Sorted! - Students Dive into Recycling with SUEZ and Exeter Chiefs Engage
As part of a seven-week development programme designed to inspire and equip young people with practical knowledge and life skills, SUEZ hosted a group of students at its East Devon Depot for an in-depth Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) tour. The visit provided a unique opportunity to see firsthand how recyclables are managed from collection through to processing.
During the visit, students followed the full journey of materials once they arrive onsite, observing how waste is tipped, sorted, and baled before being sent on for further reprocessing. The interactive experience helped bring to life classroom learning, giving participants a clearer understanding of the important role recycling plays in protecting the environment and the career opportunities available.
The tour highlighted a previous health and safety session in the programme, where students learnt about safe working practises and key safety rules. Students were able to witness these measures actively in practice across the depot, highlighting how safety procedures underpin all aspects of operations in a recycling facility.
“We’re really proud to support initiatives like Engage 16,” said Jessica Processor, Project Coordinator at SUEZ. “Seeing the scale and complexity of recycling operations, helps to educate and inspire the next generation to be more sustainable. The visit gave the students a deeper appreciation of both the industry, and careers available.”
The Exeter Chiefs Engage 16 programme aims to support young people in developing confidence, employability, and awareness of potential career pathways. Partnerships with organisations like SUEZ are a vital part of delivering meaningful, real-world experiences that enrich the programme and broaden participants’ horizons.
Angelique Aldworth, Chiefs Engage Coordinator, said "Unlike formal education, our learners require immersion into experiences they can see themselves doing for a meaningful visual interpretation of life after education. SUEZ have proved that in bucket loads and the team who have assisted in making this a deliverable model have done so with enthusiasm and empathy towards our cohort. We can’t thank them enough for a truly unique opportunity."