School Recycling

THE BIG GAP

2012-01-21T12:43:00.012Z

There are no sinister reasons for the lack of postings since September. I've just been busy doing other things, as well as recycling!
However, there has been a lot of extra activity at the recycling centre to insure that all the textiles that are left there, are not stolen by the rogue traders, a nationwide problem it would seem.

TEXTILE BANK AND ROGUE TRADERS

I have a key to our textile bank and keep a check on the amount left there, so I know when items disappear. Then, the police and Black Country Rags are informed, but these thieves seem to be able to carry our their dastardly trade unhindered! I suspect that most textile banks are not monitored, so that most schools and charities who recycle textiles for fundraising purposes, have no idea that these people are taking money from their good cause.

UPDATE

Following this, the police stopped two male occupants in a white transit van, which was full of textiles. more textile banks have been raided in Stowmarket and I'm pleased to report that our local council is taking this very seriously.

They have sent a letter to all organisations that have recycling facilities, warning them about rogue traders and asking everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious incidents involving

people in unmarked vans trying to gain access to clothing banks.

They are also liaisoning with BCR Global Textiles, who in turn are going to replace our bank witha new, NO ACCESS to anyone who doesn't know the code

B R I L L I A N T

The 3 Rs song

2011-09-25T12:44:00.001Z

Children from Sunset Beach Elementary School in Hawaii sing the 3 Rs song. A film from Explore. Like many islands, Hawaii's future depends on how we care for the environment.

Money Matters

2011-06-13T13:50:00.006Z

RECYCLING
to help the environment,
as well as raising funds

At about this time every year I send the records for the recycling fund to the accountants Larking Gowen to be checked. Next term, I shall give a copy of their report to the Governors.
The income for this year is quite pleasing, bearing in mind that a lot of textiles were taken from our textile bank at the end of last year.
Most of the money raised derives from the cartridges that are donated from local and national companies and the weight credits from the paper, glass and textile banks (just over £3800.00).
We raised an extra £200.00 plus from aluminium cans, CDs and book sales.
Not bad for a small village school, with less than 100 pupils.

Recycling plastic milk bottles

2011-05-15T10:44:00.008Z

Just a reminder from Friends of the Earth, although Plastic milk bottles are recycled, a lot still end up in landfil sites, where they will take thousands of years to decompose.

Interesting Article by Dr. Gary Robertshaw

2011-05-01T07:10:00.004Z

Global warming - getting the message across

Speaking to an audience of MEPs and policymakers at a conference in Brussels, Prince Charles attacked climate change sceptics and deniers for what he referred to as the corrosive impact they exerted on public perceptions. And such perceptions and deliberate manipulation on the truth should not be underestimated. How many of us have heard comments such as: global warming is a myth, or its all part of a natural cycle and its been hotter in the past, long before humans started emitting carbon etc.
Although there now exists a vast body of evidence pointing towards man-made climate change, deniers continue to perpetuate the myth that thousands of scientists throughout the world are conspiring to mislead the public and that the world would have warmed anyway, without the billions of tonnes of carbon being pumped into the atmosphere each year.
This commonly held belief borders on the irrational and is counter to the vast consensus of the scientific community. On a more emotive level, the Prince posed the question: I would ask how these people are going to face their grandchildren and admit to them they failed their future. He went on to say that they were playing a reckless game of roulette with the future inheritance of those who come after us. David Attenborough has made similar comments in reference to his own grandchildren.
Barack Obama has also echoed the same sentiments. “The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we are contributing to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe”.
A further argument used by climate change sceptics relates to economic growth. That increased carbon emissions are a prerequisite to GDP increases and economic well-being, especially for countries such as China and India. According to this viewpoint, curtailing carbon emissions would restrict economic growth. However, this argument is short-termist and ultimately flawed precisely because economic growth in the longer-term is inextricably connected to the environment. At a fundamental level, the Earth has finite resources yet economic growth is predicated on an ever-increasing population consuming an ever-increasing amount of resources. At some point soon, the capacity of the planet to continue supporting this bottomless pit type economic growth will start to diminish.
This view was reflected in the Prince’s words. “I cannot see how we can possibly maintain the growth of GDP in the long term if we continue to consume our planet as voraciously as we are doing. The fabric of the Earths life support system may be beginning to fragment”.
Which brings us to another important point. Many in the environmental movement have failed to address a number of critical issues. Firstly, a large number of environmental organisations and campaign groups do not tackle the issue of global population growth, choosing instead to ignore it completely or to sidestep the issue because its seen as too politically sensitive. Yet it’s a central environmental problem that cannot be brushed aside. A statement by the World Scientists Warning to Humanity, signed by 1600 senior scientists from 70 countries, including 102 Nobel Prize laureates, has said: Pressures resulting from unrestrained population growth put demands on the natural world that can overwhelm any efforts to achieve a sustainable future. If we are to halt the destruction of our environment then, we must accept limits to that growth. That does not imply a Chinese style approach to population quotas - programmes aimed at the better education and empowerment of women across the globe coupled with more readily available contraception methods are proven approaches to reducing birth rates.
Secondly, environmentalists should sell the benefits of sustainable living rather than just telling people what to give up. If we are constantly told that living environmentally friendly lives means giving up all that makes life worthwhile, then it is no surprise that people refuse to change. If public opinion is that the evidence for man-made climate is weak or questionable, and that protecting the environment means compromising standards of living then that leads to apathy and inaction.
Its is clear that the way forward relies on carrying the message beyond a growing but still small group of scientists and environmentalists to the wider public that humans are having an adverse and potentially catastrophic impact on the environment. The inheritance of future generations depends on protecting the environment, halting deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels and implementing programmes aimed at stabilising the global population.
The current situation is perhaps best summed up by Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute: Civilisation as we know it cannot withstand the stresses of continuing with business as usual. We have got to move, almost on a war footing, to cut carbon emissions, eradicate poverty, stabilise population. We must also restore natural support systems: forests and aquifers and soils. No civilisation ever survived that kind of destruction and nor will ours. We have not yet gone over the edge, but we are much closer than most people think.
Dr Gary Robertshaw
The Green Providers Directory

Recycling Books

2011-04-10T15:51:00.005Z

I've been really surprised by the quality and quantity of books that have been left at the recycling centre over the last yearor so. Some are obviously unwanted presents, unblemished and unread! Others have perhaps been read once and then discarded. When I ran out of storage space, I decided to sell the best ones at the gate. The sign says it all!

