IT took a few weeks, but the children at Box Hill Kids early childhood education centre are getting a new recycling bin.
Box Hill Kids have been recycling since 2006, when they became one of the first educational institutions to participate in the Enviroschools programme. A council education officer visited the school, taught kids about the “big rubbish mountains” (or landfills), and about what they could do to make that mountain smaller. Box Hill was given four green recycling bins, and in two weeks had halved their weekly rubbish output from two wheelie bins to one.
When the new recycling system was rolled out recently, they received a package of recycling bags, and called the council to see when their wheelie bin would arrive.
“[We were] told … that we shouldn’t even have bags – these were given to us in error,” says Box Hill Kids supervisor Raewyn Berkahn.
“We pointed out that we are a non-profit, charitable trust… and were told that this made no difference.”
Berkahn emailed the council on May 6, saying, “We are committed to recycling and believe the Wellington City Council should promote sustainable practices such as recycling amongst its youngest citizens.”
She received a generic reply headed “Dear Learning Centres” on May 26, encouraging concerned parties to make a submission on the draft Wellington regional Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2011/17.
Submissions close on June 3.
“We’re lucky we got that email in time to submit,” says Berkahn.
Box Hill Kids made their submission in person, children in tow, for maximum effect, and on Tuesday, Wade-Brown announced that she would pay them a visit and reinstate their recycling capabilities.
“I was very disappointed when I found out [Box Hill] had been dropped off. We are going to put in place a viable plan for school recycling, but more immediately, we will get Box Hill their recycling bin,” she says.
Wade-Brown says a trial will run in schools that have been recycling on an unofficial basis, with a mind to expanding services to other schools.
“So many youngsters care passionately about the future of our city and our planet, and let’s face it, they’re the ones that are going to inherit it.”