Wooler First School pupils step up their fundraising recycling efforts
Pupils and staff from Wooler First School with some of the writing instruments and other waste packaging they have saved from landfill so far.
Children at Wooler First School are on a mission to help reduce landfill waste by collecting used pens.
The BIC Writing Instruments Brigade programme, in partnership with London-based Terracycle, has been encouraging schools and businesses across the UK to collect used pens, markers, highlighters and mechanical pencils in order for them to be recycled and re-used in a different form.
Wooler pupils are currently earning two points in exchange for every writing instrument they collect and return. Each point earned redeems a one pence contribution to the school.
Wooler PTA member Dave Sage explained: “It’s been lovely to see how passionate the children have become about collecting the pens. The school joined the scheme in November and already we have collected over 700 writing instruments.”
So far the school has raised £65 through the TerraCycle recycling programmes, which it plans to use towards additional classroom resources and extra-curricular activities.
Bur Dave said the real value for the school was how excited the children had become about what they could save. “They have even started a termly competition to see which class can collect the most items to recycle,” he said. “The scheme enables us to teach the children in a practical way the importance of resource conservation and recycling.
“The children and their parents are excited to be able to make a difference in their local environment, while also raising money for the school.”
The school is part of a free nationwide programme called Brigades, that pays organisations such as schools and charities to collect waste that is difficult to recycle and would otherwise go to landfill. TerraCycle uses the waste material to make a wide range of products such as folders for schools, pencil cases, shopping bags, notepads and more.
As well as writing instruments, Wooler First School is a collection point for yogurt pots, coffee refill packs, coffee pods, biscuit wrappers, baby food pouches and baby wipes packaging.
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Friday 24 May 2013
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