Over 1500 Southend residents get on board with recycling
James Gatter, contract manager at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: "Providing education for children on recycling and waste is key to our future. They shape future behaviour, and by influencing attitudes today, we can help protect our world. We are delighted to be providing this free waste education opportunity to local schools in Southend, to help create a cleaner greener future."
Southend schools were invited to take part in the Sustainable Schools programme which provided Year 5 pupils with booklets to take home, helping to extend the impact of lessons beyond the school gates and encourage positive recycling habits at home. This included an online crossword competition, with the winning pupil receiving a Lego bin truck, which was presented earlier this term.
The programme is delivered in partnership with educational specialists Skips Educational. Earlier this year, local pupils were invited to submit a poster themed around ‘Reducing Waste’ which showed what protecting the environment means to them. Pupils whose posters were selected won the chance to have the Dennis Eagle mobile classroom visit their school.
The initiative saw the Southend on Sea SUEZ team deliver engaging environmental education sessions at four schools across four days, helping children from Nursery to Year 6 understand the importance of waste reduction and recycling.
The winning schools were: Hamstel Infant School, The Westborough School, Porters Grange School and St. Michael’s School.
The Mayor of Southend, Cllr Nigel Folkard had the opportunity to visit the mobile classroom and meet Archie, the winner from Hamstel School. He said “Seeing the children participate in the various activities on waste and recycling was interesting and informative. This is an excellent initiative, giving children the opportunity to learn how we must all care for the planet. Well done Suez for leading the way on educating children on waste management and recycling.”
The Dennis to the Rescue programme brings sustainability to life through interactive activities, including quizzes and a hands-on litter picking activity, where pupils learn how to correctly sort different types of waste for recycling. A key message delivered during the sessions is the importance of separating batteries and electrical items out of household bins to prevent fires.
After touring the schools, the mobile classroom spent a day on Southend seafront, where local residents had the opportunity to learn more about recycling and get a closer look at this colourful, converted bin lorry.