Blackpool’s HWRC Heroes rescue car keys from the skip!

A Blackpool resident used the Household Waste Recycling Centre and unintentionally threw his car keys into a skip. In addition to being kind and efficient, the staff members went above and beyond to retrieve the keys.

Max Speakman of Blackpool visited the Household Waste Recycling Centre on January 29th. During the visit he unfortunately misplaced his car keys in the skip, while discarding the waste. When the visitor returned to his unlocked car and couldn’t find his keys he realised immediately – out of concern he went straight to an HWRC staff member for assistance. This occurred two minutes before the site was scheduled to close.

That day, every employee participated in the effort to find the missing keys. The team and the resident decided to call it a night after 30 minutes of nonstop searching in the rain. The Site Manager and Assistant Manager arranged for the unlocked vehicle to be left on site overnight, with security monitoring the vehicle until the keys could be found. In a panic, the resident returned home and began researching companies where he could purchase new car keys. He anticipated having to pay about £450.00 for replacements.

The following morning the Site Manager devised a strategy. He realised the most efficient way to look for the missing keys would be to arrange for the skip to be taken to the Layton Depot to be tipped out. The manager then contacted the resident to ask if he was happy with the plan – the resident was over the moon and was very pleased when the site manager said this would be done free of charge. The Assistant Manager and other HWRC staff members went to the Depot to sort through the waste, by 10:00am the keys had been found.

A great success and effort from all those involved.

The girlfriend of Max Speakman said:

“Honestly honestly honestly can’t thank all the workers enough – they went above and beyond and saved my grateful partner a lot of money. They didn’t have to do any of that and the fact that they did restored our faith in humanity”.

 

Memorial Stones Rescued from Marton Methodist Church Before Demolition!

The Fylde Memorial Arboretum aims to find family members of 8 memorial stones saved from demolition.  

Steve Harvey, Enveco’s grounds maintenance gardener noticed that Marton Methodist church was due for demolition. From spending many days with his family at the church he remembered the section of memorial stones. Concerned about what would happen to the stones, Steve Harvey reached out to the new owners of the church who stated the stones would be saved to keep the memories of families and veterans alive. Steve Harvey then contacted the Volunteering Manager, Chairman of the Fylde Ex-service Liaison Committee, Paul Binns, and Volunteering Labourer, Captain John Jones from Fylde Memorial Arboretum Community Woodland about the memorials.

One of the stones is a memorial tablet, inscribed with 38 names of local men who were killed during the First World War between 1914 to 1918. It was decided the tablet would be placed in a suitable setting at the arboretum. Enveco’s grounds maintenance team placed the stone in a tastefully decorated area that Captain John Jones had created with stones and a handcrafted memorial statue. Everyone who was involved did a fantastic job.

However, it didn’t stop there, as part of the rescue, Steve Harvey managed to retrieve 8 additional memorial stones and handed them to the Arboretum for safekeeping. They aim to return these to family members. Can you help? Below are the names of these additional stones that are looking to be returned to family members:

  • The Leeming Family
  • Mr and Mrs J.R. Cookson
  • John and Emma Parkinson
  • Mr and Mrs John Hallam
  • Mr John W Cardwell
  • Mr W Carr
  • Thomas and Betty Cardwell (of Cropper)
  • Elizabeth and Howorth
  • Mrs E.D. Denbigh

Can you help get these stones to the right people? If so, please email marketing@enveconw.co.uk for more details.

Jez Evans Operations director from Enveco NW Said:

”Steve’s commitment to pursue the safekeeping of memorial stones when Marton Methodist Church was sold, cannot be understated to preserve the names of Blackpool residents who lost their lives in the Great War. Enveco and Blackpool Council have a strong relationship with the Fylde Memorial Arboretum volunteers who tirelessly maintain the community woodland and would encourage anyone to consider supporting this ‘Green Space Asset’”.

The beautiful space at the Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland was founded by Don Aiken, a D-Day Veteran, the 5.5-acre site contains a range of young trees as a living memorial to remember fallen comrades and loved ones. If you love the outdoors and are interested in meeting like-minded people – They are looking for volunteers! To find out more about volunteering opportunities email paul-binns@sky.com.

