PUPILS from Holywell Primary School have been campaigning to get their local household waste disposal site to recycle hard plastics.
The school was having a clear out in its reception class with some of the items being given to pupils to take home, some given to local charity shops and the children wanted to recycle the rest.
But when the items were taken by deputy head and year three teacher Angela Jones to the household waste site in Romsley she was told it was unable to recycle the hard plastics.
She told the children who had been doing ‘Plastic Planet’ as a topic where they were learning about the damage being caused by the substance.
She said: “The children were devastated when I told them the news.”
They contacted Coun Peter McDonald who took up their case with the council.
Angela added: “The children have also been making key rings out of old crisp packets and nagging their families about recycling to make sure they are doing all they can.
“They are very environmentally conscious.”
Coun Peter McDonald said he was astonished to be informed by the Holywell pupils hard plastics could not be recycled at the Romsley household waste site.
“I have ensured that all the letters requesting such a facility from the pupils have gone to the head of environment at Worcestershire county Council.
“I cannot thank these young children enough for bringing it to my attention in an effort to stop such materials going to landfill.”
Coun Tony Miller, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment, said because of the number of containers on the Quantry Lane site, space was very limited.
“Therefore, at this time it is not considered practicable to introduce a container for hard plastics, because this would require the removal of an existing material that is currently separated for recycling.
“We are going to try and arrange a visit to the school, and explain personally to the children further, the challenges of recycling harder plastics, and thank them personally for their positive attitude towards recycling.”
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