Bag it and Bank it Recycling Champions 2024

Bag it and Bank it Recycling Champions 2024

Since 2009, The Fire Fighters Charity has successfully run a clothing recycling scheme, ‘Bag it and Bank it’, in partnership with fire and rescue services and other organisations across the UK.

Not only does the project keep a huge amount of textiles from being thrown away, but the donations are sold in under-developed countries, with the income generated used to provide mental health and wellbeing support to the UK’s Firefighter family.

The charity has achieved a record-breaking success this year, with January’s campaign alone raising over £100,000 – that’s 487 tonnes of clothing donated across the UK.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has contributed immensely to this success, with two Stations ranking in the top 3 across the UK.

The overall UK champion this year is Cwmbran Fire Station, who took the RAG trophy for Wales, as well as the whole of the UK. Cwmbran collectively saved 4,460kg of clothing, and raised £981.

New Inn Fire Station came third in the UK, having collected 4,050kg of clothing, which raised £891.

Kevin Biles, Sales Manager for The Fire Fighters Charity, commented:

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received this year for our ‘Bag it and Bank it’ campaign, from both our fire service communities and members of the public.

“We want to thank everyone who donated – not only has the support helped to divert clothing away from landfill, but it has also contributed to raising funds to support the vital work of The Fire Fighters Charity. The money raised will make such a difference.”

Thank you to all those who donated, and please keep up the great work.