Leaders from Optimum Eco Group, an Irvine-based recycling company and WEEE producer compliance scheme, REPIC, teamed up to mark the 15 year anniversary of the UK’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations with a donation of £1,000 to their local North Ayrshire Foodbanks in Ardrossan.

Alison Gallacher, Director at CCL and Brian McMahon, Director at Restructa, from Optimum Eco Group, joined REPIC on a challenging 135m cycling journey to mark 15 years of electrical recycling in the UK and raise £1,000 for a local foodbank. Completing day five and day six of the REPIC WEEE Cycle challenge that in total spanned 15 days and over 850 miles from the Scottish Highlands to Sittingbourne in the south of England. Both directors embraced the challenge and cycled 135 miles from Edinburgh City centre to Northumberland, before generously donating the sum to North Ayrshire Foodbanks in Ardrossan.

The heartwarming endeavour was part of a nationwide event organised to mark the 15^th anniversary of electrical recycling in the UK. Organised by REPIC, the leading UK WEEE compliance scheme, the event rallied its partners, including treatment facilities, reuse organisations and local authorities for a 15-day cycling extravaganza, marking the waste electrical and electrical equipment (WEEE) sector’s achievements and highlight the importance of electrical recycling in the UK.

Commenting on the donation, Alison Gallacher, Director at CCL, commented: “We are over the moon that we were able to provide this donation to North Ayrshire Foodbanks and to help towards the remarkable work they carry out to ensure communities don’t go hungry. This experience has reinforced our commitment to sustainable practices not only in recycling but also in fostering a compassionate and caring society.”

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference, and we look forward to more collaborative initiatives that will create a brighter future for all.”

North Ayrshire Foodbanks, which is based in the Ardrossan Church of the Nazarene, was founded in December 2012 and has assisted over 58,000 adults and children combined.

The £1,000 donated by Optimum Eco Group will go towards the foodbanks by helping volunteers when purchasing the food for the larder for those who need it most.

Along with this, the money will also contribute towards the various other programmes that North Ayrshire Foodbanks runs, including its junior chef programme which runs throughout school holidays and helps kids learn basic cooking skills, as well as ensuring they have at least one healthy and nutritional meal a day. The donation will also help with the organisation’s urban farm, bakery and GRUB programme.

Craig Crosthwaite, founder of North Ayrshire Foodbanks said: “We are so grateful to Optimum Eco Group for this wonderful donation. We rely on donations of food, and money, from the public, but due to the cost of living crisis effecting everyone we are finding this harder. Which is why this cash boost is so valuable and important to us. This donation will help us to ensure that those who are most in need will be able to access food for their families.”

Louise Grantham, Chief Executive at REPIC, commented “The commitment and enthusiasm of all our riders to complete the 15-day WEEE Cycle Network made this event an experience to remember. As a lasting legacy, we secured £15,000 from our sponsors to donate to various local good causes associated with the event route and those riders who took part. We are really proud to facilitate Optimum Eco with this donation to a local initiative that will help provide invaluable support to those in need in their local community.”