Target achieved!

2011-03-21T14:59:00.001Z

The new play/games area is ready and being used. The older children had portable tennis nets up across the length of the pitch and children were working in pairs, practising forehand shots. The first time in the school's history that pupils have been able to do this. So there is a new target for fundraising.

Environmental Disasters

2011-03-15T15:17:00.015Z

Everyone must have seen the video clips of the recent, terrible events in Japan. The destruction has made so many people homeless and the threat of radiation from their power stations has forced many others to vacate their homes and move to safer areas.
The son of a friend of mine works for Shelterbox, an international rescue charity based in Cornwall. They had a team in Japan 24 hours after the earthquake. What a brilliant idea. Their work is inspirational.

Win one--lose one

2011-01-02T16:33:00.007Z

The diggers and workman arrived the week before Christmas and managed to make a start on the new playground area, before the snow got too bad. The topsoil has been removed and some of it will be used to fill in the pond in the school's small,wildlife area.
Older than the school, the pond and its surrounding area, were improved when the recycling area was developed, but has since become shaded by nearby trees and been impinged upon by the new footpath along the road.
S0, great news about the new play area and a sad goodbye to the pond.

Rogue Traders

2010-12-26T12:51:00.005Z

Most people will have had one of these charity bags put through their door, asking for old clothes/textiles/bric-a-bracor toys, the proceeds of which will be given to a "good cause"

This one arrived, a few weeks before Christmas. On the appropriate day, a van with bearing the Clothesaid logo, toured the village to collect that bags that had been left out at the kerbside. I have no reason to believe that this scheme is not a legitimate one.

However, I've been aware for some time, that the textile recycling industry is plagued by "rogue traders". their scams include picking the bags up before the legitimate collectors and distributing bags and collecting for fake charities.

My interest in this was heightened last month, when I went to put all the lose items into bags and realised that our textile bank had been raided. The stupid people had left evidence of their illegal actions behind. So they are also gaining access to textile banks and helping themselves to clothing, which they can sell at car boot sales, markets and even, perhap, legitimate textile companies-- who knows? Textiles are quite valuable just now.

The police are are aware of the problem and are keeping an eye on our recycling centre, but it seems that the only way to catch these people is to make a note of the vehicle registration number or take a photo of them doing their dastardly deed. Many schools and most supermarkets have textile banks and the question is -- would you be suspicious to see a bank being emptied by a man with a van?

P.S. Black Country Rags will still continue to collect the textiles that are donated to school, but the procedure will be slightly different! So kind supporters,

PLEASE CONTINUE TO BRING

YOUR TEXTILES TO OUR RECYCLING CENTRE

New Reycling Scheme

2010-10-10T09:22:00.011Z

We have just joined a new fundraising, recycling

scheme, which is just right for schools.

When we have filled a box with used plastic pens, (biros, highlighters, markers and felt tips etc), we can print a postage label from Terracycle's website, sit back and wait for the postman to deliver the cheque!

If you would like to support our efforts, please post your pens to Elmsett School, The Street, Elmsett. IP7 6PA

Aluminium Cans

2010-08-05T06:14:00.004Z

Last Saturday we borrowed a van, filled it with crushed aluminium cans and took them to Whip Street Motors, where they were weighed and then unloaded, ready to be crushed and baled.
We were paid--another £180.00 for the recycling fund. When we have another load, Whip Street Motors will supply a skip for the recycling centre, free of charge, which will make life a lot easier for us!!

I have banned steel food and drink cans, as too many were being left at the recycling centre with the remains of their contents inside and although they are heavier the alu-cans, they are not as valuable.

We still save aluminium foil, which we give to The Sudbury Resource Centre. They collected the load below in the pouring rain yesterday

Money Matters

2010-06-29T09:05:00.004Z

The recycling accounts are due to be audited soon, so I thought that, as this year has been rather difficult for me and the school's recycling centre, I would just check on the income for this half of the year and was pleased, as it amounts to £2,326.85.

With the prospect of difficult financial times ahead, the school has abandoned their ambitious plans for a multi -use play area on the meadow and are now hoping to raise just £1o,00 for a new games area. If money raised by the school's PTA is added to the recycling fund, the target should be reached by the end of the year!

There are about 60+ used cartridges packed into the boxes in the photo, all donated by local companies and ready to be collected on July 9th. Some of these businesses have been supporting our recycling centre since it opened in 1994, when this way of raising funds was a novelty
They all deserve a medal!

Renewable ideas - win £1000

2010-06-04T11:25:00.007Z

Tetra Pak and the WWF-UK are looking for ideas to get everyone to think and buy renewable. For example: “Create a renewable App to help shoppers”. Be imaginative and you could win £1,000 for yourself and £25,000 to make your idea happen.

Click here to go to the Renewable Idea website to find out more.

Congratulations

2010-04-12T08:18:00.005Z

The children and staff at Elmsett School must have been working hard over the last few years, to achieve their third Green Flag for the Eco-schools Scheme.
Well done everyone-- it's good to see the new flag flying from the top of the pole!
I had a quick look at the Eco-Schools' website. and was pleased to note that, out of the 13,849 school that are registered, only 1,046 schools have been awarded the Green Flag.

