Eco Ernie

This is the eco-milk float from Solent University’s award winning project known as Eco-Ernie. The University’s enterprise team worked with their students and the local community to develop a simple and effective way of collecting rubbish and recycle textiles and recyclable items, from student’s homes and halls of residence, during the student changeover period and throughout the academic year and these goods were then used by the community in a number of ways. See the sort of material the students collect below.

The project was developed to tackle issues in an area fairly densely populated with student houses and has turned into an award-winning initiative. It aims to work with the local city council to provide an opportunity for all residents to recycle. 

This has been achieved through regular attendance at residents’ meetings and through ideas generated by staff and students at Solent.

This approach has enabled the project to use the resources of all the agencies involved and to increase coverage of the project. As a result several local charities have benefitted from Ernie’s collections including Bag It Up (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance) who received their single largest textile donation thanks to Ernie.

Ernie's accolades

• Local Government Chronicle award for Community Involvement 2010

• CIPR Pride awards for best Community Relations Campaign 2010

• Times Higher Education Award - Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community.

Pat Middlewick, local resident and Ernie volunteer, said:

Student changeover used to be a misery for residents but it’s turning into an enjoyable community event.