Cornwall’s rubbish crew who ‘want to make the world a better place’ with small acts of kindness

Meet the Cornish litter team who ‘want to make the world a better place’ with small acts of kindness. Mark Hendra, Brent Cox and Dave Anderton don’t just pick up residents’ rubbish, they’ve pitched in with everything from fixing gates and washing lines to mowing the front lawn.

When an elderly couple had trouble disposing of their waste bags, the team found a spare bin at the depot. They embellished it and delivered it to the couple’s home on their own time.

The Biffa crew have now been named among the best in the UK because of their acts of kindness. They were runners-up in the Collection Team of the Year category at the Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management Awards.

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Brent has worked for Biffa for 34 years, Mark for seven years and Dave for two years. They all work from Biffa’s Newham warehouse in Truro.

Mark said: “We’re not doing it for recognition or anything, we just want to make the world a better place. For us, a small repair may only take five or ten minutes, but for the other person, it’s a small act of kindness that could make a big difference in their life.

“We love being part of the community, whether it’s just saying hello to people on our rounds or giving them a helping hand if they need it.”

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The team help Porthleven Environmental Group with community litter pick events and recycling projects and have donated a container for the group to collect old bras to raise money for a breast cancer charity. They also give up their time to supply waste materials to a local art group in Helston.

Biffa Cornwall Chief Operating Officer Liam Stevens said: “Mark is a genuine, kind, conscientious, funny guy with a can-do attitude. Count on two willing and able chargers in Brent and Dave, it’s a pleasure to have this crew working for Newham.”

Billed as ‘the most prestigious event in the environmental calendar’, the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management recognize innovation, dedication and success in the recycling and waste industry, local authorities and the wider sector.