Wheelie savvy residents win bintastic prizes

Veolia have awarded luxury prizes - sponsored by MGB Plastics, the company that makes the new wheelie bins - to three wheelie lucky Croydon residents who won a competition.

They successfully guessed how many items were inside the new paper and card wheelie bin on display at roadshows throughout July.

With most households in Croydon receiving a new 240 litre blue-lidded wheelie bin to safely contain their paper and card recycling, the competition was created to raise awareness of just how much paper and card can be recycled.

Veolia and Croydon Council officials spoke to more than 1,600 residents at roadshow events in the lead up to the new collection service which is designed to boost Croydon's recycling rate to more than 50% over two years, reduce litter, increase efficiency and save money.

As well as the opportunity to ask questions on the new service, residents were invited to take part in the competition to guess the number of items in the paper and card bin displayed. Many residents took part, with guesses ranging from 42 to a million. The three residents with guesses closest to the correct number - 183 - were awarded with their prizes at Stubbs Mead Depot.

In first place was Christine Stiller from Thornton Heath with a guess of 182 items. She won the chance to drive two supercars. In second place came Janet Myring from Selsdon, who guessed 186 and received dinner and a night’s stay at the charming Talbot hotel in Surrey. In third place was Lisa Wallace from Waddon, who has won a city spa day with bubbles for two at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel thanks to her guess of 180 items.

After being awarded with her prize, Lisa Wallace commented: “I think the new service is a good initiative to increase awareness and acknowledgement of recycling.”