Hundreds queue for cardboard recycling in Shrewsbury

Nearly 1,000 people recycled their cardboard in Shrewsbury through a new charity recycling scheme, launched following a controversial decision to scrap kerbside collection.

Organisers said at least five tonnes of cardboard was taken from the town to a recycling plant in Oswestry after being dropped off at collection points in Shrewsbury on Saturday as part of the scheme.

The Cardboard Christmas Group was set up following the axing of council-run kerbside collections across Shropshire in November.

Dozens of volunteers took to the streets on Saturday to collect unwanted cardboard and transport it to Oswestry Waste Paper

The scheme was co-ordinated by Alison Thomas and Katy Anderson, members of environmental group Transition Town Shrewsbury.

On Saturday the group ran three cardboard 'cafes' in Shrewsbury between 9am to 2pm at the Red Barn Pub, in Longden Road, the United Reformed Church in Coleham Head and the Riversway Elim Church in Lancaster Road.

Organisers said they were amazed at the response which saw them transport a large amount of cardboard to Oswestry, with the group getting paid for what it recycled and the proceeds being split between Hope House and Severn Hospice. It is not yet known how much cash has been raised for charity.

Ms Anderson said: "We had around 1,000 people through. We couldn't believe the response – it shows the level of need for more collection points.

"We have heard from elderly people who do not have cars and have been forced to put cardboard in bins for landfill – but they didn't want to."

About 30 volunteers came forward to help run the scheme and a variety of local groups lent vans to transport the cardboard.

Ms Anderson said four truck loads of cardboard had already been taken to Oswestry, with another planned for today.

By Catherine Ferris

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