James Mummery London
'If we can recycle our waste at home, why shouldn't we recycle what we use on the move? What's the difference?'
Over a million free newspapers are distributed in London every day. That's a lot of paper to supply the capital's demand for free news. I want the publishers and the public to be aware of the environmental impact of free newspapers and our collective responsibility to sustain our environment. The time is now to stop talking and start acting on issues that are affecting our environment.
- Meeting the MD of the London Paper – and being offered a column!
- Meeting Guardian journalist, Bibi Van der Zee
- Meeting Global Climate Change campaigner, Iris Andrews
- Going to public speaking workshop with Jack Morton Worldwide
- Join my free newspaper collection team
- Take your free newspapers home with you to recycle – don’t leave them on the tube!
- Send in ideas about an art piece we can do with all the old newspapers
- Show your support by leaving a comment or joining my Facebook group
- Download and read my report on free newspapers and recycling bins at different London tube stations here
fncte via Twitter:
"Campaign identity crisis resolved - seen where fncte can be of most help in making sure the dirty freesheet industy cleans up" Twitter27 March 2009
Managing Director of the Metro and London Lite looks back on Ten Years of Free newspapers, bebo-posts
"Ironically, on my birthday the 16th March, The Metro celebrated its 10 year Anniversary and the head of Associated Newspapers Free Media division, Steve Auckland, has given interviews to the press on the future of the industry. See article..." Bebo27 March 2009
fncte via Twitter:
"Was at Start, Think n' Stop last night - Alex Rose has made some amazing achievements - education is definately the key to stop g'n'k crime" Twitter26 March 2009
fncte via Twitter:
"Problems this big need more than the state v market stuff: http://tinyurl.com/cxblzs" Twitter20 March 2009
My first blog in a while - The Age of Stupid, bebo-posts
"Hey people, Sorry for the drop in rate of blogs as of late, I have been really busy with activities away from FNCTE that I have not been very active. Over the last three weeks, 3 big achievements stand to mind; hosting a debate in Newcastle..." Bebo16 March 2009
You can show which issues you think are most important by promoting this campaign on your blog, Myspace, Facebook or Bebo.
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Hi James, Its Alex from the STOP campaign, I love the idea of the website where people can actually get involved and make recycling fun. I just keep thinking "how can we make it more of an incentive to encourage people to recycle?" like i remember in america you can gain money back from the amount of recycled cans they collect and bring back, - How could we possibly bring that scheme over to england ? - could it be a system that is linked up to tube lines and you get a free ticket per 100 newspapers you recycle (I'm just thinking out loud here) or could we link it up to big businesses that are doing alot to recycle and get discounts in various stores as a result of recycling its always easier to change attitudes by giving people little treats for doing the right thing to begin with hope my midnight ramblings help Thanks for coming down to the Start Think and Stop event
Alexander Rose, 28 March 2009 00:36
well done for winning the election - that green nail polish did the trick,eh?
Jo, 08 March 2009 19:31
*To Leo* Thanks Leo, well i feel i can answer a few more questions: 1) Tube Lines and Metronet do recycle at the terminal points (at least I am certain of the former, haven't investigated Metronet yet) so this is really good. In the case of Tube Lines they then collect the money from selling recycling to go into a CSR fund that they give to charities and volunteering staff. A really good policy, amazing in fact, in my opinion. The key for FNCTE is to pursue network rail and the mainline train stations to put recycle bins on their overground pplatforms whilst also support the trails of on-platform recycling bins on some tube platforms at current. 2)In terms of those recycling ads you mentioned, although they may have limited impact, to engage the public with the message of recycling, a series of complimentary strategies are required. The new initiative we have agreed with thelondonpaper is a step on that path and we hope to enagge the public over the course of the next few months with more and more reasons why you should recycle your free newspaper. Ranging from fun and incentivised messages, to hard hitting factual campaigns. Thanks for the offer of help, i will be in contact very soon. Also, I am organising the Age of Stupid volunteering for the 13th March to collect the energy sources for the premier tent so if you are around that day then come along. Hope you're good, James
James Mummery, 04 March 2009 09:01
*To Aimee* Thanks!!!
