Sustainability at Ikon

Ikon is dedicated to minimising its impact on the environment and we strive to make our operations and exhibitions as sustainable as possible. This Recycling Week (22 – 28 September) we asked Tess Radcliffe, Technician at Ikon how Ikon recycles and reuses materials and waste.

“We always re-use exhibition building material including MDF boards, timber, screws, cable trucking from one exhibition to the next, to minimise waste and to reduce purchasing more materials than we need. Any items made from MDF, for instance, plinths – which we can’t keep onsite due to storage space, we donate to A Good Thing, a charity that supports donating unwanted materials to pass onto others. We have recently donated 10 plinths to Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust which they will use to display objects at community events. Timber lengths will go to Crick Community Gardens CIC in Handsworth for building raised flower beds. Lastly, insulation blocks will go to St Germain’s Church, in Edgbaston, to be used to insulate the walls of a new woodwork shop they are building, where the local community including homeless people can learn woodworking skills.

Ikon re-use or recycle packaging material used to protect artworks during transport or in storage including cardboard boxes, polythene & bubble wrap. Any damaged packaging material that can’t be re-used is recycled. We have segregated bins for recycling. We recycle all our empty paint tubs and Polyfilla tubs through Dulux who offer a free recycling service. We sell equipment – such as tools which are not working or outdated which are more expensive to fix than replace – for spares and repairs on eBay and use the income to buy replacement items.

Ikon recycles all general waste – paper, cardboard, plastics, aluminium cans and food through Brindleyplace waste management contractor. We have separate bins which are clearly labelled for each type of waste.”