School Children Learn about Recycling

Pupils at Cowes and Yarmouth Primary Schools have been learning about recycling by turning rubbish into musical instruments and mini composters with the Isle of Wight Council’s waste minimisation and recycling officer.

Focusing on everyday objects which are often thrown away, pupils have been learning about the materials used to make the objects and how they can be turned into something else through the processes of reuse and recycling.

As part of their studies on conservation and the environment, pupils in Yarmouth have taken part in a fashion show featuring clothes made from rubbish while children at Cowes Primary’s after school club have been taking part in education workshops with council recycling officer, Laura Kay. Over a number of days they created new paper from old, musical instruments from a variety of items that would normally have been thrown away and mini compost bins from old plastic bottles.

Year two pupils at both schools have been learning first hand what happens to some of the rubbish thrown away on the Island each week when they visited the Island’s landfill site. The children learned about the alternatives to throwing away rubbish and explored the range of materials which can be recycled.

Pupils at both schools have been making small ‘rot pots’, these demonstrate the composting process on a small scale, showing how over time waste food and vegetable scraps can be turned into a useful, fertile compost which can be used in the garden.
Laura Kay, Isle of Wight council waste minimisation and recycling officer said:

"By visiting schools and involving pupils in fun projects like these we hope to encourage children and their families to reduce, re-use and recycle their rubbish."

Cllr Tim Hunter-Henderson, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for the environment and transport said:

"The council is committed to reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. The kerbside recycling scheme, gasification plant and household waste recycling centres on the Island are helping to reduce the level of waste disposed of in this way but it is important that we continue to educate people of all ages about the benefits of separating their waste for recycling."

If you would like to book a visit or activity session for your class, please contact Laura Kay on 823777.