Chiswick Councillor Attends Recycling Roundtable at Westminster
Ron Mushiso exchanged ideas with cross-party panel
Left: Cllr Mushiso with Baroness Bennett (Green Party). Right: Cllr Mushiso arriving at the Palaces of Westminster with Chiswick Litter Pick hi-vis jacket
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July 25, 2024
Chiswick Gunnersbury councillor Ron Mushiso was at the Palace of Westminster this week to attend a roundtable event on how Britain can lead the recycling revolution.
He had been invited to the cross-party event as an advocate for cleanliness and conservation of the local environment and the co-founder of the monthly Turnham Green litter pick which has been running for five years.
The invitation was on behalf of Nature 2030, Keep Britain Tidy and a coalition of environmental advocacy organisations.
As a teacher and sports coach, Cllr Mushiso has aimed to get more young people involved in environmental activism.
At the event, which took place in the committee rooms inside the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday 24 July, Cllr Mushiso exchanged ideas with a panel that included the Chair, Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville, (Liberal Democrat DEFRA Spokesperson), Baroness Natalie Bennett, (Green Party), Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive, Keep Wales Tidy, Sarah Horner from Reloop and Marcel Arsand, Director of Sustainability, from Ball Corporation.
The main aim of the discussion was to try and uncover how the UK can match the ambitions of many of its European neighbours and yield higher recycling rates including the reduction of plastic pollution at source.
Panel from right to left Marcel Arsand, Baroness Bennett, Baroness Bakewell (Chair) Owen Derbyshire and Sarah Horner
The panel noted that there had been strong consensus across all party manifestos for creating a circular economy with clear recognition of the need to reduce litter that blights our high streets and natural beauty spots, while increasing environmental protections for wildlife.
Given the important role local authorities are expected to play creating a circular economy; Cllr Mushiso was invited to speak about his work in encouraging Chiswick residents to volunteer as environmental activists.
Reflecting on the discussion afterwards, Cllr Mushiso said, " I was able to share the views of our young Chiswick volunteers in front of a room full of experts from across the country. I expressed their wish to one day have a Deposit Return Schemes partnered with retailers so that we can recycle more plastics, glass and aluminium like they do in Europe. Young people clearly want us to more for the environment. A Deposit Return Scheme with all its inbuilt incentives could be the spark to help capture their zeal."
The monthly Turnham Green litter pick is set to go ahead as planned this Sunday 28 July. Meet as usual at 2.30pm at Christ Church, Turnham Green, for about an hour of litter picking on the Green and the surrounding residential streets, and then back to the church by 3.15 - 3.30pm for tea, home-made cake and time to chat.
Environmental Champion, Jill Spencer said, “The weather forecast is looking perfect for litter picking this Sunday - warm, but not too warm! Please remember to bring your own gardening/protective gloves if possible.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday. “
Subsequent litter picks take place on:
25 August
22 September
27 October
24 November
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