Brighten up our bins! Libraries team up with Ipswich Borough Council to keep Ipswich tidy

Two libraries in Ipswich are teaming up with Ipswich Borough Council to launch a competition to promote recycling and help keep Ipswich tidy.

New bins will soon be appearing outside Ipswich County Library and Gainsborough Community Library and the borough council is looking to decorate them with some bookishly bright and novel recycling-themed designs from local children.

Both bins will be offering dual recycling facilities as well as normal waste so Ipswich Borough Council is keen for the bins to stand out to help keep the streets tidy as well and encourage more people to recycle.

Children are encouraged to base their designs on the themes of recycling or reading or of course they may wish to combine the two!

Designs might also include the image of DiGBY the blue octopus who became famous after appearing as a mural on the side of a silo on Ipswich Waterfront. His tentacles represent the fact that it takes a lot of helping hands to tackle litter.

Any local children living near the town centre or Gainsborough part of Ipswich up to the age of 14 are invited to submit their designs to decorate the outside of the bins. There will be more than one panel on each bin so a few winners will be chosen who will all receive a goody bag from DiGBY!

The bin at Ipswich County Library will also include a special logo to commemorate the library’s 100th year which will be marked with a series of special events leading to the anniversary of opening on 3 September.

Designs should be drawn, painted or created on an A4 sized page with these themes in mind. Designs submitted by email would be preferred and can be sent to recycling@ipswich.gov.uk – please make it clear in the subject field if the entry is for Ipswich or Gainsborough’s bin. The two libraries will also accept entries in person. The competitions will run until Friday 26 April.

Chris Taylor, Head of Waste & Fleet at Ipswich Borough Council, said:

“We’re well on our way to renewing the bins around the Town Centre and the bin outside Ipswich Library is a key piece of street furniture for many children and adults visiting the library. We wanted to do something ‘novel’ with it. Bins don’t have to be dull or brutalist and we’re always looking for ways to have bright and engaging binfrastructure to assist with our priority for a thriving town centre.

"We’re delighted to be working with Suffolk Libraries to create a design for the bin. I’m looking forwarded to seeing what entries we receive, the silver bin stood for 20 years and hopefully we receive a timeless classic design that will see us through for 20 more.”

For more information about keeping Ipswich tidy visit the Love Your Street website.