EEAST volunteers clean up Hospital Lane

 On Tuesday 18 October, volunteers from the Green Champions Network and Finance department cleaned up Hospital Lane outside our Norwich Office and AOC.

The event was organised to coincide with national Recycle Week which ran from 17-23 October and is Recycle Now’s flagship annual event to celebrate recycling.

Five volunteers, including four from the Finance department, picked up litter for an hour along Hospital Lane and managed to clear both sides of the entire road. In all, two bags of recycling and two bags of general waste were collected.

Sharon Robertson a Green Champion and Management Accountant based at Norwich recommended the litter pick after noticing the large amounts of litter on the road outside the Norwich Office and AOC. Reflecting on the event, Sharon said, “What a great thing to do over our lunchbreak. It was nice to spend time outdoors with colleagues and at the same time do something positive for our environment. The weather was on its best behaviour too, so it made it even nicer.”

Katherine Middleton, Environment and Sustainability Manager organised the event with advice from Broadland District Council. Volunteers were provided with all equipment and a survey was carried out, with the survey results being sent to Keep Britain Tidy as part of their #LitterHeroes campaign.

The most numerous items were plastics such as sweet wrappers, coffee cup lids and bottles and drinks cans. The most unusual items found were a hoodie, sunglasses and three golf balls (which is perhaps unsurprising given that Hospital Lane backs onto the former Royal Norwich Golf Club). Unfortunately, the environmental impact of Covid-19 could also be seen, as eight clinical masks were found along this short road which has been closed for roadworks since 1 June. All waste and recycling was segregated and disposed of correctly.

But the prize for the best item goes to Zara Krumins, Financial Services Assistant, who found an antique blue glass medicine bottle.

Green Champions get involved with projects to improve sustainability at EEAST and are vital for us to achieve our Green Plan. If you’re interested in joining the Green Champions Network contact: sustainability@eastamb.nhs.uk

#RecycleWeek

Published 26th October 2022