For nearly 20 years Magpie have been at the forefront of the city’s recycling alchemy, introducing a mindset we all now live by.
What prompted you to start Magpie?
A the time it was mainly a lobbying campaign group against there being no collections in Brighton, to get the council’s arses into gear. It worked – they now use the same techniques we’ve used for the last 20 years.
Was there much resistance to recycling in Brighton at the start?
The public was crying out for it, but the council just wasn’t into the idea. We were up to 5,000 customers then, it’s fewer now because the council does it for free. We have to make money after all, and the price we get for materials is much lower since the global economic crisis.
When did recycling first gain political respect?
In the last five years I think, it’s become a really hot topic. All councils have to show they’re recycling; all businesses have to show they’re doing something with their waste. But there’s no back-up from government; no one’s saying people making things should use x-amount of recycled materials and use less packaging in the first place. Big companies like Viola and Team Waste are offering services here they weren’t before – everyone’s doing it to the point where we’ve thought about dropping the ‘recycling’ from our name – it’s become so cashed in on.
What should people recycle more of?
Generally, re-use should come before recycling, but if you’re promoting something to focus on it’d be plastics – out of the five types of plastic only two of them are readily recyclable, so expanding on that is essential. Also generally working towards a paperless economy, not printing things you don’t need to.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve had come in?
I picked up a large Edwardian mirror by a bin the other day; people just don’t see the value in the things they’re throwing away. And some 1920s wicker transportation baskets, still with the labels on from their ships – I wanted to take those home. Your eyes do light up. Sometimes people just buy things and throw them away - it’s a sad reflection on society really.
More Unsung Heroes: Click Hereunsungx
