WASTE EDUCATION: Tamworth Regional Council waste education officer Angela Dodson teaches Tamworth Public School kindergarten students about the importance of recycling. Photo: Barry Smith 241012BSC04
KINDERGARTEN students at Tamworth Public School are being turned into “recycling sleuths” – thanks to a challenge set by Planet Ark in the lead-up to National Recycling Week.
This week it’s been all gloves on deck as kindergarten students at the school have
participated in visits with Tamworth Regional Council’s waste education officer Angela Dodson.
As part of the education session Ms Dodson explained to students what can and can’t be recycled and how to identify which plastics can be put into yellow recycling bins.
Using things that students have in their lunch boxes or that are sold at the canteen, she explained the plastics recycling system and why it’s important to make sure food containers are empty before being recycled.
It was clear the students had a grasp of which items they should and shouldn’t be putting into the different bins at school when one small boy suggested you shouldn’t put a popper in the yellow recycling bins until they were “all drunked up”.
Tamworth Public is one of a number of schools across the country taking part in the Tetra Pak Schools Recycle Right Challenge as part of Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week, which is held from November 12 to 18.
Ms Dodson’s visit was one of a number of special activities planned by the school as part of the challenge, which encourages schools to arrange one or more recycling-themed lessons, activities or events for their students during this time.
Over the past week Year 2 students at the school have been busily identifying different plastics and symbols.
Planet Ark Recycling Programs Manager Janet Sparrow said over the next few years recycling would become increasingly more common and the challenge was helping to educate students of all ages about how to recycle properly.
“By registering to participate in the challenge, schools gain access to ready-to-use support materials, information and resources, as well as the chance to win great environmental prizes,” she said.
“Recycling can be used to teach students about the environment, resource management, maths, science and even geography.
“It was only a little over 20 year ago that we started seeing kerbside bins and now, with the growth of printer cartridge, mobile phone and e-waste schemes, it’s important that kids understand the
benefits and processes of recycling.”