Reduce, Re-use and Recycle Policy
The children, staff, parents and governors of Moseley Primary School are committed to developing
their care of the environment. The school has adopted the 3 R’s (reduce, re-use and recycle) as the
main focus for managing waste products and protecting the environment. This policy outlines some
of the strategies currently used or proposed
The school is affiliated to the Recycool Recycling programme which provides for the collection of
printer cartridges and mobile phones.
The school participates in the Coventry City Council paper recycling scheme and utilises other
Council recycling points for glass and textiles recycling. The city council has no facility for collecting
plastics.
The architects and planners of the new school building worked with staff and governors to include a
number of eco-friendly features in their design and construction of the new building (see appendix
One).
Links to the curriculum
 Science
materials and their properties (including recycling), micro-organisms and composting
 Gifted and talented
children to lead launch of three Rs
 PSHE
pollution, care for the world, environmental issues etc
 Maths
graphs and charts of materials collected for recycling etc
 Art and language
Promotion of the three Rs in school and beyond
 Citizenship
We aim to develop our links with C.R.O.W. (Coventry Recycling of Waste) including visits to their
recycling centre etc
Recycling
 Paper recycling
All classrooms and main work areas have a designated box for the collection of waste paper.
These boxes are emptied regularly into the main paper bins ready for collection by the City
Council each Thursday.
Shredded paper is taken to the local RSPCA shelter.
 Composting
The school has two composting bins. The leftovers from children’s free fruit scheme and
other fruit consumed at playtimes is collected and transferred to the school composting bins.
 Glass recycling
Any glass milk bottles (staffroom only) are returned to the milkman
Other glass bottles or jars are taken to a local recycling point
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Re-using
 Printer cartridges
These are collected and (when collected in sufficient quantity) are taken away by Recycool.
 Mobile phones
These are collected and (when collected in sufficient quantity) are taken away by Recycool.
 Shoe collection
The children organised a collection for the recent Blue Peter appeal.
 Textiles recycling
The school is establishing contact with a company recommended by the Coity’s recycling
officer
 Re-use materials from old building
A few old original bricks and pieces of concrete cladding were rescued from the demolition of
the old buildings and incorporated into the new grounds as a pathway in a quiet area.
 Used stamps are collected in school and donated to “Guide Dogs for the Blind”.
Reducing
 Water
The school collects rainwater which is then stored and used to flush the toilets.
 Energy (lighting & heating)
The school has been designed to maximise the use of natural light to save energy e.g. sun
pipes have been built in to the staff corridor. The school’s heating system is effectively
managed with external management lines to the city council.

Plastics
Given that the City Council makes no provision for the collection of plastics the school is now
exploring ways to promote the reduction of the use of plastics. Ideas from the recycling
consortium website regarding reduction of plastic waste in lunchboxes will make a useful
starting point.
Appendix One
 Emphasis on maximising natural light for all areas of the school
 Sun pipes to use daylight to light a dark internal corridor
 Sedum roof above classroom areas to create additional habitat, partly replace grassed area
lost to building and provide very good insulation (reducing energy costs for heating)
 Grey water collected from the main roof used to flush toilets
 Dual flush toilet systems across the school
 Recycling bins storage area
 Some old bricks and concrete wall cladding were used to make a pathway for a quiet area in
the grounds
 New composting bins
Appendix Two
Appendix Three
Useful websites:
www.recycool.org
www.recylingconsortium.org.uk
www.eastleigh.co.uk/ebc
www.recycling-guide.org.uk/schools
www.recyling-more.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/barnabybear/games/recycle
www.recycle.com
Useful contacts:
Julie Bird – Coventry’s recycling officer
(Julie.Bird@coventry.gov.uk)
CROW - Coventry Recycling of Waste
024 7655 2444
Textile collections –
Darren Coggins or Liz Poole on 01889 270932
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