Cowbins: greening the land

Sometimes all it takes is one stroke of genius: a wind-up radio, an open university, a car that runs on electricity and.....painting bins to look like cows. That's right, in Lewisham they've trialled a project called Feed the Cows which painted  large recycling bins to look like cows. Or  as they put it:

"[the partners] have turned ordinary recycling bins into a look-alike herd of cows, set in a look-alike tranquil field, in the heart of the hustle and bustle of New Cross."

Or, as the mayor of Lewisham calls it in his quote, "Moo Cross". Bad puns and mockery aside, though, sometimes the most effective ideas are the simplest. According to this article, the project has increased recycling by 61% in just three months, and Hackney Council are ordering in 200 more....a veritable herd.

Unfortunately, my council prefers the stick to the carrot, and is putting cameras in baked bean tins to tackle persistent waste offenders. Complete madness, of course, but at least it led to the inspired headline in one paper this morning of "Beans Means Fines"....

[thanks to Jake for spotting the cows....]