More fun in the sun! Islander sets up green beach toy borrowing scheme

Tuesday 02 August 2022

Children will soon be able to access free recycled beach toys around the island's coast thanks to a new 'Borrow a Bucket Box' scheme by a local environmentalist.

Louise Carson is already involved in numerous recycling initiatives, ranging from co-founding Potty Eco Pots and acting as administrator of Jersey’s local ‘Journey to Zero Waste’ Facebook group.

Her newest scheme will involve gathering beach toys which would have otherwise gone to waste and then stationing them in boxes around Jersey’s coast for beachgoers to use for free. 

Louise has been working with La Collette Household Reuse and Recycling centre to gather second-hand buckets and spades, while volunteers at Acorn Enterprises have been building the boxes for the toys to be stored in.

Pictured: Louise won the Women's Refuge Inspirational Woman of the Year Award 2021/22 for her extensive environmental endeavours.  

Once the boxes are up and running at the end of this week, it is hoped that local walkers will gather up any unreturned toys and return them to the boxes. Louise has already had some volunteers for this task. 

Louise explained: “We aim to reduce the number of plastic items used for very brief periods on our beaches, particularly by short term visitors to the island, and therefore work reducing plastic waste.

“We would also support people on limited budgets and give them the opportunity to borrow items they might otherwise not afford.”

Pictured: Louise (right) also co-founded Potty Eco Pots alongside Kalina Le Marquand (left), although she has stepped away now that it's up and running.

Thanking the sponsors, she added: “This venture illustrates that local businesses are trying to make a difference to both our local and global environment.

“With community support, we will be able to save much plastic from entering our waste system as I hope islanders will donate items they no longer need too!”

The Borrow a Bucket Box scheme will officially be launching at the Long Beach playground, Gorey, on Friday morning. 

12 boxes will be placed around Jersey's most popular bays from then onwards.

The initiative has been sponsored by PraxisIFM and TEAM Asset Management, with Mailmate providing printing and Tim Townsend from Alex Forbes individually sponsoring cricket sets to go in the boxes.