November 24, 2015 9.57 am This story is over 99 months old

Lincoln school rewarded for eco-friendly approach to lunchtime

Waste not, want not: A Lincoln junior school has been praised after its pupils won a competition to create a waste-free lunch.

A Lincoln junior school has been praised after its pupils won a competition to create a waste-free lunch.

St Faith and St Martin’s CE Junior School on Hampton Street is one of nine Lincolnshire schools to visit the Lincolnshire Energy from Waste (EfW) plant run by waste management company FCC Environment so far this year.

As part of the educational visits, aimed at increasing children’s understanding of the importance of recycling and green energy, FCC Environment runs “The Waste Free Lunch Challenge” which encourages children to bring along a lunch with as little waste as possible.

St Faith and St Martin’s came out on top, creating no waste at all by using only re-usable containers and including no packaged food.

Headteacher, Martin Kyle, said: “Our pupils try so hard within our community to be eco-aware and to be noticed with this special recognition underlines their efforts to promote a sustainable way of living.

“The future of the planet is in their hands and they take that responsibility very seriously. The visit to the EfW plant was mind-blowing and continues to inspire discussions on sustainability at school.”

Councillor Reg Shore, Executive Member for Waste and Recycling at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “All too often the things we buy are over-wrapped and over-packaged and this leads to unnecessary waste which in turn goes towards depleting the world’s resources.

“The children at Birchwood, North Kesteven, Tydd St Marys, All Saints, North Hykeham, South Hykeham, St Faith & St Martin C of E Junior School, Boston Academy, Brant Broughton and Sturton By Stow Schools have visited the Energy from Waste plant and taken part in this fantastic initiative to get young people thinking about how they can reduce the food and packaging that they throw away.

“These students have all embraced environmentalism wholeheartedly and proven that waste minimisation is as easy as ‘Reduce, Re-use and Recycle’. I am proud of every one of them.”

Juergen Schaper General Manager of FCC Environment, added: “We’re delighted to be able to present this special certificate to St Faith and St Martin’s.

“The children and the school as a whole really put a lot of thought into The Waste Free Lunch Challenge and I’m sure it will have helped the young people learn an important lesson about the importance of recycling and minimising waste.”