical and oil spills. And in a special twist, the game finale sees the Eco Heroes save the people of New York from storms and floods brought about by climate change. Designer and co-creator of the Eco Heroes Dave Robinson said: "Children will be affected by climate change more than anyone else and they hold the key to the future of our planet. Behaviour starts at a young age and the Eco Heroes have been designed to be fun, colourful and exciting so that children want to be and behave like an Eco Hero." A tortoise believed to have travelled almost 300 miles in the back of a lorry was found by Norfolk recycling plant workers moments before being pulped. The animal is thought to have been hibernating in paper sent for recycling at a depot in Silverton, in Devon, a BBC report stated. The paper was transported to a King's Lynn plant where workers found the tortoise while sorting the papers. Mid Devon Council is searching for the owner of the tortoise, which a spokesman described as "intrepid". "It would appear the tortoise must have been hibernating in a black box amongst paper put out for recycling," he said. Recycling Bits and Pieces The month in resource management KEEP ON RUNNING - Waste container services firm Fairport Containers is celebrating smashing its £20,000-charity fundraising target which was set to mark its 20th year in business. Staff members participated in a variety of events to raise money for charity including the London Marathon. The firm's team of runners, welder Lee Swales and long-time friend Max Halsall, drew sponsorship of almost £10,000 for Cancer Research UK by running their first ever marathon. (Pic L-R) Fairport Containers Halsall, Jenny Murgatroyd of Cancer Research UK and Swales. YOUR ROUND-UP OF THIS MONTH'S TOP STORIES ACROSS THE INDUSTRY The Skip Company is celebrating its first year in business with ambitious expansion plans, including launching a new waste management service and creating new recycling revenue Waste management Skip firm celebrates birthday opportunities for businesses across the UK. At a time when any business largely dependent on the fortunes of the construction industry might struggle, The Skip Company has experienced significant growth during the past 12 months, with turnover increasing steadily and expected to approach £1.55m since trading began, by the end of May. Managing director Matthew Davies is pictured below.

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