Amersham Recycles are a group of locals who have been recycling pens to make money for Medic to Medic since 2020.
The charity supports disadvantaged students training to be doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, clinical officers, optometrists and mental health workers in Malawi.
The Amersham group collects and recycles all brands of pens, highlighters, markers, ink cartridges and mechanical pencils. In return, the group is credited with 100 points per kg. Each point is worth 1p, and these points are then credited directly to Medic to Medic twice a year. In total, the Amersham group has recycled 450kg of pens.
The group previously used local schools as drop-off locations for recycling. However, manufacturing company BIC, which funds the scheme, has told the group they can no longer use drop-off points at schools, as they want to exclusively recycle from Ryman. Unfortunately, there are no Ryman stores in Buckinghamshire
Byrony, the Amersham group’s coordinator, said: “Recycling will now be extremely difficult and not environmentally friendly if people have to drive for miles to recycle.
“We are devastated to have to tell all these children that we have inspired to recycle that they just have to put them back in the bin.”
BIC has been contacted for comment.
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