The ROB team
ROB is run by a board of trustees drawn from the local community . ROB has approximately twenty-five trainee and volunteer places.
History
The Recycling Ollerton and Boughton (ROB) Project was initiated in 1998 when it was realised there was a need for more work placements for people with learning disabilities. In particular, clients from the Whitewater Day Centre exhibited a passion for recycling. Since there was no scheme operating in the Ollerton and Boughton area, a consultation with the community was conducted with a view to starting one. The co-founders of ROB were Joan Tomlinson, a parent, and Kate Newton, a grassroots environmentalist. The project co-ordinator, Carol Langham, was based at Ollerton & District Economic Forum (ODEF).
After feasibility and pilot studies had been carried out, the project was launched on November 5th 1999. The organisers then applied for and received funding to allow the Project to continue and expand its operations. It was at this time that Peter Lee was appointed as Project Manager. With the onset of funding, ROB has gone from strength to strength and it now serves approximately 6000 households in 8 rural towns and villages from its two units on the Boughton Industrial Estate. The latest addition is Edwinstowe, which should be fully completed before the end of 2006.
The volunteers collect a variety of waste materials - glass, cans, paper, green waste, cardboard and textiles - which are processed and converted into a variety of useful products, such as animal bedding or mulch, or sold to third parties for further processing. The profits are then re-invested into the scheme. Cans, paper and cardboard were dropped at the request of Newark & Sherwood District Council after their twin bin scheme (which collected these items) came on-stream in 2005. ROB trustees agreed to do this – even though it affected incomes – as a gesture of collaboration with local authorities and in line with the waste strategy of Nottinghamshire County Council. |
Aims and Objectives
The objects of ROB, based on its constitution, are to:
- Develop a community-owned project that will provide learning experiences, skills-training and real work in the recycling industry - particularly for volunteers, local employment projects and adults with learning disabilities;
- Develop partnerships in the community;
- Develop a sustainable project in line with Nottinghamshire's Integrated Waste Management Strategy;
- Share ideas and experiences about this project with other communities and projects;
- Research into the possible diversification of ROB's activities and extend the range of skills-training;
- Achieve financial sustainability.
Registered Charity Number: 1096735.
ROB is a Company Limited by Guarantee - Registration Number: 4551116. |
