Hampshire headteachers are to go back to school to learn the alternative three Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle - at the launch of "Wastebusting in Schools", an exciting new curriculum support pack.

Produced by Project Integra, the long-term waste management strategy for Hampshire which includes all local authorities, the pack is aimed at pupils aged eight to 14. All schools in Hampshire which have pupils in that age group have been sent a free copy of the pack, which will be officially launched at an event on 20 October at New Milton Junior School in the New Forest.

All headteachers have been invited, along with partners of Project Integra, Councillors and Hampshire County Council officers from both Waste Management and Education, with the aim of getting across the importance of the other "three Rs".

The pack stems from Project Integra’s "War on Waste" campaign to reduce waste in the county and maximise recycling.

County Inspector for Geography and Environmental Education Tony Pearce, who co-wrote the pack with primary teacher Anne Ponting, will be speaking at the launch about how "Wastebusting" fits into the National Curriculum by linking with key stages two and three.

"Wastebusting" is a ready-to-use pack, designed to appeal to pupils and stimulate their interest in all kinds of waste issues. Maps and case studies, plenty of background information and great graphics all make the pack an exciting enquiry and investigation experience. Interesting facts help to bring waste issues to the fore in terms we can all understand - for example, did you know that Basingstoke’s households produce enough waste to fill 70 double decker buses that in just one week?

General Waste, the War on Waste campaign mascot, frequently visits Hampshire schools, and appears on the cover of the pack as well as giving handy tips and hints throughout and encouraging kids to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Councillor Alex Varden, Chairman of the Public Protection Committee, said: "The important point about this first class pack is that it concentrates on teaching children the important rule: reduce, reuse and recycle.

"Educating children is an important part of the long-term waste strategy, because children are the potential waste producers of the future, and need to be made aware that every time they throw something in the bin, they have an effect on the environment."

10 October 1998