News
Recycling centre given a new look with old paint
This feature was added on 30th September 2010
A new mural, designed and painted by talented primary school pupils and created using reused paint, has been unveiled at Harpenden's Household Waste Recycling Centre .
Pupils and teachers from The Grove JMI School, which is next door to the recycling centre, first painted a mural at the recycling centre in 2005. However, this mural was starting to look a bit tired so junior students at the school drew up some new designs. The winning entry was by Lucy Barter and, along with her fellow pupils and her teacher, the new mural was brought to life after a busy day of painting at the start of September.
The paint used in the artwork was reused emulsion brought by residents to various recycling centres around the county.
"It's fitting that Harpenden's recycling centre has such a fine piece of artwork using reused materials on display, as this is one of our top performing centres," said Derrick Ashley, Executive Member for Waste. "This spring, an impressive 82 per cent of material brought to the recycling centre was sent for reuse, recycling or composting. That's 981 tonnes of waste that would otherwise have gone to landfill.
"I'd like to thank everyone at The Grove Junior School for their enthusiasm for this project. Lucy has created a fantastic mural - I can't think of a better way of showcasing reused materials and the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling our waste."
Mrs Bremner, Headteacher at The Grove School, said: "As an environmentally-friendly school we are proud to have had this opportunity. Our children are keen to spread the message about the importance of recycling and we are thrilled with their winning design."
Designer Lucy added: "I like our mural because it is colourful. I thought about my mural while doing a puzzle, that is what gave me the idea. I love the way it turned out - I think it is amazing!"
The waste brought to the site between April and June 2010 has been reused or recycled in the following ways:
- 234 tonnes of garden waste was sent for composting to become soil improver
- 198 tonnes of wood was recycled into new wooden boards or into animal bedding
- 76 tonnes of electrical appliances were sent for reuse, or were stripped down and made into new glass, plastic and metal products
- 25 tonnes of plastics were recycled into new plastic products or into fleece jackets
- 20 tonnes of glass bottles and jars were recycled into new glass containers
The site is open daily from 10am to 6pm all year, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Soil improver is for sale at site £2.90 for 40 litres.