Clothes recycling banks at primary schools

STRICT recycling requirements and landfill directives will hit Thurrock people hard in the pocket unless further action is taken says Thurrock Council Leader Terry Hipsey.

At a full council meeting on Wednesday November 26 Councillor Hipsey, said: “As we get closer to 2010, stricter recycling requirements and landfill directives are becoming more demanding and the possibility of financial penalties need to be avoided at all costs.”

The Leader was speaking in support of his motion that “as part of Thurrock Council’s drive to improve recycling rates, this council requests the Education Department to encourage the placing of clothes recycling banks at all primary schools in the borough”.

Coun Hipsey said children at school find recycling fun. “While visiting our schools, we see our children recycling a range of products such as paper, cardboard, even compostables,” he said.

Coun Hipsey added that children should be encouraged to dispose of their unwanted clothing or shoes into small Bring Bank Stations on their way into school with their parents.

He said: “The amount of tonnage prevented from going to landfill sites over the course of a year could be immense,” and went on to say providing extra facilities in addition to parents’ wheelie bins could “mean the difference of crossing a penalising landfill diversion limit and save thousands of pounds to Thurrock Council’s taxpayers”.