The Eco Schools' inspector must have been very impressed with all the hard work that has gone into making this wonderful and productive allotment, in a nearby field, as there is no room to do this within the school's grounds. With support and guidance from the East Feast team and help from parents, I expect the children are looking forward to a bumper crop this year!

James Lovelock

2010-03-30T13:45:00.007Z

I made a point of listening to James Lovelock on the Today programme this morning, as he has spent most of his 90 years studying environmental issues.
Is his Gaia theory right or wrong? Has our planet's bio-system been altered beyond repair by human activity?
He is very gloomy about the future for the human race, but is right about one thing, which has been left out of the clip, our planet is a wondrous place to live!

Back to Normal

2010-03-27T12:25:00.002Z

It has taken about one and a half terms to complete the new extension, with its disabled access and secure parking area for bikes, and it looks really good, matching our old building brilliantly!

The school playground has always been small, so the builders needed to used part of the recycling centre during, making it difficult for contractors to empty the containers.
Not that I'm moaning-- there was no other way. I'm just hoping that it hasn't made too much difference to the weight credits that we receive from Babergh District Council. The last cheque for July to September was £729.38!

Just a minute

2010-03-18T15:59:00.007Z

Have a break? from Greenpeace UK on Vimeo.

I guess you're thinking "what's this got to do with recycling?"

Well, when I was teaching, I found that it was very easy to link recycling to land use, caring for our environment and sustainability. Most children seem to have a natural interest and affinity with animals and the pupils at Elmsett School have helped to create Buckles Wood and know that trees and bio-diversity are important.

If you want some information about other products that use palm oil in their production click here.

Hot off the press

Weight Credits

2010-01-24T16:39:00.003Z

Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk Council are merging and reorganising some of their services. Waste and recycling is part of this cost cutting and streamlining initiative, so details of weight credit payments last year have been sent a little later than usual.
We receive payment for the weight of paper, glass and textiles taken from our recycling centre and the bottle bank outside the Rose and Crown. Between April and September last year, this amounted to just over £1500.00. Totally brilliant for a small village.
Many thanks everyone, especially Dennis Hill, who donates the weight credits from the his bottle bank to school.

Recycling your Christmas cards

2010-01-01T14:28:00.007Z

We used to recycle our Christmas cards with Tesco, to help The Woodland Trust raise funds for planting trees. This year only WH Smith, TK Maxx and M&S are listed on their website as participating companies

As it will not be easy to deliver to these stores, which are in the middle of Ipswich, we shall be taking our bin liners full of cards to Sainsbury and the money raised will benefit the Forest Stewardship Council.

Morrisons are collecting cards for a second year. The Salvation Army is their chosen charity.

New Extension

2009-12-01T15:33:00.007Z

The new extension at the front of the school is nearly finished. The architects and builders have done a grand job, matching the new building with our lovely old Victorian school. I know they took extra care with the window frames and sills. It will be a pleasure to look at while I'm sorting out the recycling!!!

Now the office staff will be able to work in peace, without being distracted by people having to use their very small room as a corridor to get from one part of the school to another and there will be a pleasant reception area for visitors.

I'm thankful that the villagers are still trying to use the recycling centre. The picture above shows that the builders have been working in very cramped conditions. Waste skips and latterly workers vehicles, have blocked the access for the companies that collect from the recycling area.

We are building a glass mountain in the corner!

Bad News--Good news

2009-11-01T12:22:00.006Z

On returning from a two weeks restful break on Thassos (I shall plant some more trees via The Woodland Trust) and not having access to national or global news, it was depressing to start our first day back by listening to The Farming and Today programmes. Bumble and Honey bees still on the decline, as is the Arctic ice cap.

The good news is that had time to do a lot of reading. One of the books that I had in my case and thoroughly enjoyed was David MacKay's book about climate change. A strange thing to say about the prospect of impending chaos, but I was riveted by the way he has addressed the challenge of reducing out energy consumption in an understandable way! Everyone should read it and have it on their bookshelf. He is now the Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Great news!

The second good thing was an email from Dr. Gary Robertshaw, requesting reciprocal links with The Green Providers Directory No sooner said than done! You'll find information and links to most aspects of sustainable/ethical companies and organisations and MORE.

So far, so good

2009-09-15T17:59:00.004Z

This photo was taken at the end of the summer holiday. Now most of the end of the playground is taken up with equipment, building materials and of course, the new building and access ramps.
Difficult conditions for everyone to cope with, and nowhere for the children to play, when the weather is wet and they can't use the meadow to let off steam!
The new building is scheduled to be completed by Christmas., when I expect the recycling fund will help to provide "additional extras".

So I was really pleased to receive a bank payment of £814.46 in August, from Babergh District Council. The second amount of recycling weight credits this year.

We'd never do this, but ...

2009-07-28T12:51:00.000Z

One Last Shot

2009-07-28T07:11:00.005Z

Work on the new extension at the front of the school has started, so took one last photo of the school, before the builders arrived.
It's hoped that the extension to the front and side of the old building will be finished by the end of next term. The new entrance, with a ramp access, will take up a considerable area of the play ground.
With little room to maneuver, the builders are having to use the recycling centre to site waste skips.
Let's hope that this access isn't disrupted too much, as the funds from recycling will be needed to subsidise future projects.

