"Take care of these cows. Fatten them up with plastic bottles, cans, card, paper and glass"

Lewisham Council, Artmongers and Source Communications have turned ordinary recycling bins into a look-alike herd of cows, set in a look-alike tranquil field, in the heart of the hustle and bustle of New Cross.

The project is first of its kind, and aims to draw attention to the under-used recycling site, creating an environment that will encourage people to care for it. Based around the Taylor 1280 litre Continental container, the Friesian cow style finish has a serious message which will later be aimed at schools to encourage recycling at an early stage.

Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: "Moo Cross is a great way to get people recycling and help make Lewisham even greener. We want people to see more than just recycling bins and warm to them. I’m urging local people to take care of the cows and fatten them up with plastic bottles, cans, card, paper and glass."

The Cowbins could be farmed out across the borough and even further afield, should the scheme, dreamed up by Artmongers and Source Communications, prove successful. The plan for 2006 is for schools to get their own pet Cowbin to look after, with a supporting education pack.

Patricio Forrester, from Artmongers said: "We are interested in how the public will engage with a recycling facility that has been turned into public art. The site was a dead space, and we wanted to bring it life with beauty and humour. Cows are seen as friendly animals and the principal of rumination and its production of milk are positive examples of recycling."

Andrew Winter, from Source explained "Although councils are doing as much as they can to make it as easy as possible for people to recycle, not enough of us are. We hope our Feed the Cows concept will inspire more people, especially children, to change the way they think about recycling. We want the experience of dropping off waste to be fun, not rubbish."

Peter Selkirk, Chief Executive Officer for Taylor, added: "Taylor containers are a familiar site around the country, being used for waste collection and as recycling banks. Finished in this pattern they do look remarkably like cows and we’re excited at the prospect of these bins supporting schools as they promote the need for recycling."

To find out more about Cowbins and the Feed the Cows education programme contact Andrew Winter at Source tel: 020 8694 2424 or email andrew@sourcecoms.com.

Residents can find out how to recycle in Lewisham by phoning 020 8314 7171 or emailing recycle@lewisham.gov.uk.

Artmongers produce artistic interventions from customised wheelie bins, cars and vans to large-scale murals and art-on-trees – works that genuinely improves the urban environment creating a sense of pride and ownership. Patircio Forrester, 020 8320 2045 info@artmongers.com

Source Communications, is a branding and marketing agency for charities and ethical companies throughout the UK. It helps ‘beyond profit’ organisations communicate purpose and services. Andrew Winter, 020 8694 2424 andrew@sourcecoms.com

Egbert H Taylor and Company Limited, branded Taylor, is a manufacturer and supplier of products for the waste management and recycling sectors. Its wide product range is used extensively throughout the UK providing safe, secure and cost-effective containment solutions. Peter Selkirk, Chief Executive 01299 251333 peter.selkirk@taylor-ch.co.uk

Visit the lewisham recycling website for more information on recycling.

Feed the Cows at Moo Cross was made possible thanks to a grant of £5,000 from The Onyx Environmental Trust through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. Onyx is a registered charity and an approved Environmental Body formed under the Landfill Tax Regulations. For more information or to find out how to apply for funding, visit the Trust’s website, www.onyxenvtrust.org.