Selsey residents are being asked to return to using their standard household recycling bins for plastic milk bottle tops, as a community scheme that has run for a decade comes to a close.
The initiative, managed by Selsey Town Council, has ended after 10 years. Over the last decade, the project has diverted more than 70 tonnes of plastic from landfill while raising significant funds for local palliative care.
A decade of community fundraising
Since its inception, the collection point at the Town Council offices in the High Street has raised more than £15,000 for Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice. The success of the scheme relied on the consistent efforts of local residents and a dedicated volunteer, Mike Beal, who was responsible for delivering the collected donations to the processor for the duration of the 10-year project.
The decision to end the local collection follows a move by the Portsmouth-based processor, GHS Recycling, to discontinue its charity bottle top scheme. The company cited significant financial pressures, including rising transport costs and a falling market value for recycled plastic, as the primary reasons for the closure of the service.
What residents should do now
Selsey Town Council has confirmed that it can no longer accept milk bottle tops at its offices at 55 High Street. Residents are now advised to dispose of their plastic bottle tops through their regular kerbside recycling collections.
While the dedicated charity scheme has concluded, Chichester District Council’s kerbside service continues to accept these materials, ensuring the plastic is still recycled even though it will no longer generate direct charitable donations for the hospice through this specific channel.
