Tuesday 09 October 2012
Vauvert pupils have been learning about the importance of reducing waste and recycling during a trip to the Fontaine Vinery Waste Segregation Facility and Mont Cuet landfill site.
Public Services Recycling Officer, Tina Norman-Ross said that the aim of the visit was to show children what happens to their rubbish and recycling after it has been collected.
"Visiting these sites gives youngsters a real and visual experience and gets them excited about waste",
said Mrs Norman-Ross.
"At the Fontaine Vinery they see materials such as drinks cans and tins, sorted, crushed, bagged and processed into bales ready to be sent away for recycling."
"They then find out what happens next. A drinks can could be recycled within six weeks-it might be recycled back into another can, but equally it might be recycled into aluminium sheets for car manufacture or steel panels used for building ships - that's exciting!"
said Mrs Norman-Ross.
Various aspects of the curriculum are covered on a general visit to the waste sites, or activities can be tailored to specific needs explained Mrs Norman-Ross. At Fontaine Vinery the pupils found out how the weighbridge works and took a look at the waste segregation activities - where rubbish from businesses is sorted and all the recyclables removed. They then headed to Mont Cuet to find out what happens to all the waste that is not recycled.
Deputy Minister Scott Ogier said:
"Raising awareness and education for all ages is a key part of the new waste strategy. We need Islanders to understand the issue of waste and we want these children to take the message home to their families."
