Launch of recycling scheme at Bexhill High

Among those attending the launch were County Councillors David Elkin, and Matthew Lock and Rother District Councillor Michael Ensor.

They joined students from Bexhill High, along with representatives from schools across the county, and the contractor for the project, Sita UK.

The new contract awarded to Sita UK means that all schools taking part in the project will have a recycling collection point for cardboard, paper, cans and plastics.

To celebrate the launch, a class of year eleven students created an artistic display which was displayed in the school hall.

Geography teacher Gavin Parks described the display as an "art installation", made with the help of Spectral Arts, a group that works on arts-based projects.

The display shows three main areas of consideration for the recycling process - containing everything from cans, cardboard and plastic bottles, to CD's and batteries.

One of the talented students who had worked on the art project, fifteen year old Emily Sparrow explained more about the display.

She said: " We wanted to show the three main points of recycling, and which items fall into the different categories. They are to reduce waste, reuse and recycle more."

She added: "I think it's a really good idea to bring the recycling project into schools, I recycle things at home and think it's something that's really important. Working on the art project was interesting because I didn't realise just how much you can recycle '“ like batteries for example."

A spokesman for Sita explained that it's the acid that's left inside batteries that is being used in certain parts of the country to generate fuel for certain mechanical equipment.

Another student, fifteen year old Thong Dao believes the art display will help others to see what can and cannot be recycled.

He said: "I think it's a really good idea as people can see what can be recycled. I also think it will encourage people to recycle more."

In addition, Bexhill High's school shop will soon be selling some of the recycled products which were displayed on the East Sussex's, 'Rethink Rubbish', stall

These include pens made from recycled CD cases, pencils made from recycled cassette tapes, pencil cases made from seat belts, a staple-free stapler, and bird boxes made from redundant estate agent's signs.

Cllr David Elkin (the County Council's lead member for School's and Learning Effectiveness) believes the launch of the contract is an important step for the future of recycling.

He said: "Recycling - like riding a bike and learning to swim '“ is something that these young people will remember and continue to do for the rest of their lives."

Cllr Michael Ensor was delighted that Bexhill High is the forerunner

for the project.

He said: "I am thrilled that this country-wide recycling scheme for schools has begun here in Bexhill."

For more information on how to reduce rubbish and recycle more visit the website at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/rubbishandrecycling