School pupils go behind the scenes at recycling firm (posted 22/07/2009)Pupils from West Moors Middle School saw for themselves how their food and garden waste is turned into top quality compost when they visited a Dorset organics recycling firm.
The Year 5 pupils, aged nine to ten years, had a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Eco Sustainable Solutions’ 14-acre site at Parley. The visit coincided with national Recycle Week and formed part of an education campaign led by East Dorset District Council.
Among the activities they witnessed were the processes used for recycling food and wood as well as garden waste and soil.
Eco annually processes 150,000 tonnes of material with end products including turf, enriched topsoil, compost and woodchip. The firm, which employs 32 staff, is the current Dorset Company of the Year.
Elaine Simpson, West Moors’ Subject Leader for Design and Technology, said the children had been “fascinated” by the visit.
“It’s fantastic to have such a recycling facility so close to the school and we’re really grateful to Eco for laying on these tours,” she added.
Justin Dampney, Eco’s Business Development Manager, said it was important that schoolchildren had a full understanding of the importance of recycling.
He added: “We receive several school visits during the year and the feedback is always very good.
“I hope that allowing the children to see first-hand how their waste is recycled provides a very powerful and positive impression when educating them on the benefits of recycling.”
ENDS
Picture caption: Recycling revealed: Eco’s Justin Dampney (second left) and Peter Hardy (sitting on steps) with pupils and teachers from West Moors Middle School.
Editor’s Note: Founded in 1994, Eco annually processes 150,000 tonnes of material on its 14-acre site at Parley, Dorset. End products include turf, enriched topsoil, compost and woodchip. The company, which employs 32 staff, was named KPMG Company of the Year in the 2008 Dorset Business Awards.
For more information please contact: Justin Dampney, Business Development Manager, Eco Sustainable Solutions, on 01202 593601 or Andrew Diprose, PR Account Director, Deep South Media on 01202 534487.
