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RememBeRIf dan canYou can

GREEN-FINGERED kids at Greenmeadow Primary School in Cwmbran aredoing their bit to help the environment. Now that the school has securedthe bronze award in the Eco-Schools scheme, it is aiming for silver.

The Eco-Schools Programme encourages youngsters to help theenvironment by doing things like picking up litter, recycling and savingenergy. Teachers and more than 250 pupils at Greenmeadow haveformed an eco committee which looks at ways the school can go green.

As well as new recycling facilit ies on the grounds, the school hasassemblies with a “green” theme, organises litter picks every break andlunch times, has opened a healthy tuck shop, uses a compost bin andgrows fruit and vegetables on an allotment.

To reduce car use, staff hold a sponsored walk toschool day every term. Teacher Nicky Pegington said:“The children are always trying to think of newways of going green.”

There are 42 Eco-Schools in Torfaen.

For more information visit www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk/ecoschools.html

Kids Back ClassroomGreen Scheme

Usefulwebsiteswww.torfaen.gov.uk/waste

www.wasteawarenesswales.org.ukwww.recycle-more.co.uk

issue 1Hi, I’m Dan Can

the Super Recycler. I want you all to help me save the world.

Did youknow

?

Each year in Britain, wethrow away 28 million tonnesof rubbish from our homes.

This weighs the same as three and a half million double decker buses!

D

Schools in Torfaen are being urged to have a “green”Christmas to help boost recycling rates. Over theChristmas period about 30 per cent more rubbish isproduced.

Glass, cans, Christmas trees, cards, and plastic bottlesare all thrown away in Torfaen's dustbins.

With a little thought, we can all limit the impact wehave and help boost the county borough’s recycling rateof 37%.

Here are some handy tips:o When shopping for Christmas presents use

reusable shopping bags or reuse carrier bagso Do not over wrap Christmas presents - use a

Christmas stocking instead of paper or userecycled paper

o Try sending electronic cardso Cut up old Christmas cards and make tags for

presentso Buy Christmas trees with roots so they can be

replanted in the garden or buy an artificialChristmas tree that can be reused

o Buy rechargeable instead of disposable batterieso Use your black box for recycling Christmas cards,

glass, cans and plastic bottleso Take glass, cans, paper, plastic bottles, drinks

cartons, textiles and shoes to recycling banks inTorfaen. Alternatively take your waste to theHousehold Waste Recycling Centre in New Inn

o Remember to compost fruit and vegetable peelingso Take your old Christmas tree to Greenmeadow

Community Farm in Cwmbrano If your area is covered by the green bin scheme use

it for your kitchen and garden waste

Have a GreenChristmas

TopTipsWe can all do things to reduce waste.Here are some top tips:� Don’t start a new page for every piece of work� Think before you print- is it necessary?� Take a waste free lunch to school� Buy snacks with less packaging i.e. apples�Use both sides of paper�Reuse old paper�Use refillable pens�Use rechargeable batteries and refillable print

cartridges�Recycle paper, cans, bottles and tins� Set up a composting scheme� Buy recycled products

For more help and tips visit

www.torfaen.gov.uk/waste

Did you know?You can make 20 cans out of

recycled material with the same amount of energyit takes to make one new one.

Did you know?

Every tonne of paper recycled saves 17 trees.

How you and your friends can help

RECYCLING old copies of the Yellow Pages can earnschools cash prizes of up to £2,000.

The Yellow Woods Challenge is a fun scheme run byTorfaen County Borough Council together with YellowPages, The Directory Recycling Scheme and theWoodland Trust. To take part, you have to bring copies ofold Yellow Pages directories to school for recycling. Inreturn schools receive free educational material andcan win cash prizes up to £2,000.

Exchange Old Phonebooksfor School Prizes

Directories are collected from outside the school byTorfaen Cleanstream Recycling. The best performingschools will also get a mention in the newsletter.

The challenge runs from December 17 to March 3.

BAGFORLIFE

YOU don’t have to be mean to think green over theacademic year.

By following these tips, you can recycle more.

� Don’t throw away clothes and unwanted items,swap them with your friends to donate to yourlocal charity shop

� Re-use carrier bags when food shopping orinvest in a ‘bag for life’

� Use both sides of a piece of paper if you printdocuments, but make sure you check if you needto print first

� Take advantage of kerbside recycling collectionservices and household recycling centres

Did you know?Every year in the UKwe use 13 billion steelcans which if you placedthem end to end, wouldstretch to the moon- three times!

D

Across1. A product can be considered _________

when it lastsa long time.

4. To usesomething

again for the same

purpose.7. Coal and gas that

are usedto heatour homecome fromthe _____

8. To collect used rubbishto make new products.

Down2. If you buy one large bag of crisps instead of 6 small bags.

You are buying in ______

3. What do we call our surroundings that have to be looked after?

5. ________ is thrown in alandfill site.

6. You can ______ old toys tocharity shops instead ofthrowing them away.

9. What rotted food and grass cuttings turn into.

10. To ____ the amountof rubbish we throw away.

1 2 3

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8

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10

crossword time

CrosswordanswersAcross1.Durable4.Reuse7.Earth8.RecycleDown2.Bulk3.Environment5.Rubbish6.Donate9.Compost10.Reduce

Encouragewildlife into

your school bywinning a

wooden bird table.The bird table is

made from reusedwood by Circulate

Furniture Recycling inBlaenavon which provides

low cost furniture.Runners up prizes include

school equipment madefrom recycled

materials.All you have to do is

come up with a new powerfor Dan Can or draw a pictureof Dan in action. All entries

must be in before the endof January. Send them

to: Ben Payne,Waste Management Communications Officer,

at OSD Department, Central Depot, South PontypoolIndustrial Estate, New Inn, Pontypool, NP4 OLS.

Competitionwinwinwin

This newsletter is produced on recycled paper. Please recycle.