Lincoln youngsters win zero waste lunch box challenge

Youngsters from North Scarle Primary School are the best in the county at recycling...

Over the past year, primary schools from across the county have been taking part in a challenge to reduce the amount of waste from their lunch box at Lincolnshire County Council's Energy from Waste facility.

Sean Kent, Lincolnshire County Council Head of Environmental Services (left) said: "It’s so important that our young people get a well-rounded education. We need to teach them about the world we live in, how it works and how we can help protect it for future generations.

"School visits to the EfW facility are brilliant. They allowed us to start conversations with the students about the importance of recycling and how we can all play a role in taking care of the environment and the zero waste lunch box challenge is a key part of that."

Juergen Schaper, Lincolnshire Energy from Waste General Manager (right) said: "This challenge is a great way for youngsters to learn about waste and recycling.

"Making simple swaps, such as cutting up cheese, fruit and vegetables into sticks rather than buying individually packaged ones and putting sandwiches in a tub instead of using cling film, zip-lock bags or foil and bringing drinks in reusable bottles, can make a huge difference in the amount of waste which is put in the bin.

"North Scarle Primary School won out against 18 other local schools and the 7 – 11 year olds who took part should all be very proud. The students created only 50g waste from their lunchboxes. That’s less than half of an iphone! Amazing! "

Sally Hood, visitor manager for FCC Environment, who runs the Energy from Waste Visitor Centre, comments "It was an absolute delight to have the children and young people from North Scarle visit us at the facility. I hope that it provokes thoughts of waste management and encourages them to change their lunch box habits – which evidently it has! Excellent news!"