A Blairgowrie care home has demonstrated its green credentials with an investment in four new benches, which are made from recycled milk cartons, in a bid to brighten up its garden in an eco-friendly way.
Muirton House, which is based on Essendy Road, purchased the recycled benches, which are made from 4,492 four-litre milk cartons. This repurposing means the cartons were not left in landfills, where they would take approximately five years to decompose.
The benches were bought from Marmax, a company based in the North East of England, which specialises in making furniture out of recycled plastic.
The home paid for the benches with prize money it won in the Larchwood Care best presented care home competition. It was selected to represent the region in the national finals, and received £1000 prize money.
Catherine Russell, Home Manager at Muirton House, said: “The residents wanted more seating outside so they could enjoy the garden, and we had been looking for initiatives we could get involved with to do our bit for the environment. When I found the Marmax website and saw the beautiful recycled furniture they make, we thought it would be a lovely thing to spend our prize money on.
“The happiness of our residents is incredibly important to us, and making sure they have a comfortable place to sit in an attractive garden is a key part of this. We just hope that there are plenty of sunny days in store to enjoy the new benches.”
Mr and Mrs Barter, residents at Muirton House, said: “We all love the new benches. They are very comfortable, and the multi-coloured one is especially pretty. We think it’s fantastic that the home did something that benefits all the residents, and helps the environment.”
