People in Birchington are invited to turn wrappers to riches with a chance to do some good.

All Saints Church is taking part in a recyclying fundraising contest to see who can save the most used biscuit wrappers from landfill.

Villagers are collecting as part of the nationwide Wrappers to Riches challenge.

Their efforts are in aid of the local environment and the church, with £500 in charity prize donations to be awarded to the top 20 collectors across the country.

Fundraisers from Church House Hall are calling want as many people as possible to donate their waste wrappers to give them the best chance of winning.

They can be handed in until April 30 for a scheme called the McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade, set up by McVitie’s and recycling experts TerraCycle.

At its heart is a move to reduce the billions of wrappers sent to UK landfill, which most local councils cannot recycle because of the mixed plastic packaging.

Fundraisers earn four TerraCycle points (normally two) for the weight of each biscuit wrapper of any brand they send in for recycling.
Each point can be redeemed for a 1 pence contribution for the school, charity or non-profit organisation of the sender’s choice.

Sara Gower, who organises recycling fundraising collections for All Saints Church said: “So far we have saved 3,042 used biscuit wrappers from landfill as part of the McVitie’s Biscuit Wrapper Brigade.

“We also act as a community drop off location for the Ella’s Kitchen Brigade, the Johnson’s Baby Wipes Packaging Brigade, the Coffee Packaging Brigade and the Tassimo Brigade. Our recycling efforts with TerraCycle have so far raised £143.20 towards the running and upkeep of All Saints Church.”

The church is currently lying fifth in the Wrappers to Riches contest.

People are invited to drop in any brand of coffee refill bags, coffee bean bags, single serving coffee sachets and coffee jar lids, baby food pouches, baby wipes packaging plus Tassimo TDISC’s and outer flow wrap packaging, as well as any brand of biscuit wrappers.

They can leave them at Church House Hall in Kent Gardens from 9.30am-12.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 9.30am-noon on Sunday.