An important breakthrough in world of recycling

It has long been a strange anomaly that the majority of East Sussex Schools have previously not enjoyed the option of having their recyclable waste collected separately.

The county's new contract with Sita UK means that our schools can now play their part in recycling paper, cardboard, cans and plastics.

The previous situation was not without its irony.

More often than not, where green issues are involved, it is the rising generation who, rightly, have these environmental issues high on their personal agendas as a result of curriculum studies and they tend to set the lead for their elders.

In East Sussex, circumstances have until now hampered youngsters' abilities to demonstrate their zeal in this respect.

Locally, it has been until now the adults who have had opportunity to demonstrate their green credentials.

Householders' enthusiastic response to Rother's kerbside recycling scheme has helped the authority to be ranked seventh in the top ten English councils for improved recycling in the year up to March 2008.

In doing so, the adults had not been backward in voicing their frustrations at the operational difficulties encountered after the kerbside scheme's launch.

But in part this was an indication of their recognition of the need to recycle.

There are still more layers of irony in the launch of the county recycling scheme for schools.

Under the county's Sita UK contract, schools will be able to recycle cardboard.

It was the lack of cardboard recycling facility which prompted many of the angriest letters regarding the Rother District Council kerbside scheme.

Sadly, also, the county's new schools contract comes at a time when the international recession has severely reduced the market for recyclable materials.

Nevertheless, the contract is the right decision - right in the longer-term for the world environment and right in terms of giving our young trend-setters opportunity to catch up with their elders.