Forest kids grab a pizza the recycling action

You won’t find “landfill pizza” on the menu at many restaurants, but that’s just what kids and their parents will be serving up in the Forest of Dean.

The toppings come from all the different types of rubbish we throw out that end up in landfill.

It’s one ingredient of a project for schools that is being launched in the Forest of Dean this week (Tuesday 26th February) designed to encourage children and their parents to recycle more.

Kate Cole, Waste Education Officer for Gloucestershire County Council said: “Pupils will be making their own recycled paper, and designing fridge magnet recycle boxes. 

“They will also have a go at making a landfill pizza that will illustrate a pie chart of the different types of rubbish we throw out, and just how much of it ends up in landfill.”

“We hope the children will find these lessons instructive but also fun and very creative”.

The landfill pizza is part of the Supporting Recycling in Gloucestershire project (SPRiNG) that will run for a month in Cinderford, where recycling rates are among the lowest in Gloucestershire.  An intensive education programme at Forest View School and Littledean School will focus on the importance of recycling and the need to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill.

Pupils will have lessons on recycling and reducing their waste, and the reasons why we all need to throw away less.  Fun family homework activities will also be set, so that parents have the opportunity to get involved as well. 

 “We want to engage parents in this project and will be inviting them to school assemblies, which will be focusing on the key environmental issues related to recycling”, said Kate Cole.

“In addition, children, families and anyone in the community will be able to sign up to two pledges at GL14, to re-use carrier bags and to put their recycling box out for collection”.

County Councillor and Chairman of the Gloucestershire Waste Partnership, Stan Waddington, said: “This project is an excellent way to improve recycling rates.  I am sure youngsters will encourage their parents to play a more active role in reducing, re-using and recycling waste.” 

The SPRiNG project is being organised by Gloucestershire County Council and sponsored by Biffa Waste Services, the Mid Counties Co-op, and Forest of Dean District Council.

The project will be monitored regularly, and if successful, could be rolled out to other schools in the County.

For further information about recycling in the Forest please click here

For more information about refuse collections and recycling in the Forest of Dean please click here