Fonterra cleans up

A Matamata Intermediate School student’s art work has been selected to decorate a South Waikato District Council recycling bin outside the Fonterra plant in Tirau.

The art work competition was part of the dairy company’s bid last year to teach the Tirau school community about recycling.

Danni Steiner, 11, an avid artist, said it was ‘‘pretty cool’’ to have her piece publicly displayed.

She drew the bodies of different people and the heads were used as the holes for recycling.

Her inspiration was aimed at getting people together to focus on recycling and cleaning up the town. ‘‘[ It was about] getting people involved, all about the community.’’

Though she has already been thoroughly involved in environmental initiatives at primary school, she was surprised at some of the things she learnt during the lessons conducted by Fonterra. ‘‘It’s amazing how long it takes for plastic to break down.’’

Plant manager Bruce Were said it was a ‘‘holistic approach’’ when it was decided the company should get involved. ‘‘The way Fonterra see it is we are in the community and our families are in the community.’’

He said most of the 70 workers lived in the district and Matamata.

It was the first time employees had gone into the school to teach about recycling but they’ve made appearances in other parts of the district.

Photo: ABBY BROWN After gaining excellences in various subjects, Matamata College junior student Mikayla Reid, 13, and senior student Alana Williams, 15, had their names drawn out in a promotion the school runs called Achievement and Celebrating Excellence (ACE). They...

Photo: CAITLIN WALLACE Danni Steiner, front, proudly shows her artwork displayed on a Tirau recycling bin thanks to Fonterra’s Cheryl Smith, back left, Jean Barlow, Bruce Were and South Waikato District Council services manager Andrew Pascoe.