Charlie and the recycling factory

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 3rd Mar 2005.

Pupils in Bradford have had an exclusive look at a new book being launched to educate youngsters on the importance of recycling.

Ahead of today's World Book Day, six and seven-year-olds at Lapage Primary School in Barkerend had the book read to them by Anne Dixon, environmental education officer at Bradford Council.

Cheeky Charlie's Big Adventure - by BBC children's writer Gillian Juckes, who also writes for the Tweenies - tells the story of Elly, who finds out all about the paper recycling process after her toy monkey ends up in her family's household recycling box.

Deputy head teacher Susan Grace Gardner said: "Mrs Dixon came in and read from the book at story time and left books for other age groups to read.

"The children enjoyed the story very much and have been enjoying all of the project work we have been doing with regards to recycling.

"We have a paper bin for all of our waste paper and a compost bin for food waste, which all of the children have been using.

"It's all about giving children the right message from a very early age about how important recycling is."

Copies of the book are being distributed to primary schools and libraries across the district to help raise awareness about the impact of waste on the environment.

The book was commissioned by the UPM Shotton recycling mill in Deeside, North Wales, which recycles the magazines, newspapers and junk mail from kerbside collections in Bradford and recycles it into newsprint for national and regional newspapers, including the Telegraph & Argus.

Craig Robinson, of UPM Shotton, said: "We commissioned a BBC writer for this book so that key messages are easily understood and acted upon. The kids find out how to put their papers outside for kerbside collection and follow Cheeky Charlie through his tour of the recycled paper mill, seeing how the recycled paper becomes newsprint for tomorrow's news."

UPM Shotton has also launched an education pack on recycling for Bradford schools, which contains CD-roms and a video starring TV presenter Vernon Kay.

In order to comply with Government targets, Bradford has to be recycling 25 per cent of its waste by 2006. Gerry McDermott, from the Council's recycling team, said: "We already recycle 17 per cent of all of the waste we produce in the Bradford district.

"However, this still means that too much waste is still being put into local landfill sites. This has to stop and engaging children in protecting their environment is the key."

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