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Striking New Recycling Bins Developed by Leading Design Centre Help Smash Recycling Records at the Royal Welsh Show

Posted By: Angela Spiteri | Date posted: 14 August 2007

Whilst the weather at this year’s Royal Welsh Show was a total washout, it has just been confirmed that public event recycling figures reached the highest on record in Wales. This has been put down to new recycling bins located throughout the showground, designed and produced by Cardiff-based design company, The National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR).

The new bins, which can best be described as dynamic, engaging and bright, were designed to address the lack of event recycling in Wales. In a very tight timescale, PDR took the project from design to production using their in-house expertise and facilities, and successfully exceeded all objectives set out by their clients - Waste Awareness Wales and Cylch.

Clearly segregated through colour coded bin covers and eye-catching graphics, PDR designed bins to accommodate cans, plastics, compostables and residuals – leaving no excuse for event-goers to ignore recycling!

Ashley Bryant, Senior Designer at PDR commented “Whilst the design fulfilled all of the basic functional requirements such as ease of installation and consideration of storage when not in use, our main aim was to make it distinctive and easy to use, to engage the public and promote recycling”.

PDR, a design and development centre at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC), also cut production costs by an impressive 35% and implemented an effective new sponsorship scheme that was snapped up by top High Street Retailer Marks and Spencer at the show. Sponsoring companies are now featured on a raised flag, which creates more prominent exposure for the company, whilst making recycling points more distinctive. All cash generated from sponsorship will be used to support future recycling initiatives.

Ruth Llewellyn, Wales Recycling Manager at Cylch commented, “The distinctively eye-catching new bin covers turned the ugly metal oil drums into easily identifiable beacons of recycling. The amount of material collected for recycling has increased dramatically compared with 2006. It could be said this is a result of the new striking bin covers developed by PDR. The new covers will be used at other events to promote a consistent recycling message.”