DEVON-BASED commercial waste management firm DCW is asking the public to donate their leftover plastic chocolate and confectionary tubs to raise funds for Dartmoor Zoo, through its recently launched Recycle and Raise scheme.

With an estimated £539-million spent on confectionary over the Christmas period alone, those who have indulged over the festive season can continue to spread the good cheer by recycling their plastic confectionary tubs with DCW, with all proceeds going to Dartmoor Zoo, home of the book and film ‘We Bought a Zoo’.

DCW has partnered with organisations throughout Devon that have offered to host collection points. So far, more than 85 companies have signed up to the scheme — from Saltash to Colyton, Kingsbridge to Exeter.

In the Post area, Launceston Golf Club and Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, are drop-off points for the scheme.

Commenting on the launch of the Recycle and Raise scheme, business support manager Emily Almond said: “We were discussing the different types of plastic that we are able to recycle, and I learned that these confectionary tubs are a reasonably high value type of plastic. You can’t walk into a supermarket in November or December without seeing these tubs, so I was inspired to offer a recycling service to the public.

“Knowing there is a high value in this type of plastic, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to raise money for Dartmoor Zoo and thus Recycle and Raise was created!

“We have been overwhelmed with the response so far, not only from the public with the hundreds of tubs that have been donated to date, but also the number of businesses and organisations eager to support the scheme by signing up as collection points. From U7 Gym to Tesco, Taunton School to Devon Wildlife Trust — people from all sectors are getting involved!”

In August 2019, DCW acquired a plastic processing plant in South Brent, now named DCW Polymers. The empty plastic confectionary tubs collected from the scheme will be taken to DCW Polymers to be shredded, granulated and sold back to the UK plastic manufacturing industry to be recycled into new plastic products. All profits made from selling the plastic will be donated to Dartmoor Zoo.

The Recycle and Raise scheme will be running until the end of January, and a full list of drop off points is available on the DCW website at www.dcw.co.uk/recycle-and-raise-with-dcw-polymers.

DCW are still looking for collection partners across the region for the public to drop tubs to. In particular, DCW need supporters in Torbay, Newton Abbot, Teignbridge and North Devon. If your business, school or organisation would like to get involved, email [email protected] to arrange this.

For more information visit www.dcw.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01392 361 300 to purchase.