 

 

 

 

End-of-Year and Winter Updates

The Enveco team has had a very busy, but productive year.

We would like to end the year with a few key achievements such as, the launch of our website and social media accounts, co-hosting Blackpool in Bloom 2023, winning North West in Bloom, Best City, and Silver Gilt awards, receiving a grant from the Keep Britain Tidy, Chewing Gum task force to address the chewing gum problem in Blackpool, incorporating three new electric Tricycles to assist the Town Centre Street cleaning crew, and having a network of 157 volunteers from various litter-picking groups with a total of 3,798 hours recorded since 2022.

We want to thank all our Team, Volunteers, Partners and Suppliers for all their hard work and we look forward to more successes in 2024.

For waste related Christmas changes, see below!

Winter Changes

HWRC
The Household Waste Recycling Centre and the Re-use Shop will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. The site will reopen on the 27th of December and then close on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Green Waste
Bin collections will be having the usual winter break between the 27th of November 2023 to the 19th of January 2024.

Other Waste Services
The Rover and Bulky Matters collection service will finish operations on Friday 22nd of December 2023 and commence again on Tuesday 2nd of January 2024.

Christmas Tree Collection
Like previous years, the Trinity Hospice Charity will be collecting used Christmas Trees. If you would like your tree collected (for a small donation), please click here for details.

Waste Collection Changes 

To check your current waste collection day click here.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all at Enveco.

Young Blackpool resident meets with her favourite bin operatives

Blackpool’s two-year-old, Freya beams when her favourite bin operatives empty her bins.

It all started in October 2022 when Freya, who was only 18 months old at the time, saw Enveco’s domestic bin wagon outside her home. She waved to the bin operatives and enjoyed the lights of the wagon. Ever since their first meeting, Freya waits happily for her bin day to arrive, so she can wave to Dave Hindle, Gary Machell, and Geoff Kam, Enveco’s domestic bin operatives as they empty her bins.

Since Freya found joy from this experience her family and the Enveco team orgainsed a special day where the bin operatives visited her. She had the opportunity to sit in the wagon with her parents and learn everything there was to know about what goes inside.

It’s encouraging to see a young resident take delight in the work that domestic bin operatives do, as it’s a crucial and significant aspect of Keeping Blackpool Tidy.

Freya’s parents support her good attitude by making sure she has toys relating to waste, such as a waste truck of her own and a children’s book explaining what goes in the bins.

If you know of any young Blackpool residents with a similar interest in the domestic waste service, please email your story to marketing@enveconw.co.uk.

Blackpool winners at Northwest in Bloom Awards 2023

Enveco North West Environmental Services picked up the awards on behalf of Blackpool, for Best City and Silver Gilt City in the coastal category at the Northwest in Bloom Awards 2023 ceremony on Thursday 19th October, held at Bolton Arena.

The North West in Bloom competition is part of the wider Britain in Bloom programme which is the UK’s largest community gardening competition delivered by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The competition focuses on the RHS’s three key themes which are: Horticultural excellence, Community involvement, and Environmental friendliness.

These impressive awards follow on from the recent successful Blackpool in Bloom competition. The judging inspection team, led by Bernard Pendleton (Chair of North West in Bloom), was shown a range of private and community spaces demonstrating the commitment of private residents, volunteers, community groups, and the team from Enveco to create an attractive, clean, tidy and green Town.

The judging tour showcased many of the recent Blackpool in Bloom award winners, along with several community spaces, including; Forget-Me-Not Dementia café, Stanley Park, and Watson Rd Park Secret Garden.
Blackpool parks are maintained by a team of 17 Enveco Gardeners, who all do an incredible job keeping Blackpool’s green open spaces beautiful, with the help of a strong base of committed volunteers who add that extra sparkle.

There was an extra special surprise for Blackpool in Bloom winner Robert Robson, who won the Best Private Front Garden Award in the North West. This was well deserved for all the effort and passion he puts into his beautiful garden, which also has a positive street scene impact.

The award event at Bolton Arena was well attended by Blackpool in Bloom entrants and winners, who along with volunteers from across the North West, were congratulated for their accomplishments and ensured their hard work was recognised and appreciated, as they contribute much to the Town’s beauty by adding extra sparkle.

