Around Ealing Summer 2019 | Page 19

Fielding pupils with PTFA members Lucy Floyer and Mary Horesh RECYCLING Pupils at Fielding Primary in West Ealing are leading the way when it comes to bright ideas about helping the school to recycle more, reports Dan Stephens. Saving the world one cup at a time A series of initiatives encouraged by a pupil ‘eco committee’ have been helping the school stay as environmentally-friendly as possible – including when it runs its regular events throughout the year, from Christmas fairs to sports days and summer fetes. New, reusable drinks bottles branded with the school’s logo – and introducing a £1 deposit system for reusable cups – has so far already helped the school avoid having to use more than 1,000 plastic cups and more than 500 single- use, plastic bottles. It has proved popular with pupils, parents and teachers. Children using the reusable bottles now have access to unlimited squash and tap water. The initiative has seen a drop in the number of plastic bottles bought and left behind after events, too. A recycling reward stall was also introduced at school events to reward pupils who helped sort rubbish into the right piles. They were given school house points, stickers and penny sweets. It also proved helpful in educating pupils on which materials could be recycled. Mary Horesh of the school’s Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA) explained: “It’s all about making small changes and steps that lead to big achievements and, so far, everyone has teamed up to help save the world one cup at a time. “The parents realised that our regular fundraising events were producing too much rubbish that unfortunately would go to landfill. We introduced these initiatives, that are simple but really effective, to get people to change the way they think about recycling and take responsibility for their actions. “It’s been great to see pupils, in particular, being enthusiastic; and our rewards scheme for pupils who recycle during these events for example is really effective in encouraging positive behaviour.” The PTFA is also part of an online group with other like-minded, local primary schools so they can all share environmentally-friendly ideas. Read the full story at www.ealingnewsextra.co.uk/ fielding-recycling around ealing    Summer 2019 19