Teaching the Values of Recycling

Feb. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- OCS has been supporting a school in Hackney and teaching the positive values of recycling, helping the school to more than double its recycling rate.

Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form is part of a Hackney schools contract with Babcock, where OCS delivers cleaning, hygiene, pest control, waste management and grounds maintenance services. The contract for waste services has been held for two years and encompasses mixed recycling, ink cartridges, cardboard and confidential waste.

OCS introduced recycling bins in key areas of the school including photocopying and printing areas and art rooms, where a large quantity of mixed recycling waste is produced. The school has also nominated pupils as ‘Recycling Champions’ to help deliver messages to their peers and other building users. To support their campaign, OCS organised a fun day to teach pupils the importance of cleaning the building and recycling where possible. Since the delivery of two new recycling collection containers, known as ‘cow bins’, the school has gone from an average of 8% recycling to just under 32% in a matter of months.

Ms Annie Gammon, Headmistress of Stoke Newington said: “We had started the process of recycling before our contract with OCS began, but we weren’t recycling at a high rate. Since we have put together plans on which materials to recycle, the scheme has been thriving. The pupils really enjoy it and it’s great to see that we are making a difference to the environment.”

Operations Director Eddie Ratcliffe said: “This is really encouraging progress. In partnership with the school we have set a target of 50% recycling for this year. We are also in discussion about the possibility of food recycling and look forward to making further progress in this area.”