Here Comes The Rubbish Monster Thing

In 2017 Hampshire County Council invited organisations and individuals to apply for grants for initiatives to reduce waste in the county. Amongst the successful bids was an idea for a children's book by author and illustrator Simon Chadwick. The book swiftly became the flagship project, with copies of the book being sent to every school and library in the county, as well as being made available for sale.

After following Elsie's examples in the story, children were then asked to pledge to try to do the same by drawing a picture of themselves on a special pledge page at the back of the book. These, alongside children's personal waste-reducing tips and drawings of their own rubbish monsters, were collated on a website as part of the HCC grant. 

In 2019 West Berkshire Council also took on the book, distributing it in a similar manner, but also commissioning an education pack for use in schools. This allowed further funding for the website to continue to gather the growing number of pledges and drawings.

The book continues to have an impact, featuring as the theming at the Hampshire County Council stand at the New Forest Show, and by being used in schools to anchor the topic of waste and recycling. In late 2023 the grant funding for the website expired, meaning all traffic to the former site is now funneled to this page. But that doesn't mean it's the end of the road for The Rubbish Monster Thing. Unlike his waste, his popularity continues to grow, so look out for him – you never know where he might crop up next!

The Rubbish Monster Thing meets Elsie for the first time.