Artists win share of £55,000 eco pot

ARTISTS in Mossley have won a share of a £55,000 grant to promote recycling.

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) has awarded the cash to seven community groups to spend on innovative waste and recycling projects, designed to have a positive effect on the environment and local communities. They include Woodend Artists, a coloration of creative people based at Woodend Mill in Mossley, who develop links and outreach projects with the local community.

The mix of emerging and professional artists, designers and craftspeople hope to provide a community resource through arts activities and events.

Their project will run a programme of creative workshops and art events to increase awareness and promote the value of waste as a resource.

An information pack will be created by young people in Tameside and will contain useful information relating to waste and recycling. A group of “recycling champions” will also be established to inform, support and encourage residents on all things recycling related.

The workshops will use basic waste materials such as plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and paper and turn them into artwork and sculptures.

A communal composting scheme will also be developed for use in local gardens and allotments, while an artist and animator will work with a group of young people to create an animation about waste reduction.

The community organisations and charities selected by GMWDA all submitted proposals to deliver a more sustainable use of valuable resources too often squandered as waste.

GMWDA says the projects complement their ambition of achieving zero waste to landfill.

They include:
::2nd Generation Furnishings, which collects unwanted furniture, white goods, toys and clothing throughout Tameside and redistributes them to people in need.

::Recycle-IT, which redistributes IT equipment in Trafford and Manchester and employs the homeless and long-term unemployed.

::Development Education Project, which runs educational projects to promote a sustainable world.

::Brinnington Council Tenants Association (BCTA), which addresses housing and community issues to improve quality of life and will recruit ten young people as environmental champions

::Cartwheel Arts, who promote social inclusion and plans to shock and inspire participants in Rochdale to change their recycling behaviour.

::Action for Sustainable Living, an award-winning Manchester based charity working to raise awareness of environmental and sustainability issues that will fund volunteer training in Trafford to raise awareness of waste minimisation activities.