INTERACTIVE workshops that encourage good recycling practices returned to primary schools across Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath and North East Somerset Council ran workshops in 2024 that saw 160 children, along with school staff, volunteers and parents, learn how to identify and sort electrical waste for recycling.

These workshops made the council a finalist in the Social Value within a Community award at this year’s Let’s Recycle’s Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.

The workshops would be brought back for 2025, where they would be running from May to July. This year would see 12 schools get involved, with around 500 Year 5 and 6 children take part in educational activities run by Sustainable Hive and Share and Repair to help children learn more about recycling electrical waste.

The workshops over both years were fully funded by Valpak, a waste management and recycling service that partners with the council to remove and recycle electrical and electronic equipment.

Following this year’s workshops, every primary school in the Bath and North East Somerset area has been offered the chance to take part in a workshop.

Councillor Mark Elliott, deputy council leader and cabinet member for resources, said: “We’re delighted that the success of the pilot workshops last year has led to 500 more children having the opportunity to get involved in some creative and educational recycling activities this year.

“The workshops support our wider aims to engage communities by instilling responsible recycling habits in young minds that will hopefully carry forward into their rest of their lives.

“The workshops are an excellent community resource and we are very pleased they received national recognition at the recent Let’s Recycle awards.”

James Nash, Valpak’s commercial manager, said: “We’re proud to support workshops that inspire the next generation to think differently about waste. Helping children understand the importance of recycling electrical items is a key step toward building a more sustainable future.”

Following their workshop, St John's C of E School in Midsomer Norton said: “We loved the amount of ‘new’ information shared – the children were genuinely surprised by the facts shared about recycling and this fostered the perfect curiosity and sense of awe needed for learning.

“No notes for improvements at all – thank you. We would love to book again – children have loved every second.”

Marksbury Primary School, who also participated in a workshop, added: “We loved the hands-on practical session and the children had a fabulous time. Lots of great information which will inspire the children to be more conscientious with recycling and how important it is.”

Alongside St John’s C of E School and Marksbury Primary School, the other schools which took part in this year’s workshops included: Trinity Church School, Radstock; Welton Primary School, Midsomer Norton; Longvernal Primary School, Midsomer Norton; Paulton Junior School, Paulton; Bishop Sutton Primary School, Bishop Sutton; Cameley Primary School, Temple Cloud; Pensford Primary School, Pensford; St Philip’s Primary School, Bath; Newbridge Primary School, Bath; Bathford Primary School, Bathford.