The Bee's Knees

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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!

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?

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

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?

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

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.