James Mummery, 04 March 2009 08:48
heyyy james ye was lovely to meet up the other week going back there again this weds to meet with chris arnold and creative orchestra again :) the one i have at the moment is from starbucks i bought it around christmas time because was sick of my other one which kept leaking so its got a christmassy outside! it looks just like a normal flask, its quite tall and slim and has a clip lid which doesnt leak at all. it also stays cold on the outside even when the drink is boiling unlike some others which actually get quite hot! hope that helps aimeexx
aimee nathan, 03 March 2009 00:11
Thanks a lot for your excellent reply James. I am very reassured that you're on an increasingly well thought out mission here and for that I am extremely grateful. I find the ads in the London paper asking people to take away their paper and recycle it utterly infuriating. How about proposing to them that instead of wasting advertising space on ineffectual and wrong-headed entreaties with pictures of Giraffes being submerged by rising sea levels (I ask you), they sell that advertising space as usual but ring-fence the revenue to pay for more recycling by Metronet / Tubelines staff? Just a thought. I know that as waste-streams go, what comes out of Tube carriages is uncommonly 'clean' and already differentiated; it must be 90%+ newsprint, which is a valuable commodity in the recycling business. I feel that this point of collection - termini - must be the most strategically effective point to focus on. People have no ownership of things they are given for free; witness the leaflets littering the pavement immediately downstream of people giving them out. Getting end-users to take responsibility for responsible disposal is I suspect almost certainly a doomed enterprise, so a different approach is probably called for. I'm so pleased you are chewing on this bone James, best of luck with making progress on it. Feel free to email me if you think I can help with anything.
Leo Murray, 27 February 2009 18:15
I have to say that strategically i have no idea what needs to happen - I appreciate the great lengths people like James are going to in order to uncover the facts and expose the depth of the problem. Whether its down to the publishers, DEFRA or TfL to take more responsibility for the waste I can't help but feel that there is still a burden of responsibility that lies with each and every one of us. If I read a paper, if I drink a coffee, if I eat a chocolate bar it is my responsibility to dispose of this waste regardless of whether I purchased said newspaper, coffee, chocolate or received it as a free gift. If you consume the free "news" (if you can call it that) then you should shoulder some of the responsibility for its disposal. I applaud the fact this campaign asks for individual action as well as seeking to find a more strategic solution. Keep on challenging this lazy attitude of making everything somebody else's problem - I'm sick of it! All the best James - you are a London Hero!
RachU, 24 February 2009 11:23
*To Leo* I appreciate your comments and i do not take any offence. It is nice to know that other people are thinking about the problem and willing to make suggestions, it is encouraging regardless whether the comments are negative or positive. TFL are not directly in charge of cleaning the trains, it is subcontracted to two companies Tube Lines and Metronet, and then they further subcontract the cleaning to other companies. However the responsibility for cleanliness falls upon Tube Lines/Metronet. Thankfully, they have begun to recycle as much paper as possible at terminal stations and the paper is not just being dumped in landfill. That is positive. I agree they should not pay the costs, but it is not as simple as suggesting to the publishers to start funding these programmes. They already work on tight margins and although i also feel the responsibility lies with the publishers, they will probably laugh down any suggestions to pay a public/private body to do its job. What is required is a legislative measure taken by the Government to force the transferral of payment from publishers to transport. But from my meeting today with DEFRA, it won't happen. I am reforming my strategy currently and will let you know what i feel is the next step and maybe you can let me know what you think. Yours Faithfully James
James Mummery, 13 February 2009 16:11
TfL already pay cleaners to remove all detritus from tube trains at the terminus of every journey. What happens to the huge volume of newspapers removed from each train? They are sent to landfill. It would cost marginally more for TfL to send them for recycling instead, but this is not a cost that TfL should be burdened with; the companies that distribute these papers for free should be made to contribute a portion of their profit from advertising to ensure that the waste they are directly responsible for is recycled at the point of collection and not discarded. I have massive respect for your efforts James, but there is a fairly obvious solution, and it's not asking people to take their newspapers home with them. Next time you meet with the MD of the London Paper, see how he responds to a suggestion like that. It may not be to offer you a column. Good luck with everything mate, I have nothing but respect for your mission, even if I don't agree with your strategy.
