Recycling Memories is a history project about sustainable living, researched and developed by Bath Place Community Venture in Leamington Spa, and involving the local community.
We're exploring the way people used to live; finding out about the recycling we used to do and how we handled our rubbish before green bins and red boxes. We look at sustainable lifestyles in the past, and record some of the ways in which people were reducing energy use, preventing waste and supporting local producers.
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The project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and along with this web site, will create an exhibition and DVD, recording the recycling that people used to do.
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Recycling bins take to the pavement on collection day |
Glass bottles used as edging at New Milverton Allotments |
A view across St Mary's Allotments |
In 2008, households in Leamington and Warwick District have received red boxes and green bins to hold waste for recycling.
The Recycling Memories project is looking back to find out how we used to recycle in years gone by.
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Photo: Warwickshire County Record Office PH1035/CO428-430 |
You are invited to contribute by sending photographs of successful and inventive recycling. The project is looking at food, clothing, energy, transport and general recycling to find out whether our lifestyles were more sustainable in the past.
Do you remember?
The Destructor on Princes Drive?
What did you do with your cast-offs?
Was your Dad a Mr Fixit?
Can you tell us how your family managed before they had a fridge?
Did your family know how to make their own clothes?
Who mended your bike?
Did you have an open fire at home?
We're collecting images and memories about all these things. e-mail the project with your own images of things recycled, repaired, and re-used.
Take a look at some of the material we've unearthed so far:
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An office water dispenser used as a cloche, New Milverton Allotments |
Goose plate, drilled and repaired with pig rings. Photo: Tony Donoghue |
George Fletcher, who ran a scrap yard on Ranelagh Terrace c.1975 |
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Tables at Ransford's yard become useful shelving for salvage, Warwick Road, 1960s |
Demolition of Christchurch, Clarendon Avenue, 1960s |
Shorts and sandals for householders at Princes Drive tip, 1980s |
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Seven Coventry City football shirts made into a quilt cover, by Hazel Joy |
Make Do and Mend leaflet featuring Mrs Sew n Sew, 1940s, Warwickshire Museum Service |
How to rejuvenate worn sheets by turning "sides to middle", 1940s, Warwickshire Museum Service |