PUPILS at a primary school in Thorpe have signed up to a new scheme to recycle waste food.

Tendring Council has set up the trial at Rolph Primary School.

It has seen the school provided with food waste caddies, liners and two 240-litre wheeled bins.

The food caddies are placed in the hall at lunchtimes so children can scrape their scraps into the containers.

The food waste is then kept separate in order for it to be collected every week by the council’s waste and recycling contractors, Veolia Environmental Services, and then it is sent off to be recycled.

There is also a caddy in the staffroom for teachers, so they can also take part.

Head of school Natasha Bennett said: “We are delighted to be involved in such a worthwhile initiative and it teaches our children to care for the world.”

All primary schools in Tendring are being invited to join the scheme, which is aimed at reducing the overall amount of waste taken to landfill.

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, said: “The early indications at Rolph Primary are that this can work reallywell in schools and if enough join in, it could make a significant difference to our tonnages.

“It is also important that we encourage youngsters to see the importance of recycling at an early age and hope it will stay with them throughout their lives.”

For more details, call April Dale, the council’s recycling officer, on 01255 686779.