J&B News & Updates

12.11.24

Since September, J&B Recycling has been partnering with local schools, including St Bede’s Primary School from the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust in Washington, to provide litter-picking kits to encourage recycling within schools. These kits offer children a fun and engaging way to become more environmentally conscious, helping them understand the importance of looking after our planet.

Mr J Quinn from St Bede’s said 'Many thanks to J&B Recycling for their kind loan of litter picking equipment. The children of St Bede's loved using them and it really helped to develop their sense of pride in their community.'

Our litter-picking kits are not only a tool for looking after the environment, but they also serve as a gateway for children to gain a sense of responsibility when it comes to keeping their surroundings clean. By understanding waste management, it becomes easier to educate them on waste, pollution and how they can make a change.

What is included in the kits?

Our litter-picking kits come with a J&B Recycling picker, a pair of gloves, and a J&B Recycling high-visibility jacket, all packed in a J&B drawstring bag. With this equipment, the children have everything they need to conduct a litter pick. 

Our kits are given to schools on a rented basis, usually for a term. We can offer kits for up to a class, however depending on the stock we may be able to offer more. 

Why is a litter pick effective?

Litter-picking not only helps keep our communities clean, but it also tackles wider environmental and social issues. Councils spend around £1 billion annually dealing with littering and fly-tipping, with chewing gum removal alone costing an average town centre up to £60,000 per year. Through litter picking, participants can help their local community while also engaging in a national movement.

• Protecting wildlife: Litter poses a threat to animals, who can ingest or become entangled in waste, and their habitats can become contaminated.

• Improving recycling: Many items collected during litter picks can be recycled, ensuring materials are reused instead of being wasted.

• Stopping plastic pollution: Litter-picking prevents plastics from breaking down into microplastics and entering our seas and oceans, reducing harm to marine ecosystems.

Litter-picking also brings people together, building upon community spirit among schools, groups, and businesses. A cleaner environment can boost productivity and pride, encouraging further positive actions. In public areas like parks, litter can pose hazards—especially broken glass—so cleaning up helps make these spaces safer for everyone.

What else can we offer your school?

Not only do we offer litter-picking kits, but we also offer school assemblies, recycling tours of our MRF and additional educational resources for schools. Our goal is to engage with children and teach them that recycling can be fun! By practising positive habits at a young age, encourages children to continue these sustainability practices at home.

Join us in making a difference

We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with St Bede’s Primary School and the fantastic work their students are doing. It's amazing to see the enthusiasm within the children when it comes to saving their future and the planet. Whether it’s through renting litter picks or visiting schools, we are always looking at how we can help the schools local to us. Please don't hesitate to get in touch today.