Recycling plea to schoolchildren

SCHOOLCHILDREN are being encouraged to become recycling champions in a special initiative organised by Leicestershire County Council and a theatre company.

The authority has joined forces with theatre company, PALS Productions, to look at ways of providing engaging activities to get youngsters thinking about sustainability.

The company, which incorporates inter-active teaching techniques in workshops on reducing, reusing and recycling, began a five-week tour of primary schools last week.

On the educational workshops, children take part in a range of activities, including acting, singing, dancing and improvising.

The workshops have already visited Hathern Primary, St Edwards Primary, Castle Donington, Long Whatton School, Seagrave Village Primary and Rendell Primary School, Loughborough.

Visits to other local schools are planned for: Wednesday, February 13: Belton Primary, Wymeswold Primary; Monday, February 25: Cobden Primary, Loughborough; Wednesday, February 27: Highcliffe Academy, Birstall; Thursday, March 7: Robert Bakewell Primary, Loughborough.

Blake Pain, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We want to get Leicestershire’s youngsters thinking about how much waste people can create – and how we can all make more of an effort to reduce that amount, reuse things where possible, or recycle if we have to.

“It’s important because these youngsters have the potential to become the next generation of conscious consumers, and see how the things they buy can end up with a new lease of life, rather than in the bin.

“We have a great opportunity to reach a large number of children, and have a positive impact on the way they think about waste issues.”