Chair of Enveco NW Board and Deputy Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Adrian Hoyle said

“I am absolutely delighted for Blackpool to receive the North West in the Bloom Best City award. The competition provides an independent assessment against similar towns in the ‘City Category’. The award acknowledges the quality street scene standards that Enveco and its network of friends in parks and volunteers carry out on behalf of the Blackpool Council. It is very rewarding to offer an attractive, welcoming, ‘Green and Clean’ environment for all the residents and visitors to enjoy.”

 

Councillor Jane Hugo said

“It was an absolute pleasure to attend the final day of the North West in Bloom awards ceremony with Robert Robson and the Enveco team. We, along with Blackpool Pleasure Beach brought back four awards to Blackpool to add to the amazing total of 16 awards for our town. It’s fantastic to see the efforts of our residents, community groups, businesses, and organisations being recognised for all their hard work and I would like to thank them all for helping make Blackpool a more beautiful and colourful place.”

 

Operation Director for Enveco NW, Jez Evans said
“The Street Scene operations team was delighted to be informed of the Blackpool award which recognises and acknowledges the hard work and community support that goes into keeping the public open space well maintained, clean, and tidy. This year has been a challenge with unseasonal weather conditions at times. Our commitment to present maintained Parks and Open Spaces, including highway verges and street cleaning together with fantastic engagement with an army of committed volunteers has showcased the civic pride in Blackpool.”

Full North West in Bloom Awards 2023 results for Blackpool

  • Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Gold
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Gold
  • Belle View Strawberry Gardens Community Group, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Chepstow Community Allotments, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Devonshire Road Rock Garden, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Enveco NW, Blackpool – Best City
  • Enveco NW, Blackpool – Silver Gilt
  • Friends of Squires Gate Station, Blackpool IYN Railway Station IYN Level 4 – Thriving
  • Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Grow Blackpool The Grange, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Jubilee Gardens (Gynn Square), Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 4 – Thriving
  • Revoe Community Garden, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 4 – Thriving
  • Robert Robson, Blackpool – Best Private Front Garden
  • Stanley Park Memorial Garden, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Urban Organic UK (CIC), Blackpool IYN Hospice/Residential Home Level 5 – Outstanding
  • Watson Road Park Secret Garden, Blackpool IYN Neighbourhood Level 5 – Outstanding

To learn more about Northwest in Bloom awards click here.

Keeping Blackpool Tidy with Travel Village Group and the Royal Caribbean!

Travel Village Group, in collaboration with Royal Caribbean International, took on the sand with on of Enveco’s most recent litter-picking event to Keep Blackpool Tidy!

Enveco’s engagement team, welcomed a group of 30 volunteers to take on the sand to pick up litter on the beach and promenade on Blackpool’s seafront. They had the sun on their side and a team full of joy and enthusiasm for the day ahead.

The Travel Village Group, in collaboration with Royal Caribbean International, came with a mission – their aim was to load two suitcases with litter, which equated to roughly 50kg. This was a harder goal than originally thought – as Enveco’s Street Cleansing team ensures our beaches are as clean as possible. They start cleaning first thing in the morning and then the beach and foot-walks are monitored throughout the day. But with so many visitors the help from these litter-picking events is very important.

But what did they think about the day?

Phil Nuttall, Travel Village Group CEO said: “It’s important for us all to be looking at what we can do to help our planet. We’ve all got to start thinking more responsibly about sustainability, regardless of whether we think we’re having a small or huge impact. The important thing is to do your bit. Whether that’s cycling to work instead of driving, helping local projects like beach cleans, supporting businesses that re-purpose marine waste, or investing in new technologies that reduce pollution and energy consumption. It’s all about ensuring that we leave something better for the next generations.”

These beach litter-picking events are such a vital part to Keep Blackpool Tidy, they boost team bonding as well as showcase the positive impact of teamwork. In turn, they have a big impact on the cleanliness of Blackpool Beach whilst raising awareness of the importance of reducing waste and taking action to look after our environment.

Diane Farley, Neighbourhood Officer at Enveco said “A massive thank you to the team at Travel Village and Royal Caribbean for their time, joy, and effort. A job well done”.

Find out more about our corporate team litter picking events here.