FCC Environment steps up to waste free soap box challenge

When the organisers of the Kop Hill Climb’s Soapbox contacted FCC Environment, which operates the Household Waste Recycling Centres and two reuse shops in Buckinghamshire on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council, to ask for some help to stage the 2022 event, the team were only to delighted to respond with a resounding ‘yes’.

The Kop Hill Climb, which was established in 1910, is an annual fundraising event for the local community around Princes Risborough and is a much-loved fixture on the calendar. The intention is to provide an extracurricular activity for children aged 8 to 17 to participate in the design, construction, maintenance and competition of a soapbox cart and the course is designed as a short-mown grass track with a chicane and a curved bend. The start ramp provided the only “thrust” for the competing carts. The Soapbox Challenge is dedicated to the memory of Andy Beaumont, the original driving force behind the event. 

FCC Environment were asked if they could help provide everyday items that had been taken to the Recycling Centres including wheels, metal frames and wooden pallets to help the young engineers create their soapboxes. The items were returned to the site after the race for recycling of course.

On the day several teams participated having a great time across the board including The Spirit of Bluebird and Ice Spirit, a Ukrainian team sponsored by the local Rotary group.

The worthy victors of the fiercely competitive ‘furthest distance travelled’, who were presented with the ‘Beaumont Cup’ went to Team Apollo of Apollo Racing.

The SPIRIT OF THE EVENT is a prize decided by the organisers for the team which most embraces the spirit of Soapbox and this went to Peel Mobile, a mobile banana!

James Reseigh, Contract Manager for FCC Environment commented “We were thrilled to be approached for support by the organisers, it’s great to be able to support such a worthwhile event with the reuse message showing that even items definitely destined for recycling or disposal might have one last bit of life left in them.”