As part of the European Waste Reduction Week, it is back to school for waste management company RiverRidge, as it works with schools across the country to help encourage pupils to rethink their everyday waste habits.
The European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), from 12th November until 27th November, is an initiative aiming to promote the implementation of awareness-raising actions about sustainable resource and waste management during a single week.
Tony Kirkpatrick, Operations Director comments, “At RiverRidge, we strongly support initiatives such as European Waste Reduction Week. It is an opportunity for everyone to take stock and look at their waste and ascertain what can be done to reduce their waste more. RiverRidge is a company which believes in changing the environment by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill through recycling and fuel production. Education plays a key role in achieving that goal, as we can all play our part.
Recently, the P7 class of Cloughmills St Brigid’s Primary School, took on a very different look, when the pupils visited one of Northern Ireland’s most advanced materials recovery facilities.
Tony Kirkpatrick continues, “The thirteen pupils travelled to RiverRidge in Coleraine, where they learnt first-hand how easy it is for them to reduce their impact in the environment. The visit also included learning about the company’s innovative recycling model in Northern Ireland and this was followed by a complete tour of the Material Recycling Facility (MRF).
“Being able to see and experience the Materials Recovery Facility in real life is a great way to enhance the lessons we’ve been teaching around reducing, reusing and recycling in the classroom and puts everything in context for them.”
Ms Brenda Bell, teacher of the P7 class, commented, “The pupils and I really enjoyed our visit to RiverRidge, it was highly engaging and informative. It was a good opportunity to gain a better understanding about the issues of waste including the effects it has on our environment. Most importantly the pupils gained a real appreciation for their role and how they can make a difference in the simplest of ways.
RiverRidge will also be visiting St Columb’s College in Derry, as part of European Week for Waste Reduction. During the visit, Pamela Jordan of RiverRidge will be giving the students some insight into the management of waste, with particular focus on food waste, and the impact of poor management of wastage and the extent of wastage in Northern Ireland.
Pamela comments; “It is wonderful to have schools like St Columb’s College that are clearly passionate about the environment and want to help their pupils understand in greater detail about waste.
“Every year, millions of tonnes of litter end up in oceans, beaches, forests and elsewhere in nature. The European Week for Waste Reduction is a great opportunity to remind everyone about the positive effects of recycling and huge difference this makes to our environment.”
