Novelis launches new schools recycling initiative

The Think Cans Educrate – or educational crate – was sent to Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Kensington to mark the start of Big Recycle week.

Head teacher Charles Daniels and pupils from Year 6 of the Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Kensington with the Think Cans “educrate”.

Packed with learning props to teach pupils about recycling, the crate includes examples of common packaging that can be recycled, such as foil trays and newspapers, and an interactive loop showing the life cycle of a can.

It supports learning resources already developed by Novelis Recycling on their Think Cans website, including recycling computer games.

Curriculum
Novelis Recycling marketing manager, Diana Caldwell, told letsrecycle.com that many campaigns in schools failed because they did not relate to the national curriculum. But the new crate links recycling to core subjects like science, design and technology and geography.

She said: “Think Cans has been developed with the aim of supporting the National Curriculum, so not only will pupils be making vital progress in their studies by using these interactive resources, they will also be developing a greater understanding of the importance of recycling.”

Ms Caldwell said that Novelis had made every effort to consult teachers when developing the crate, which was originally the brainchild of Sacred Heart head teacher Charles Daniels. “The Educrate is designed by teachers for teachers,” she said.

Resource
The crate, which will stay at Sacred Heart School for two weeks, will visit four other primary schools before the summer holiday. If it is a success, Novelis hopes to translate it into a downloadable resource for many teachers to access.

“We hope the Think Cans website will become a hub for teacher to use when planning their lessons,” said Ms Caldwell.

The initiative is the latest drive by Novelis to increase the number of cans it receives from the UK, in line with obligations under the Packaging Directive.

At present, the company's aluminium can recycling plant at Latchford Locks, Warrington, is the only recycling plant for aluminium cans in Europe, and imports a large proportion of its cans from the continent.