A glitch in the system

2009-07-08T12:25:00.004Z

One of the pleasing things about looking after our recycling centre, in the middle of the Suffolk countryside, is the great views over the fields at the back. Heavy, stormy showers had been forecasted, but these passed us by, which was lucky, because I had a bit of catching up to do on the rubbish front!
After a hot weekend, the aluminium cans were flowing out of their wheelie bin. Old books needed to be rescued and taken home to be sorted. Likewise, the textile bank had clothes mixed in with shoes and other odd items, which all had to be dealt with appropriately.
So where was the glitch?
Well Boltons were not able to pick up the paper last month, as a builder's skip was in the way, so the excess paper has been stored elsewhere. As the banks had been emptied, I had to spend some time retrieving and stuffing paper into them, whilst enjoying the view in the diminishing evening light.
P.S. We got the rain the following day, heavy and thundery. Another sign of global warming-- but that's a much bigger glitch.

2009-06-15T15:58:00.002Z

Most schools could raise funds by recycling some materials that are usually thrown away, even if storage space is a problem. If you're not able to set up, or have room for recycling banks, then one off collections for textiles and these other materials might be a good idea.

Textiles are quite valuable at the moment, hence the increasing number of charities that have plastic bags delivered to households throughout the country!

Black Country Rags have large lorries for their collections and pay schools for the weight of materials picked up. What's more, they assure me that their business is very environmentally friendly, in that they have recycling banks at their warehouse for plastic, paper and other extraneous items that are part of the collections. They have very little "waste" that end up in landfill sites

Takeback will collect 20 cartridges, free of charge. They take up little room when packed 2 to a box, or even better put them in 2 large boxes. Requests for a collection will usually be dealt with within 24 hours. You need to make sure that your cartridges are on their list before you ask for a collection.

Music Magpie likes people to have 100 CDs/DVDs and games.

Easy for large schools and if you get parents, local businesses and the community involved , these schemes could become mega money-makers for you in the greenest possible way

What's really Important

2009-06-08T13:53:00.011Z

Whilst the UK's media and population are preoccupied by the activities of our politicians, Friends of the Earth are concentrating on the potentially more devastating and long lasting effects of climate change

Follow the link to sign a petition that will be presented to the World leaders, prior to the Copenhagen conference on climate change in December

Invisibly Bad for You and Me

2009-05-09T13:39:00.007Z

I’ve just got back from Thassos (relieved guilty feelings by offsetting with the Woodland Trust), knowing that I would return with some photos of beautiful sandy beaches, littered with rubbish, like the one below. There for all to see and do something about!

Which made me start to think about the environmental pollution which can’t be seen, but can still have a damaging effect. I know that I used to wonder if any of the old lead water pipes were still part of the plumbing in the kitchen at school, which was built in 1870. Then there was the ceiling in my classroom, a semi- permanent, prefabricated structure, which was added to the school in 1966. Thoughts of asbestos flitted through my mind, but surely not? Then I had an email from a representative of an asbestos awareness group, who asked if I would be willing mention the hazards of being exposed to asbestos. My knowledge of this is very limited, so, thank you Jack Bleaker for providing the information below.

Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial and consumer products, including ceiling constructions, for many years because it was fire retardant and proved to be a useful insulation component. Unfortunately however, asbestos was also found to cause cancer. Microscopic asbestos fibers, which will often become airborne as their surrounding compounds break down or age, are easily inhaled, often without even knowing. Once in the body, asbestos is associated with the rare cancer mesothelioma, known only to be caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Many would be amazed by how many of these types of products are still found in schools today. Pipe coverings, floor tiles, drywall, and other products that permeate schools all contained asbestos. These are the invisible hazards we may encounter every day.

The Bee's Knees

2009-05-04T13:08:00.019Z

Teaching children about recycling and caring for our environment in a practical way, can be an ideal introduction to learning about all the issues that will effect on our planet's future. Sustainable use of our dwindling resources and climate change are perhaps the two most urgent problems.

So why the bee photo?
Well, some authorities believe that their global decline is a good indication of worsening environmental conditions.
Why Bee's Knees? (Something outstandingly good)
The Recycling Fund's paperwork has just been returned by our accountants, Larking Gowen. It shows a healthy income of £3,875.27 last year, which is less than previous years, but when you consider the economic slow-down and the amount of waste that we have rescued from landfill sites, it's great!

Rubbish Rubbish Everywhere

2009-04-12T10:14:00.008Z

Life is full of coincidences. Only a couple of weeks ago I was listening to a program about the steady decline of the water in our seas and oceans. Marine biologist are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact that this has on marine life.
Last week, one of the main news items was about the increase in the amount of rubbish that litters our beaches, washed up by the tides and left by careless day trippers and holiday makers.
Then yesterday, I looked at my daughter’s interesting, environmental blog, which has an invitation to look at a video clip, The Story of Stuff, which I did. A powerful piece, that makes you think beyond re-using, reducing, recycling and filling up our well-loved wheelie bins. This only scratches at the surface of the world’s waste problem.
I wonder how much of the rubbish that is floating around our coast, will eventually end up in the huge mass of plastic and other "stuff" that is floating around in the North Pacific Ocean?

An Eco wash - down

2009-04-01T14:00:00.016Z

Armed with Ecover washing up liquid in my refillable bottle, a 5 litre container full of water and various bits of cleaning equipment, I went along to the recycling centre on Sunday morning.

Keeping my head down and oblivious to everything, I set to work, hoping that the villagers didn't spot me kneeling in front of our carton bank as they passed on their way to church.

It didn't take long to reveal the instructions on the front, so there is NO excuse for members the public to deposit the odd can or plastic bottle in there!

Let's hope that our shiny and almost new recycling facility will entice the village recyclers to bring their cartons along too.

Save the Children

2009-03-28T12:23:00.005Z

I used to spend quite a lot of time talking about the different aspects of waste, when I was in school-- caring for our environment sustainability, litter, landfill, greed, packaging--- the topic can be vast and wide ranging. Photos of children scavenging over rubbish dumps in developing countries always got a reaction from my pupils, as did the follow- up explanation!

