NEWS RELEASE
Date: 30 June 2008
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Sussex schoolchildren spell out waste ambitions to Government Minister
Tackling waste is on the agenda at all ages, with children presenting their thoughts on the issue to Environment Minister Joan Ruddock outside No 10 Downing Street today.
The East Sussex children will be presenting a waste declaration outlining how they plan to promote recycling at school, and push waste and recycling issues to councils and the Government.
The declaration comes after over 100 schoolchildren from ten East Sussex schools came together in March to share ideas on how to reduce, re-use and recycle waste during the county’s first Youth Waste Summit.
The children have committed to reducing food waste and packaging and recycling all plastics, cans and paper in schools. They want councils to reward those who reduce, reuse and recycle, and are asking Government to help manufacturers make packaging recyclable.
Environment Minister Joan Ruddock welcomed the declaration, saying:
‘This Government is firmly behind the message of reduce, re-use and recycle and it’s great to see that this is reaching people of all ages.
‘What really impresses me about this declaration is the call for everyone to accept responsibility for the waste we produce, and not to shift blame. It’s a good reminder of why we are taking action to increase recycling and reduce waste to landfill – to safeguard a green future for today’s children.’
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Page published: 30 June 2008