Primary school children in Staffordshire have been discovering how they can help to reduce waste at a series of county council roadshows.
Over 1,000 pupils took part in the Waste Minimisation Roadshows over the spring term, helping young people to better understand how they can reuse and recycle more.
Run by the county council’s sustainability team, the sessions took place at ten primary schools and focused on recycling correctly, reuse, reducing plastic use, and building awareness of what happens to non-recyclable waste in Staffordshire.
The roadshow shed light on the journey of waste once it leaves the home. Through interactive activities which included a bean bag recycling game and a manual conveyor belt, as well as practical examples, students explored how everyday choices can reduce environmental impact and conserve resources.
Feedback from the schools taking part has been positive, with children particularly engaged in learning that a significant proportion of what is placed in general waste bins could still be recycled highlighting the opportunity for simple behaviour changes to make a real difference.
Now the team will take its roadshow out to libraries in the county to help inform Staffordshire children, together with an adults’ plastic reduction workshop.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for connectivity Andrew Mynors attended the final school roadshow at Dove CE Academy in Rocester near Uttoxeter.
He said:
It’s been fantastic to see how the children have shown such a strong interest in what happens to their waste and how they can play a part in recycling more.
The roadshows are a valuable way of increasing awareness in our communities across Staffordshire – here where it matters most by supporting the next generation to make the right choices.
This is another example of how our team is connecting people of all ages in what is one of our key service areas.”
The schools taking part were:
- Uttoxeter: Dove CE Academy and St Mary’s CE First School
- Burton: Horninglow Primary, Outwoods School, Edge Hill and St Modwens
- Newcastle: Hassell School, St Luke’s School, Hempstall and Batley School
The library roadshows and workshops will take place at:
- Thursday 7 May: Wombourne, 10am to midday – waste minimisation activities, 1pm to 2pm – plastic reduction workshop
- Friday 8 May: Codsall, 2.30pm to 3.30pm – waste minimisation, 3.30pm to 4.30pm – plastic reduction workshop
- Saturday 9 May: Burton, 1pm to 4.30pm - waste minimisation
- Tuesday 12 May: Rugeley, 1pm to 3pm - waste minimisation, 3.30pm to 4.30pm plastic reduction workshop
- Thursday 14 May: Uttoxeter, 11am to midday – plastic reduction workshop
- Saturday 16 May: Stafford, 1pm to 2pm – plastic reduction workshop
- Tuesday 19 May: Newcastle, 1pm to 3pm – waste minimisation
- Thursday 21 May: Tamworth, 10am to 1pm – waste minimisation
- Friday 22 May: Biddulph, 10.30am to midday – waste minimisation
- Saturday 23 May: Stafford, 10am to midday – plastic reduction workshop
- Tuesday 26 May: Stafford, 1pm to 3pm – waste minimisation