And then I would show them my Owl, which peers down at me from her perch on a shelf in my kitchen. Was the wire netting that was used to make my owl, rescued from a waste tip and sold to pay for food?
Perhaps the video will have the same impact on a wider audience.

Wash and Squash

2009-03-27T17:43:00.003Z

Hurray---our carton recycling bank has arrived (thank you, Jonas, at Babergh D.C.) and looms large at the back of recycling area.
No artistic pictures though. The said bank does look a trifle tired, as if it's had a very long journey along wet, muddy Suffolk lanes to get to us. But never mind. We like re-use nearly as much as re-cycle!

Get out the Candles

2009-03-26T10:50:00.005Z

On Saturday 28th March you can be part of a W.W.F.'s Global scheme, to show the politicians, that climate change cannot be dismissed and URGENT ACTION is needed.
At 8.30pm, turn off your light for an hour, (and anything else, I guess)!
Check out Transition Housewife for more eloquent details of the scheme or click on the link on the right

World Water Day

2009-03-23T13:10:00.008Z

Currently, 900 million people around the world lack access to this basic and essential resource. Thousands of children die every day from preventable illnesses caused by dirty drinking water. Many more people are affected by painful and disfiguring diseases caused by waterborne parasites and bacteria.
I believe that everyone should have access to clean water- it is a basic right. However will the time come, when the world's precious resources have to be shared between a growing population, will clean water only be available to the richest nations, and at a price?

New Money-maker feature!

2009-03-04T19:23:00.008Z

I've added the latest list of cartridges that have a value, when you recycle with Takeback for Schools.
The information is to the right of the screen, after the details about Elmsett School. The list will be up-dated every month, so, keep an eye on this section. Your school might benefit from using this scheme!

Music Magpie Recycling Money Maker

2009-03-01T15:21:00.003Z

I sent the first load of CDs that were left at the recycling centre to Music Magpie last week and received payment very promptly.
Congratulations all round!!

Some new recycling fundraisers

2009-02-18T17:03:00.009Z

Don't throw them away! If they are in their original cases, Music Magpie will pay for them and then sell them to new, appreciative customers.
However, if you are feeling magnanimous, you could post your unwanted goods to Elmsett CEVC Primary School IP7 6PA and help our small, very green Eco-school to raise funds for two large projects that are in the planning process.
The building work for the final extensiion is due to start later this year and as it will take up a large area of the playground, plans are afoot to have an all-weather surface area constructed on the meadow, next to the school.

Calm Before the Storm

2009-02-16T13:19:00.005Z

Global warming is going to be worse than predicted is just one of the gloomy items of news from Planet Ark. Yet there is still a sense of apathy from the policy makers, planners and the "Not my Problem" families.
A number of my environmentally aware friends and relations are advertising the latest film about climate change. The Age of Stupid looks as if it could be a reality, non fiction horror prediction for everyone's future.

Christmas Card News

2009-02-08T15:30:00.003Z

We took 5 bin liners of Christmas card to our local Tesco and I managed to weigh them on my bathroom scales this year, so the total weight was roughly 50kgs.
Over the last ten years the number of bin liners has usual been more than 5, so I reckon that we have sent almost half a tonne to the Woodland Trust's scheme.
Anyhow, I sent them an email to let them know about our efforts and had the following reply

Thank you very much for collecting all those cards for us! We are extremely grateful to you all for making such a huge effort on our behalf. Please will you pass on our thanks?

Our scheme isn’t all about tree planting. It’s really important to remember that the benefits of taking part in the scheme are two-fold. As well as raising money for trees to be planted - 17,000 trees last year, it also reduces the amount of harmful methane being pumped out into the atmosphere by cards being dumped on landfill. Our cards are recycled and re-used, reducing our impact on the planet.

Secondly, while it might seem that dropping off one card doesn’t make a big difference, we remind people that if everyone recycled just one card, we’d be able to plant 15,000 trees! Over the 12 years the scheme has run, around 144,000 trees have been planted. So what might seem like a small gesture is, actually, hugely important and has a big impact when it’s part of a national effort.

Once again, many, many thanks for your valuable contribution and for supporting our scheme.

With very best wishes

Alison Evershed

Christmas Card Recycling Scheme Administrator
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

I'm looking forward to receiving the certificate!

I'm dreaming of a GREEN Christmas.

2008-12-14T12:24:00.011Z

Let's recycle to help our environment (and its inhabitants) this Yuletide.

Your Christmas cards are valuable to The Woodland Trust, who will receive recycling credits for the weight of donated cards and use the money to plant more trees. Many people think that planting trees is one of the best ways to reduce carbon dioxide and prevent flooding and soil erosion

Of course, you will recycle your envelopes, but you can also save the stamps and send them to the R.S.P.B., who sell them to raise funds for the Save the Albatross campaign. The address is on on their website, but here it is, if you're short of time!

R.S.P.B
P.O. Box 6198, Leighton Buzzard,
Beds. LU7 9XT

Money Well Spent

2008-10-29T14:55:00.003Z

The new covered area, paid for by the recycling fund, has just been completed.
It will be a super space for the younger children to do outdoor activities, and the only sheltered place for parents to gather at the beginning and end of school.

The school owes a great deal to all the companies that support our cartridge recycling program and all the people who use our community recycling centre. I don't know the total cost of our new structure yet, but it will be around £9,000. Thank you all very much. You have improved the "school experience" for pupils and parents in one go. Excellent!

Energy Saving Week

2008-10-21T10:47:00.004Z

It's Energy Saving week. Maybe the credit crunch will prompt more energy-saving? Find out more about how to cut your energy bills and save the planet on the Britain Unplugged website.

We're going to spend some money!

