PAPER

RECYCLING: WHAT WE RECYCLE ... And if we can't; what can be recycled nearby
We try to recycle everything that is recyclable! At the same time, we are trying to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill.
PAPER	In July 2003, setting up paper recycling was the first major project the group undertook. With the help of a grant from the PTA, and with assistance from key members of staff, a silver plastic bin was put in every room in the school. New Forest District Council agreed to supply and empty a skip once a week. Although Ringwood town's paper is now recycled, it is good to think that the Eco group probably contributed to this too. Keep saving paper - and don't forget to reuse it first! If you see anyone throwing a can or an apple core into a paper bin, say something to them. Remind them that there are other ways of recycling apple cores! Don't forget - try to REUSE before it's recycled. Our survey of June 2005 suggests that not much is reused. The Eco group make scrap pads. They have been given out to ALL staff. Ask if you need another.
ALUMINIUM FOIL	At the moment, we don't collect this valuable resource. In time, we probably will. Meanwhile, the nearest places for you to recycle aluminium foil are: Pennington Junior School Sway Railway Animal Vigilantes, James Mason House, 24 Salibury Street, Fordingbridge (also take other bric-a-brac, jewellery, books, household goods etc) Friends of Mother Theresa, c/o Mrs Rayner, 4 Court Close, Lymington (also blankets and clothing)
CANS	Our litter surveys suggest that drinks cans are used far less than plastic bottles at the moment. However, we have bought a CAN CRUSHER and we do collect cans. they can be placed in the plastic bottle bins or skip.
CORKS	Corks from wine bottles are not recycled in UK. It is possible to reuse them as this website suggests!
BATTERIES	We collect these in the science prep room. When sixth formers set up this scheme they found that there was nowhere in the country that would accept household batteries. We also found that it was possible to lease a collection bag, and then pay £200 for it to be taken away! France seemed to be the only European country that recycled these batteries. Eventually we found that Oxford University could take the batteries and we started our collection. In April this year (2005) it was announced that the first firm in UK to recycle batteries had started up. Batteries come in constantly and we have been able to make a real contribution to the environment through our collection. Please keep them coming in!
PRINTER CARTRIDGES	Many, many good causes now accept printer cartridges for recycling. Mrs Strassheim collects these at Ringwood. Please take any cartridges you have to her.
CHRISTMAS CARDS	This is always a 'one-off' event. If you don't take your cards to one of the shops that recycles them (like Tesco or Smiths), bring in YOUR cards after Christmas and we will take them for you. See Mrs Hickman in MLa. We managed SEVEN big sacks of cards in 2004!
CHRISTMAS TREES	Do you have a REAL Christmas tree? Although you may have to have a new tree every year, real trees are environmentally more friendly than the plastic type, because they a re CARBON NEUTRAL. Click this link to find out more. If you have a HUGE graden you may be able to keep a tree from year to year, but if not, New Forest District Council recycle trees in the New Year. Persuade your parents to take your REAL tree to the nearest collecting point . HWRC Somerley, Verwood Road, Ringwood Forest 01202 828083 Open: Daily 8am-4.30pm
CLOTHING	We don't collect old clothes at school, but NFDC do collect old but useable clothing at various places in the New Forest. Old clothes are distributed by groups like the Salvation Army and really do help the very needy. Don't just chuck out old clothes - bin them at .....
ENVELOPES	Did you know that FoE sell labels that you can stick on top of old envelopes so that you don't need a new one each time. Imagine BUSINESSES doing this! Think of the trees saved. Set an example by buying some of these labels from... Friends of the Earth 26-28 Underwood Street LONDON N1 7JQ Tel. 020 7490 1555 Alternatively, if you have post going from school, use a sticker from school for your recycled envelopes. These are available from Mrs King or Mrs Hickman in electronic format so that you can print out your own.
GLASS	We don't collect glass at school All glass bottles and jars can be saved for recycling. Remember to remove caps, corks and lids. Rinse out dirty glass containers such as sauce bottles before recycling. Glass bottles and jars may be taken to HWRC Somerley, Verwood Road, Ringwood Forest 01202 828083 Open: Daily 8am-4.30pm The long stay car park, recreation centre car park, David Lloyd centre and Hunter's Lodge car park, Bulter Lane shops and the layby at Sandleheath all have glass collecting facilities. If you have spare spectacles (and anyone who wears glasses will have!), take them to an optician. They are used in poor countries where they may give someone the chance to see. Alternatively, hand them in to the Science Prep Room or to Mrs Hickman.
FOOD, KITCHEN & GARDEN WASTE	We make compost on the allotment, and we now have two big compost bins in school. We also have 'kitchen caddies' in many subject areas for dispoal of apples cores, tea bags etc. Food and garden waste should be composted. If it is sent to landfill it will rot, producing methane which contributes to global warming. Some homes around Ringwood have their own green bin or garden composter. If you don't have one, persuade your parents to ask NFDC for one. They are currently on offer for £5.00 Look at 'SURVEYS' to see the temperature and pH changes in one of our composters.
STAMPS	Mrs Amey (in the upstairs office) collects used postage stamps for LEPROSY. There should be an envelope in every tutor group. Any stamps are needed - UK or foreign, preferably left on a small square of envelope.
MOBILE PHONES	We collect old mobile phones in the Science Prep Room. Many families pass mobiles from one child to another (or perhaps from child to Granny), but there is a point where a phone is surplus to requirements. Please hand it in. To date, we have sent about 50 mobiles off to Actio Aid, a group that is trying to Make Poverty History
PLASTIC	As a pilot scheme, we started to recycle plastic bottles after Easter. MOst of them come from the sixth form who deal with their own collection (and take bottles to the skip). At the moment, we ONLY want bottles. Soft drinks bottles are made from PET and this currently is recyclable. We don't want bottle lids because, although the plastic can be recycled, no-one is currently taking back this plastic. That's another matter. Perhaps you could write to Mr Blair asking him what he's thinking of doing with the millions of bottle tops that are just thrown away every year. We have collecting bins at school, and as part of the litter rota, every group in the school will, at some time, empty the bag of bottles into the skip. If you have plastic bottles at home, these should go into your clear sack for recycling.
TOPS FROM PLASTIC MILK BOTTLES	In October 2005, Harriet and Liz launched the collection of these for Naomi House, a children's hospice in Hampshire. Naomi House collects thousands of plastic milk bottle tops, and this makes them very worthwhile recycling. So - by collecting we reduce landfill, recycel a useful product AND support a worthwhile charity. This collection is going well: keep bringing them in!