Defra leads Westminster Primary School Pupils in a “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – One Bag, Zero Waste! ”

DEFRA LEADS WESTMINSTER PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN A “REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE – ONE BAG, ZERO WASTE!” CHANT

As part of the association A Future Without Rubbish’s latest One Bag Zero Waste campaign, Defra’s Head of Resources & Waste Strategy, Dawn Woodward led the chant of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – One Bag, Zero waste” with students at Wilberforce Primary School in London.

Following the successes of the ‘#StirCrazy’ and ‘500ff’ campaigns supported by Westminster Council and welcomed by Defra, AFWR with Clear Public Space, Queens Park Community Council and Westminster Council have now launched this “One Bag Zero WasteTM” campaign.

Welcomed by Defra Minister, Rebecca Pow MP, the project improves recycling rates and clears public spaces of litter, bringing environmental education to young people and their local communities. The Minister commented: “A Future without Rubbish’s work to tackle environmental issues is admirable. I am always delighted to hear of new initiatives being launched to help solve the problems the environment is facing and I am keen to lend my support to these organisations wherever possible.”

Luke Douglas-Home, ‘A Future Without Rubbish’ founder said: “We want to raise awareness to young people of a circular approach to the design, use, reuse and recycling of materials. This reduces the need for carbon. The circular economy should become the norm rather than the exception. One bag, zero waste is the circular economy in action, for real. Pupils like and understand that.”

Pupils from Queens Park and Wilberforce Primary Schools have already chosen the campaign logo and are now invited to enter a design competition in which the winners will be included in the design of the recyclable “One Bag” which is made out of recycled plastic waste and used within the local community to encourage reuse and recycling. Winners of the competition will be chosen by a panel of judges, chaired by Queens’ Park Community Council and including Defra Minister, Rebecca Pow. 

Headteacher of Wilberforce Primary School, Claire Macfie added: “The 'One Bag Zero WasteTM' campaign is an excellent example of how we can educate school children about the circular economy and provide economic incentives for our local community at the same time. Superb!”

Today’s activity follows Defra’s deputy director Chris Preston leading a similar assembly and chant at another Westminster school last month, (report linked here).

Notes to editors:

About One Bag Zero Waste/A Future without Rubbish

Membership association ‘A Future without Rubbish’ is active in Westminster schools, and schools in Romania changing perceptions about waste and introducing the concept of the circular economy. In Romania it has achieved a positive behavioural change towards recycling, demonstrating a 36% improvement in recycling rates. Its previous successful campaigns in the UK have included #StirCrazy and 500ff, regarding plastic stirrers and water bottles respectively. 

Media contact: Rachael van Oudheusden, Big Old House