2008-10-01T10:53:00.006Z

Great news!

The covered, outdoor, play area will be constructed over half term.

There has been some delay, as the plans had to be approved by Babergh District Council.

The Recycling Fund and money raised by the PTA will pay for this much needed extension and should look similar to the photo below.

Parents of the younger children will be sheltered from bad weather when they bring and collect their offspring and there will be plenty of room for prams and pushchairs!

The children will use the area as an extension to the class, as recommended by a recent Ofsted Inspector.

Who's Crazy?

2008-08-23T14:34:00.004Z

For a number of years, the Publican from a local village has brought his empty bottles and aluminium cans to our recycling centre, pleased in the knowledge that he was helping school and the environment.
I was happy as I slung the bottles into the banks, to think that, not only was I helping school and the environment, but I was probably keeping fit as well!
Another load arrived yesterday, tucked neatly away behind the paper and bottle banks. I flexed my muscles in readiness for the task ahead.
BUT....
Evidently this is the last load. The bottles have been classified as commercial waste and in future, will be collected from the pub (bins provided,at a cost), by a well known waste and recycling company. The glass will end up in the local landfill site.
WHO'S CRAZY????

Schools plastic bag videos

2008-08-11T13:25:00.004Z

The children of Godwin Primary School, Forest Gate, Newham, performed their own Plastic Bag song at Marks & Spencer's Marble Arch store on 6th May 2008.

The children at Lyme Regis's St Michael's Primary School made an anti-plastic bag video.

Reason for optimism?

2008-08-11T13:05:00.003Z

Today's East Anglian Daily Times reports,

Plastic bags could soon become a thing of the past in Suffolk as councils and businesses work together to eliminate their use.

But is there cause for celebration yet?

The same report goes on...

Aldeburgh - No official campaign to reduce plastic bag usage.

Bury St Edmunds - “We are trying to encourage people to use plastic bags less but we recognise sometimes you just need one.”

Eye - The town council has not yet formally discussed the issue.

Felixstowe - “We are currently looking into schemes before the next town council meeting.”

Hadleigh - No measures currently in place by the town council.

Leiston - Self-regulation is working well.

Southwold - No policy on plastic bags is currently in place.

Sudbury - “... it is really down to the individual to economise and reuse bags.”

Maybe they could try harder?

For more on plastic bags, see the Abolish Plastic Bags website.

End of Term

2008-07-23T12:48:00.005Z

Hilary Benn, our environment minister, announced last week, that British state schools are to be included under the government's new domestic carbon emissions trading scheme from April 2010. Energy use in schools will be measured and count toward the emissions permit quotas of local authorities, which in turn will be encouraged to advise schools on energy efficiency.

"Young people stand to gain most from the action we take today, on climate change. That's why schools should be included in the shift to a low carbon economy," Benn said in a statement. Britain has also earmarked 110 million pounds for installing renewable energy technology in more than 200 secondary schools undergoing refurbishment over the next three years.

Great news, but too late perhaps, for the Suffolk School that had to install air conditioning in their new building which houses their computer department, when south facing windows made working conditions intolerable!

Meanwhile, the materials that are brought to our recycling centre continue to be diverted away from our local landfill sites and provide an extra income for school projects. We shall have two extra facilities soon. People will be able to leave unwanted books, which we shall try to sell.

We shall also be collecting unused toner and inkjet cartridges, a new addition to run alongside our successful used cartridge recycling project.

Just a drop in the Ocean

2008-06-26T10:45:00.008Z

When our local village shop stopped supplying free plastic carrier bags to customers , the EGGS Steering Group decided to order some eco-friendly bags from the Good Bag Company. We are very proud of our Buckle's Wood Bags. They are strong, long lasting, made from jute and can be recycled or composted at the end of their useful life! What's more, the wide gusset makes them easy to fill in the shop. Why "just a drop in the ocean"? Partly because plastic debris is forming a floating mass in the Pacific Ocean and damaging the wild life in the sea and surrounding coastal areas. Partly because, saying NO to plastic carrier bags will not save the planet.

Let's hope that the Government is serious about their proposed green revolution. Our World desperately needs URGENT ACTION.

Just for June

2008-06-03T10:40:00.006Z

Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils are organising the Bra Recycling scheme below. I thought it was a good idea, so an appropriate bin will appear at the recycling centre soon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We need your help Ladies!

As part of Recycle Week (June 2nd – 9th), we need your help to “recycle one more thing”, and the Suffolk Waste Partnership are encouraging Bra Recycling!

As well as helping the environment (the bras are sent to West Africa where they are reused and recycled), the project will also raise money for Macmillan.
So, dig out all your unwanted, unflattering, and unfitting bras (and encourage your Mum, Sister, and female friends and colleagues to rummage too!) and bring them in.

Paws for Thought

2008-05-04T06:47:00.007Z

This is Hairy Maclairy, a local stray, who has been lurking in our garden for the last couple of years. I started to buy cat food again to tempt her in on cold winter nights. She comes in to eat, but prefers to be outside in the wild.

What has this to do with recycling? Well, whilst perusing the many brands and colourfully packaged varieties of cat food, I realised that all landfill sites must be full of POUCHES. Convenient for people, but not good for the planet, as I think that they are made from plastic. Cat food in cans (steel) and trays (aluminium) can be recycled and are a better buy.

What could be a campaign slogan Pass over Pouches? ---ummmm --- not sure about that! Do you have any ideas?

The scourge of plastic

2008-04-24T09:51:00.000Z

Plastic Carrier Bags

2008-03-31T10:32:00.016Z

Our local village shop and Post Office has announced that, from the 1st April, customers will be encouraged to re-use their plastic carrier bags. If it is an Elmsett Shop bag, then 1p will be donated to a charity. However customers needing a new bag will be charged 2p. It's a great start to make people more aware of the detrimental effect that plastic debris has on our planet.

