Flipping fantastic recycling

18th June 2013

Sea lions at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park are making a splash and showing Scots exactly how easy recycling can be.

Every day, the four sea lions - Lola, Poppy, Bali and Bella - show children and adults how to avoid littering and make green choices like recycling as part of the park’s education programme.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing recycling across the country. Thanks to support from the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Scotland programme, the Safari Park now offers 'recycling on the go' to all visitors providing facilities for people to recycle when they are out and about.

Visiting the Park during Recycle Week Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:"Recycling is so easy - even a sea lion can do it. You just need to put things in the right place and that's exactly what Blair Drummond’s sea lion quartet show visitors every day.

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“The sea lion show is a great way for kids to learn about recycling and to encourage future generations to make green choices, helping us to look after nature, wildlife and our environment.

“With the Recycle on the Go facilities now within the Safari Park, there really is no excuse for people, young and old, not to get involved – and there’s been a 41 per cent reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill from the Park which is great news for our environment.

“As the sea lions have shown us, recycling is so simple. Over 40 per cent of Scotland’s household waste is now recycled but we can all do more.

“That’s why during Recycle Week and as we celebrate the Year of Natural Scotland, I'm urging people across the country to recycle more - your efforts really do make a difference and will help to protect our environment and build a better future for us all.”

Dave Warren, Education Officer, Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, said:

“It is wonderful to have Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead here. Everyone needs to do their bit to reduce their own environmental impact. If we choose to ignore the scientific research and predictions on the effects of climate change, there will be grave consequences in the not too distant future. That is why it’s absolutely essential that we all recycle as part of greener way of living. The education team and sea lion department are working hard to drive home these very important messages in a fun and engaging way.”

Iain Gulland, Director, Zero Waste Scotland, said:“Recycle Week highlights the importance of recycling wherever we are, and is a great time to reflect on how well we are doing in using all the facilities on offer at home, through central collection points, when we’re at work, shopping or anywhere else.

“The scheme at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park is an excellent example of how much can be achieved by making recycling facilities available to visitors. Using education work to reinforce the message will ensure that visitors will continue to recycle once they’ve left the Park.”

Blair Drummond Safar and Adventure Park reports a 41 per cent reduction on the amount of waste sent to landfill with a 39 per cent reduction in associated costs over the comparable timeframe for last season and this season so far. That’s 51.59 tonnes last year (March to June); 30.42 tonnes this year – and there have been comparable visitor figures.

The Scottish Government, through Zero Waste Scotland, has provided £850,000 for ‘Recycle on the Go’ projects across Scotland.

Stats and facts* on Scotland's support for recycling:

In 2011/2012, 88 per cent of Scottish households received a dry recycling kerbside collection – that’s 2.2 million households. That’s an increase from just over 1 million households in 2003/2004
In Scotland household recycling rates rose from 10 per cent to 40 per cent between 2003/04 and 2011
Scottish households are already helping to reduce landfill costs by £20 million a year by recycling at home
In 2010/11, Scottish households recycled: over £7.5 million worth of plastic materials; over £4 million worth of textiles; over £2 million worth of mixed cans; and over 23,000 tonnes of plastic bottles
In 2010/11, over 250,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard were recycled in Scotland
Old cans can become a new can in just six weeks and it uses 20 times less energy to produce a can from the recycled material
Recycling the 566,000 tonnes of annual food waste from Scottish homes could power half a million homes for almost a month
Scottish households throw away around 70 million litres of drinks a year. That would fill 175,000 bathtubs to the brim
1.2 million Scottish households will have food waste collection service by end of 2013
Zero Waste Scotland has made significant investment in increased kerbside recycling services, including food waste collections. In 2012-13 alone, ZWS invested over £5 million to help local authorities roll out food waste collections to householders
Recycle for Scotland is the nationally recognised brand for recycling in Scotland and is managed by Zero Waste Scotland. Recycle Now is the recognised brand in England and is managed by WRAP. The brands help consumers and businesses understand how and where to recycle
*latest statistical analysis is for figures to 2011