Leo Murray, 12 February 2009 17:45
Hey Everyone, please keep a look out for what recycling bins are outside of your local stations and whether they are in the best place and well maintained. The let me know on this wall!
James Mummery, 15 January 2009 11:05
Hi Derick, thank you for revealing to everyone a bit about the lives of your fellow countrymen. It probably comes as a shock to most people reading this page that people want to use watse paper in Ghana as toilet paper because they can't afford even loo roll. In our privilaged lives in the UK, i doubt anyone would dream of rummaging around their recycling bag for paper to use in the toilet. I have looked for information on SAC to understand a bit more about what they do and how they help Ghanaians but cannot find anything, prehaps you could explain a bit more about what they do. In terms of diverting free newspaper waste to Ghana for toilet paper, it definately seems like a worth while use. It would be a great short term solution to sanitary health issues. Although the ultimate aim should be the provision of toilet paper and proper sanitation available to Ghanaians, although i understand that it is a goal easier said than done. Personally, from my travelling around Asia, i found it surprising that they don't use toilet paper in many South East Asian countries, but instead water to clean themselves after usng the toilet. Shocked at first, and a little bit unsure of it, i soon realised that this was actualy a lot more hygenic than toilet paper. Not only that, but also a lot better for the environment because a lot of trees are cut dow and used to produce toilet paper. I am not campaigning against toilet paper, it just another example f how there are alternatives to using a lot of paper in all areas of life which may require a change in behaviour but not a change in the end result. Hope this has been of help, please let me know if there are any other questions i can answer. James
James Mummery, 04 January 2009 21:20
Waste paper is a luxurious replacement for toilet rolls where I come from in Ghana, Africa. The villagers who can not afford t-rolls cannot afford waste paper so the SAC foundation solicits for waste paper across the globe and supplies these people because the things they use as replacement for both is hazarduous. You dont wanna know what James. I used to live at Barking,Essex and it fascinated me how much newspaper waste was generated each day esp on tubes. How I wish I could help my people with them....Please email me and I might find good use for your paper
Derick Kumah, 22 December 2008 17:55
Hi Jo, my report on Jack Morton is up but it is a few blogs ago now so you will have to check my bebo page to find out more ------------------>
James Mummery, 08 December 2008 14:21
hello! looking forward to hearing how the speeches go, post your jack morton training! i saw leaps and bounds of progress just in the first hour! all the best, Jo
jo, 07 December 2008 20:03
Drake, in response to your question about the 'problem' with my campaign i feel i can only give one answer. I am fully aware of the amount of other products and day to day goods we use and consume that cause damage to our environment. I am not stating that any of those are less damaging nor should recycling other materials and reducing day to day waste be an importnat aim of society. What I am saying though, is that free newspapers are affecting my community, are causing mass daily harm to the environment and that i as a campaigner and member of society have the ability to make a difference in this one area. If i were to campaign about all recyclable materials then it would require a huge team and many various campaigns. This campaign benefits from a specific objective which focuses the public one aspect of their day to day life where they can make a difference and stop wasting paper. Furthermore, by raising awareness about the environmental benefits of recycling free newspapers, people may become more aware of their consumption habits of all goods and will perhap start to recycle more generally across their consuming lives. Do you feel this is a fair response?
James Mummery, 04 December 2008 18:52
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