Orbit Bin Liners letter to Bernie Grant

About this item

This is a letter dated March 5, 1986, from Orbital Plastics Limited to Bernie Grant, then Leader of Haringey Council. The company promotes a new type of refuse sack made from both black and white polythene, linking their product to themes of racial harmony. The letter responds directly to Haringey Council's decision to purchase Black Refuse Sacks, highlighting a commercial and symbolic interaction around race and local government policy.

Key points:
– The letter is addressed to Bernie Grant as Leader of Haringey Council in March 1986.
– Orbital Plastics references the Council's 'much-publicised decision' to buy Black Refuse Sacks.
– The company offers a refuse sack made of both black and white polythene as a symbol of racial harmony.
– This product is presented as adhering to the Council’s strict requirements for refuse sacks.
– The correspondence includes a sample sack enclosed with the letter.

Bernie Grant was a significant figure in Black British political history and local government, using his position to challenge racial inequalities. This letter illustrates how race and symbolism intersected even in practical matters like refuse sack procurement, reflecting broader public debates on race and representation in the 1980s. Haringey Council’s decision and the corporate response highlight the everyday realities of anti-racist politics within local government.

Source note: The text is derived from OCR of a typed letter; some minor inconsistencies or formatting errors typical of OCR may exist but do not significantly affect interpretation.