Louise Lawrence, from Lulu & Hitch in Church Road, Hove, has been the catalyst behind an ingenious method of managing the continual problem of business waste recycling.

By linking up with Brighton based wholesaler, Torba, her unused boxes are now collected and re-used by another company, thereby reducing the environmental burden on the city.

But from small acorns, great oaks grow and other Hove businesses are also taking part. Bird and Rose in Blatchington Road now use waste bubble wrap from their neighbours JUGs and Now we are Six in Church Road. And Deja Shoes in George Street are also joining in by offering cardboard boxes to customers and other business users.

Louise says,’It is difficult in this financial climate for small business so our focus has to be on turnover, but where possible we are making that extra effort to think of our community and the planet. It can only be a good thing to use a box or piece of bubble wrap twice, or more, before it is processed.’

But this isn’t the end to the plans to reinvent recycling for the 21st century. Louise hopes to set up a website to encourage local businesses to trade even more with their neighbours and local residents. The site will work like a swap-shop, with needy businesses being able to see at a glance who is offering cardboard, bubble wrap or other recyclables for free. Members of the public will also be able to log on and get their hands on boxes for moving house or storing family heirlooms.

Gavin Stewart, Hove Town Centre Manager said, ’There is a fantastic opportunity here for businesses to become more linked up than ever before. Business recycling is a bug bear across the board but here is a system that has the potential to create linkages that could bolster the local business community whilst combating climate change at the same time.’

To find out more, contact Gavin Stewart on 01273 410251 or Louise Lawrence on 01273 737771.