You’ve heard of bottle banks what about book banks?

Isle of Wight Council, in partnership with Island Waste has installed a number of book banks at locations around the Island so that unwanted books can be given a new lease of life through a scheme operated by the British Heart Foundation.

Books can’t usually be recycled along with other paper recycling because of the glue that is used to bind them so the best way to recycle books is to pass them on for others to enjoy.

The new book banks are located at Steyne Road in Bembridge, Tesco Extra in Ryde, Station Avenue in Sandown, River Road in Yarmouth, Moa Place in Freshwater and at Lynnbottom and Forest Road household waste recycling centres.

All books placed in the book banks will be passed to the British Heart Foundation which will sell them to raise funds for its vital life-saving research.

Stuart Love, Isle of Wight Council Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods said: "The new book banks provide a convenient way for people to pass on unwanted books. It not only raises money for a good cause but also reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill."

Mary Bareham, Volunteer Fundraising Manager for the British Heart Foundation Isle of Wight said: "Book banks are an excellent way to raise money for the charity whilst being environmentally friendly. If you haven't thought about donating your used or unwanted books then please consider this valuable service and help the British Heart Foundation raise vital funds for its life-saving work."