Environmental charity Hubbub and McDonald’s have launched a new #InTheLoop grant fund to help local authorities and other organisations boost out-of-home recycling in public spaces.
Hubbub says the fund will support two new projects to introduce or improve their recycling infrastructure using the #InTheLoop toolkit. The new funding has been provided by McDonald’s and will grant the two successful applicants £8,000 each to invest in anti-litter and recycling facilities.
As well as the funding, Hubbub says it will provide ongoing support based on the charity’s expertise and experience in delivering recycling campaigns.
Organisations such as local authorities, business improvement districts, shopping centres, major property owners and transport hubs are invited to apply and the application deadline is 17 March 2023.
Recycling on the go continues to be a significant challenge, with less than half of local authorities currently having on-street recycling systems.
Co-founder of Hubbub, Gavin Ellis, commented: “Recycling on the go continues to be a significant challenge, with less than half of local authorities currently having on-street recycling systems.
“Previous #InTheLoop trials have helped us define an effective approach to out-of-home recycling, so we’re delighted that additional funding from McDonald’s will enable two more organisations to trial #InTheLoop interventions in their area to help address littering, boost recycling rates and reduce waste sent to landfill or incineration.”
First trialled in Leeds in 2018, with support from McDonald’s and other businesses, Hubbub says #InTheLoop is the “UK’s biggest collaborative approach” to boost recycling on the go.
Swansea, Edinburgh, Dublin, Wimbledon, Telford & Wrekin and Lambeth have all run similar pilots. Hubbub says these involved installing and testing a range of colourful and eye-catching bins to improve recycling rates.
Across all these #IntheLoop pilot projects, Hubbub says over 500 bins have been rolled out and over 2.5 million plastic and glass bottles and cans were collected and recycled.
McDonald’s has been working with Hubbub on their innovative #InTheLoop campaigns for over five years now.
The #InTheLoop toolkit, which was funded by the environmental compliance scheme Ecosurety, brings together “key learnings and insights” gathered from these trials and aims to act as a blueprint for the winning projects, Hubbub says.
Commenting on the funding, Helen McFarlane, McDonald’s Senior Sustainability Consultant, said: “We’re delighted to be funding this piece of work. McDonald’s has been working with Hubbub on their innovative #InTheLoop campaigns for over five years now, and we’re excited that this project builds on all the success we’ve had over the years.
“We hope that by providing funding to roll out #InTheLoop we can have a lasting impact in the communities we serve.”