Another option is to buy a long lasting, ethically produced bag. The people in the small Devonshire town of Modbury lead the way in tackling the problems of plastic waste.

There are lots of ethical shopping bags at the Ethical Superstore, including string bags.

3 is a magic number

2008-03-17T20:17:00.000Z

Eco -Schools Celebrations

2008-03-13T13:35:00.011Z

When we opened our recycling centre in 1994, we were surprised to discover that our recycling topic involved a lot more than just sorting rubbish into piles for recycling and heaps that were destined for our local landfill site. Our recycling topic soon grew into a "caring for our environment" theme and reached into most areas of the curriculum.
Now, our environment and climate change is an urgent, global issue, with gloomy forecasts about our plight on the news almost on a daily basis.
So I was delighted to hear that the staff and pupils at Elmsett have continued to work on green themes, and were rewarded for their efforts by receiving their second Eco-Schools GREEN FLAG at the end of last year. Great news. They have new targets to work on, in order to gain their third flag. If they go on beyond that, the fourth flag is permanent. I don't think many schools have achieved that.

Too little---Too late

2008-03-05T09:24:00.007Z

So--not much effort was made to reduce our energy consumption on E-Day, maybe because it wasn't given much attention in the media.
Perhaps a glimpse at the article for Monday 3rd March on an American blog might persuade people that some sort of urgent action is needed to protect our children's future.
Click on the link "checklist toward zero carbon", for a comprehensive view on the state of our planet and what everyone can do about it.
But--don't bother if you're depressed!!!!

National Energy Saving Day (E-Day)

2008-02-27T08:57:00.006Z

From 6pm today until 6pm tomorrow you can save energy in a small way! Click on the image for some tips.

Recycling Credits

2008-02-20T12:08:00.004Z

We were fortunate that the end of our playground was accessible to the public and could be sectioned off from the area where the children play. It was an ideal site for our recycling centre.

Not many other schools would be able to do this, which is a shame, because the educational, enviromental and monetary benefits have proved to be well worth the effort of setting it up.

I've just been sent details of the recycling credits that we shall receive from Babergh District Council, for each tonne of glass, paper and textiles that is collected from our centre. (£30.86, £35.46 and £145.46 respectively). This usually amounts to about £1,000.00 a year.

At the moment, cartridge recycling is not as profitable as it used to be, however, with support from Takeback Ltd., this scheme still raises a lot of funds for our pupils.

Fitness and Fundraising

2008-02-03T14:39:00.002Z

The children used to play on the Village Hall car park after lunch, and have their games lessons there too, because the school playground is too small. Now the surface of the car park is so bad that it is dangerous for children to run about on.

Children and (adults?) need to be active, so the school is hoping to provide a fenced, all weather surface area on the meadow, between the school and the village hall. This facility will be available for the whole community to use.

It will cost a lot of money and although there are grants that can be applied for, I expect that the recycling fund will be called upon to help. We raise about £1,000 each year from the material that is brought to our recycling centre on the end of the playground. The cartridge recycling supported by Takeback Ltd has always brought in much more.

So this year, we shall we shall be doubling our efforts to get people and companies to support our recycling efforts. Helping the environment and the health of our community!!!

Aluminium Cans

2007-12-04T22:56:00.001Z

This is our sturdy can crusher.
The wall mounted one didn't last very long! The lousy summer has meant that it has not been used too much this year. Also the pub that saves their cans for us was closed for some time, while the building was repaired.

So this time as we only had a small load of sorted, crushed cans we took them to Whip Street Motors and received £80 for our recycling fund. In the past, Pearsons would collect large loads of aluminium cans from us.
Our can crusher came from Home Recycling. I understand that it had to be imported from America. That was two years ago. Perhaps they are made in the UK now. If you remember to put a bin liner in the base, the cans can be crushed and bagged in one go.

I haven't tried crushing steel cans yet, but I seem to remember that the information implied that you could if you wanted to. OK if you can get people to wash out their cans first!

News to You

2007-10-21T13:36:00.000Z

If you want a global perspective about what's happening to our enviroment, then take a look at Planet Ark. This informative, Australian website tackles most green issues and you can sign up to have a daily list of articles from all over the world emailed to you. I Have to say that most of it is fairly gloomy!
Click on the link at the bottom of the page

Recycling to help Others

2007-10-17T09:19:00.000Z

If you give your old spectacles to Vision Aid Overseas , it's good to know that they will be sent to needy people in developing countries and also give useful employment to the inmates of 6 prisons in this country, who sort, grade and pack them prior to sending them overseas.

For people in the developing world with poor vision, being educated and finding employment is very difficult.
With the correct spectacles, people can learn, work and achieve a quality of life, which was previously unobtainable.

There is lots more information on the Vision Aid Overseas website

Just News

2007-10-01T09:07:00.000Z

The start of a new educational year is a good time to take stock and plan for the future. The accounts for our recycling centre have been returned, showing a slight downturn in the amount that was raised for school. I'm pleased to report that £6000 was transferred to school funds, to pay for "Computer and School support"

Before I retired from teaching at Elmsett School, we set up an Early Years Unit, paid for by the recycling fund. It was disbanded for a few years but has been resurrected again and the Head Teacher has asked me if the recycling fund can support it as before, something which I am very pleased to do!

Those companies that are interested in Buckle's Wood, our new community woodland, might like to know that Suffolk ACRE, at their recent annual awards ceremony, commended our scheme as an "outstanding Community Achievement".

Been Busy

2007-08-05T08:41:00.000Z

There is a big gap since my last report. Not an extended summer holiday, but our Woodland Fayre has kept me occupied for the last two months (as well as keeping an eye on the School's recycling centre).

