St Bridget’s Eco-congregation Green sheet No. 19

From Pat Price: Community RePaint is a network of local community groups and charities, across the UK. These organisations collect 'half-tins' of leftover paint from people who have unwanted tins of reusable paint left in their sheds, garages, cupboards, etc.

Many Community RePaint schemes also collect end-of-line, damaged or unsold paint from DIY shops (e.g. B&Q, Homebase, Focus, etc). Other leftover paint is also collected from painters and decorators and other local companies. The paint is then given out to local charities, voluntary and community groups, schools, amateur sports clubs and people on low incomes. The paint is often given free of charge but as the Community RePaint scheme itself is a charity or relies on grants, they usually request some kind of donation for the paint to help pay for their own costs. Tel: 0113 234 8777, email: mail@swap-web.co.uk

About Community Re>Paint.

Community Re>Paint is unique in Britain and in Europe. It is one of the most innovative and practical waste minimisation/reuse initiatives in the UK and represents a pioneering solution to the problem of leftover paint.
Over 414 million litres of paint are sold in the UK each year (retail and trade) of which an estimated 80 million litres (enough to fill 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools) is stored in homes and garages or just thrown away. This paint tends to be stored and then disposed of in landfill. Community Re>Paint provides a practical solution to this waste stream that is environmentally and socially beneficial. Unwanted, surplus paint is diverted from the waste stream and redistributed for reuse by community groups, charities and voluntary organisations. Once collected, the paint is sorted, stored and redistributed. It is then passed on to eligible sectors of the community (local charities, community and voluntary groups) and public agencies that provide support services to people in genuine need eg Social Services, housing departments and probation services. A small donation is requested towards overheads. The paint is then reused locally for projects such as decorating youth clubs and village halls, painting murals, playgrounds and maintaining scout and guide huts.

From Molly Droop: binocular donations.

This contribution has come from Molly, although she may be unaware of it! I read this in her RSPB magazine, and asked her if I could take down the details; Should you have any spare/unwanted pairs of binoculars or telescopes, you can donate them to

St. Martin’s Business Centre, Unit 17, St Martin’s Way, Bedfordshire, MK42 0LF, 01767 680 551, or contact them at bionenquiries@rspb.org.uk

Since it began in 1985, the RSPB's second-hand binocular scheme has provided almost 11,000 pieces of optical equipment to conservation and education projects in more than 90 countries. From Vietnam to Greece, India to Ecuador, binoculars and telescopes have found their way to projects in some of the world's most remote communities, often delivered by RSPB staff and supporters. Manager of the scheme, Ann Favell, explains: 'We have been able to provide equipment for a range of initiatives across the world that have helped educate people and protect many different species. 'Without it, the projects would have been much more difficult to run, as many of the organisations could not have afforded to buy binoculars and telescopes. 'As they upgrade their equipment, lots of people put their old binoculars and telescopes in the back of cupboards and forget about them. This is a really good way of putting them to a good use. 'The initiative has helped a range of projects, including equipping Angola's first-ever bird hide, the chance for Tanzanian school children to see close-up views of wildlife at a national park and for park rangers on a Brazilian rainforest reserve to protect wildlife from illegal hunters.

Source: RSPB Public Relations Department

…and now some green tips from Friends Of The Earth.

Toilet paper - we all use it - but if you're still buying coloured paper, think about switching to 100 per cent recycled to save resources. It won't contain any harmful dyes, so will be kinder to the environment too. Don't forget to recycle - or compost the cardboard tube once you've finished. Already using recycled toilet paper at home? Try persuading your employer to buy recycled for your workplace too.

Next time you can't find what you want when you go shopping, speak to the manager or contact them by phone/email. If enough people ask for greener products - whether it's locally-grown apples, recycled toilet paper, energy-saving lightbulbs or cosmetics without harmful chemicals - it's in the retailer's interests to respond by supplying what customers ask for.

If you have items to donate to our green sheet please contact Sally on 625 2659