Bristol City Council's £20,000 DVD to explain recycling
Bristol City Council plans to spend £20,000 creating a film
to show residents how to recycle their rubbish.
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Bristol-City-Council
The authority has sought volunteers to star in the 10-minute
film, which will be available on the internet and released as
an interactive DVD in October.
The new film comes two years after the council introduced
its new waste collection system, which has seen recycling rates
soar.
Despite the scheme's success, the DVD will be launched as
part of a "major campaign to promote recycling services" to
help the elderly and those in flats and multi-occupancy houses
understand the system.
Liberal Democrat city councillor Gary Hopkins, who
spearheaded the introduction of the new system when the Lib
Dems were in charge of the city council, acknowledged there was
a minority still not using the recycling collections
effectively or at all.
But he said the money would be better spent helping
residents by sending council officers to meet them and explain
the system face-to-face, rather than through a DVD.
He said: "About 70 per cent of people are using it pretty
well but there's a minority who have still not been
persuaded.
"But it's strange that the council thinks that those people
who are not using the recycling system effectively will take
the trouble to watch a DVD.
"What's really needed is a face-to-face explanation with
practical help, but that idea has been rejected."
Mr Hopkins (Lib Dem, Knowle) believes the food waste
recycling has proved the most difficult part of the waste
revolution for residents to get to grips with.
Filming for the DVD is set to take place in September and
volunteers will be asked to star in the following scenes:
1 Family recycling at home (black box and food waste)
2 Garden waste recycling (sacks and/or wheeled bin)
3 Recycling at local recycling centre (supermarkets)
4 Recycling at Household Waste Recycling Centre (St
Philip's)
5 Composting at home
A spokeswoman for Bristol City Council said: "The Citizen's
Jury (a panel of Bristol residents) suggested we look at
different ways to promote the services and when we discussed it
with housing associations, student organisations and community
groups they have been very supportive. The interactive DVD will
be used to show people living in flats, residents in multi-
occupancy houses, older people and other residents how they can
use the many recycling services in their area."
10 Comments
by Bruno, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 3:58PM
“what a waste of money, i am all for recycling but what does £20000 get you these days, why cant they spend it on something more appropriate, like healthcare or at least recylcling plastic which contributes to most of our waste.”
by Ali, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 3:27PM
“Cheese - you could play it on your computer ??”
by cheese, bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 3:14PM
“Just tax students a recycle tax , so when they dump all their rubbish all over the road the council can clean it up at no cost to everyone else.
Plus I don't have a dvd player so what will I do with the dvd, spinit really fast on my finger.”
by Zoe, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 2:36PM
“Just when you thought the nimbys at the council couldn't waste anymore of our money they go and pull a clasic like this! £20k for a DVD that will show people what they probably already know from the millions of leaflets they sent out!! Are they kidding?? And do they honestly believe that a DVD will suddenly turn all residents into Save The Earth acitivists??!!”
by Matt Cross, BS3
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 1:17PM
“I'm surprised that the council are able to invest the time into this initiative with the AVERAGE BRISTOL COUNCIL WORKER HAVING 11.6 SICK DAYS per year.”
by Ali, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 12:23PM
“oops - typo - recycle*”
by Ali, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 12:18PM
“Will this DVD show you how to recylce the disk itself?”
by Kathryn, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 11:39AM
“So 20k is being spent on a PR exercise on how to recyle and the Council are looking for volunteers to take part in the filming who won't get paid (not part of the film budget). The money could be used elsewhere more productively or put towards services.
Now here's a thought. Schools, colleges and universities, most run film and production courses and all have projects that have to fulfil their course work. So why not work together as a team and we'd all benefit from learning. The students will also get marks for the film they produce for Bristol City Council as well. And it wouldn't cost 20k. Just basic costs.
So how about it Bristol City Council if needs for this DVD are absolutely necessary.”
by John Berry, Bristol
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 10:07AM
“I agree with Mark,20k completly wasted.What about the bins left blocking the pavements?,what about the eyesore piles of split black bags and rubbish strewn around all over the place??.It's alright to place the onus on private individuals,but by not collecting this "Unknown" rubbish surely the Council are failing in their resposability in keeping the streets clean???.Rather the 20k was spent toward this ??.”
by Mark, Stoke Bishop
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 8:50AM
“I look forward to receiving my 'free' DVD so that I can hang it in the garden to scare the birds off my veg. It's only £20K but I suspect a complete waste of money. The Pareto principle suggests that the costs and effort of chasing the 30% who cannot be bothered are likely to be disproportionate. I notice during my daily commute that a large number of people in this city are incapable of putting their rubbish into any type of bin, yet alone recycling.”