The rain kept away and everything was more or less ready in time! The organisers had a good time and many visitors asked if our event was to be the first of many more! The answer is Yes, but not at the start of the summer holidays!

We were delighted to be chosen as a winner in Powergen's search for energy conscious Summer Fetes and were given £500 to help develop Buckle's Wood, 500 energy saving light bulbs to distribute and 2 energy saving boxes for raffle prizes.

I took the photo above this morning. It shows the second group of trees that we planted in Bucklle's Wood. The trees that we planted on behalf of all the companies that have supported Elmsett School's Recycling Centre, part of our first planing session, are behind me. All the trees are growing well and it is starting to feel like a woodland. Many people who came to the Woodland Fayre, walked round the wood for the first time and were surprised and enchanted by what they saw. A special place.

Green Milk Bottles

2007-05-16T12:18:00.000Z

Our milk arrives on the doorstep, in glass bottles, which are whisked away when empty and re-used or recycled, depending on their condition.

I think I am right in saying that most milk nowadays is packaged in plastic bottles and sold from supermarkets and shops. The plastic is made from crude oil and can be recycled, but takes about 500 years to rot if it ends up in a landfill site.

Now there is an alternative option to the plastic bottle. Based in Framlingham, Martin Meyerscough at Greenbottle Ltd, has designed a milk bottle, made from moulded recycled cardboard, with a biodegradable insert. The whole lot can be recycled when empty.

It's causing a bit of a stir. Brilliant!

Keep in Touch

2007-05-11T09:58:00.000Z

I try to keep in touch with the companies that support the school's recycling scheme, and am in the process of sending a newsletter to them, so it was good to receive a response from a local company that has supported our cartridge recycling for a very long time!
"Could you mention us and add a link on your website please" was the request from Access Accounting. My daughter, who designed the site, will have to do this, as I can't alter the website. However, I can manage this Blog and I will be very happy to add your company to the list of Supportive Companies in the links section. You just have to ask!!!!.

Cartridges from Companies

2007-04-12T10:19:00.000Z

I have been recycling empty cartridges and collecting them from local companies for many years. Some businesses have been supporting school since 1993, when this type of fundraising was a novelty. Now most charities ask for cartridges and mobile 'phones, in fact the market is very competitive!

Each year our recycling fund is audited, so, before the paperwork is dispatched to the accountant, I've worked out that last year, local companies have donated nearly £1,000's worth of cartridges to Elmsett School.

So thank you everyone. We have been able to buy a lot of "extra" resources for our pupils.

Buckle's Wood

2007-04-02T14:13:00.000Z

Money raised by our recycling scheme has funded many school projects, the latest of which is perhaps the most long term and interesting one. A field at the back of the meadow has been given to the village by a local land owner, James Buckle, in order to develop it as a Community Woodland. The newly planted trees and shrubs will eventually become Buckle's Wood.

The school is closely linked with the scheme; the children have their own planting area and a Governor is part of the management group that is overseeing its development. The recycling fund paid for most of the first lot of trees that were planted.

The photo was taken by Bob Dewes, a Sea King pilot from Wattisham Airfield and parent of a pupil at Elmsett School. Buckle's Wood is the field which is surrounded by a hedge, at the back of the school,
The Green Light Trust has encouraged us throughout and there's more information on Buckle's Wood Blog

Corporate Cans

2007-03-25T11:06:00.000Z

Four boxes containing crushed. aluminium cans were delivered to the recycling centre last week. Kevin McDonagh and his colleagues at Sempra Metals in London have supported our recycling efforts for many years and more recently, sent a generous donation towards planting trees in Buckle's Wood.

I know that Kevin has tried hard and not been able to locate and donate the cans to a local, green school in London, hence the special delivery!

So very many thanks to Kevin and the metallic men and managers at Sempra. I shall put your cans in bin liners and take them to Whip Street Motors, who will pay us for their weight and we shall also receive the weight credit from Babergh District Council.

Green Textiles

2007-03-17T13:44:00.000Z

I 'phoned them on Monday and by Friday, the Black Country Rags and Wiper Company had emptied our textile bank. Based in the West Midlands, their original name is an indication of past environmental conditions in a great industrial area.

BCR Global Texiles, a recent formed division of the original company, has supported our recycling centre in a reliably efficient way, since 1994.

It's good to know that very little, in the form of waste, leaves their premises. They even recycle the plastic bags that our old clothes and shoes are packed in.

I should think that quite a lot of the clothing from our bank, is sent to developing countries or disaster areas. At least none of ends up in landfill sites, but I'm not too sure about that old pair of patched jeans of mine...!

2007-03-13T16:23:00.000Z

A darker shade of Green

Good news? The frogs have woken up and are busy in our pond. Likewise, our politicians have woken up and are busily trying to impress with their new environmental initiatives. Let's hope we don't have too long to wait to see their plans turn into action. It would be great if our small country could become a world leader in all aspects of sustainable development and environmental issues

This is what we do!

2007-03-07T12:00:00.000Z

Now there are two different aspects for out recycling activities. The Communuity Recycling Centre on the end of the playground where there are collection bins for villagers to use for their recyclable waste We then receive money in the form of weight credits from Babergh District council, and the value of the shoes and aluminium cans from Black Country Rags and Whip Street Motors.
The Recycling Centre has inspired the pupils environmental work, in fact the school was awarded the Eco-schools, Green Flag in 2002.

Takeback Limited of Thetford collects cartridges from all the local and national companies that support our school and we receive a monthly cheque for their market value. In fact, since August 1996 the recycling fund has transferred £96,000 into the school's account to buy extra resources for our pupils. About 90% of the extra money derives from our cartridge recycling This scheme is brilliant.