Edge Grove has further demonstrated its high level of commitment to recycling waste in the local community, having recently been awarded the status of an official local recycling centre for Radlett and the surrounding areas.
The School has always recycled plastic, metal, cardboard and paper through the Hertsmere waste services route, but more recently it began looking for ways to recycle ‘harder to recycle’ waste too, such as crisp packets, toothbrushes, dental product packaging, latex gloves and bread bags. This has led to the School gradually expanding its waste streams, and becoming an official recycling site for the region. Edge Grove can now accept waste products not just from its own pupils and their families, but also from members of the general public.
Alex Evans, wife of Headmaster at Edge Grove Ben Evans, is spearheading the campaign for the school: “We’ve always been an eco-friendly school but we wanted to do more than just ‘our little bit’ for the environment. Earlier in the year the recycling of crisp packets became very topical with the Walkers initiative taking the country by storm, we knew this was something we could help with too. We looked into it and initially signed up for the recycling of single use plastics such as crisp packets and latex gloves, which we collect in collaboration with Holroyd Howe, our on-site catering company. We’ve gradually expanded what we can recycle and can now accept all manner of harder to recycle plastics.”
Edge Grove is also currently working towards retaining its Green Flag Status with the Eco Schools Initiative. The initiative has 10 topics to work on including biodiversity, waste, transport, water, energy and healthy living. The Eco Committee at the school has come up with a number of exciting plans including fair trade activities, building recycling bins from recycled materials, selling fruit and vegetables at break time, planting wild flowers, as well as wildlife and plant surveys.
Alex added: “The children and parents are very supportive and keen to fly the ‘eco-flag’ for the local area, which is great and it is so rewarding to be making a difference to the wider community too, we coordinated the recycling at the Radlett Festival last week too.”