children are probably the most environmentally friendly people on the planet, more aware than adults of the damage humans are doing to the earth and what we should be doing to stop it. Time is given to recycling as part of the National Curriculum in science and technology lessons. But playworkers can use young children's enthusiasm for conservation in a host of 'hands-on' activities.
Friends of the Earth is keen to improve the nation's recycling of household waste, which at the moment is only 12 per cent. Remarkable Pencils - the UK's leading supplier of recycled stationery, produces a full range of school equipment children can use to preserve the environment, including pencil cases made from old car tyres. Remarkable showed visitors to the Millennium Dome, much to their amazement, how vending cups could be turned into pencils. The machinery was adapted using see-through panels to give people a cross-section view of every stage of the process. Those who still weren't convinced were able to test the pencils on a notepad at the end of the production line.
But what can children actually do themselves? Valpak is a not-for-profit organisation that assists over 3,000 UK companies to comply with packaging and waste legislation. Valpak created the recycle-more website to promote recycling to consumers and identified children as one group who would benefit from up-to-date information. The website suggests a range of activities to show children how the recycling process actually works and what they can make by re-using rubbish!
Ideas for recycling: Recycling paper
Tear up two or three sheets of newspaper and put them in a bucket with five cups of water and leave to soak overnight. When the paper is soft, use a wooden spoon (or your hands) to mush it into a pulp. You can add ink to the pulp at this stage to make coloured paper. Pour 2cm of water into a square pan and lay a thin mesh or netting in it. Take a cupful of mushy paper from the bucket and pour it over the mesh. Spread the pulp evenly over the mesh using your fingers. Carefully lift the mesh out of the pan and place on some spare newspaper to drain. Place another piece of newspaper on top of the pulp and carefully turn the whole thing over so that the mesh is now on top of the pulp. Leave both sections of newspaper in place. Place a flat block of wood or book on top of the newspaper and push it down to squeeze out the water. Remove the top piece of newspaper and the mesh. Leave the pulp to dry for at least 24 hours.
Rubbish check
This activity will help children to see how much rubbish is thrown away and how much of it can be recycled. It may be safer to use a 'staged bin' - one that has been sorted beforehand in order to avoid sharp objects. The children, in any case, should wear protective gloves. Empty a bin out on to a plastic sheet. Sort the rubbish into the following piles: paper and cardboard, plastic, aluminium, glass, organic material - food and leaves, fabrics. You could separate metallic objects from the rest of the rubbish using magnets. Once you have sorted out the rubbish you can then discuss what piles can be recycled and how.
Make a compost bin
Take an old plastic rubbish bin with a lid and drill 12 holes in the bottom, randomly spaced. This is for drainage. Start adding any leftover food or leaves to the compost bin on a regular basis. To mix the contents, secure the lid and roll the bin. As the bin gets fuller you can show the children how it is turning into compost and how that can then be used to fertilise the garden.
For more information and ideas on involving children in recycling, see the following:
* Friends of the Earth guide - Mad About Waste and Recycling Guide (free).
Telephone 020 7490 1555.
