In August last year, the Ross Gazette reported that a couple from Kings Caple, Mark and Angela Calvin, were appealing for local residents to donate their plastic milk bottle tops, by dropping them off at EnviroAbility, so that instead of ending up in a landfill site, they could be used to generate funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The point behind the campaign was that many local people did not realise that plastic milk bottle tops cannot be recycled with other plastics by Herefordshire Council, but by saving these bottle tops, they could be converted into funds for a charity, as some polymer companies will buy them.

Mark and Angela had been collecting and recycling milk bottle tops for many years, but since the start of the campaign, they have seen a significant increase.

Mark told the Gazette that before August, they were accumulating a carrier bag full of milk bottle tops each week, but now he and Angela are getting enough to fill a bin bag every week.

EnviroAbility, on Brookend Street, acts as a drop-off point for local residents to take their bottle tops. Several businesses in the town; Caffè Eleganza, Parsons and Wetherspoons - The Mail Rooms, have been keeping the bottle tops their staff use, and giving them to Mark and Angela.

Mark said:?“It’s going very well. We’re delighted with the support from businesses and individuals. Long many it continue.”

He added that the support for the scheme is ever-growing, as people are becoming more aware. “Word is definitely spreading, and the support is outstanding,” said Mark.

He added that he wants to make people aware that the polymer company will only accept milk bottle tops, and other container lids cannot be accepted. “I don’t wish to sound ungrateful,” he said, “but we do spend quite a lot of time sorting through the bottle tops; we’ve been given juice carton tops and washing up liquid lids. As much as we’d love to accept them, it’s just how it works, and the recycling scheme will only take the plastic milk bottle tops.

“If people could sort them out at home, it would save us a lot of work this end.”

Mark said it is difficult to put a figure on exactly how much has been raised for Guide Dogs for the Blind since the Gazette last wrote about the milk bottle tops collection. But he said that these bottle tops would have just ended up in a landfill site, but by a minimal effort from local people, they are now being used to generate money for charity.

To drop of your plastic milk bottle tops, please take them to EnviroAbility, located in Palma Court on Brookend Street, opposite Aldi.