Press release - 03 Dec 2008

SITA UK launches new education website

SITA UK, one of the country’s leading recycling and waste management companies, has launched a new education website.

Teachers and school children in thousands of schools across the UK now have free access to a great online classroom resource to help them get to grips with waste and recycling, and find out how we can all live a 'greener' lifestyle.

The website highlights the importance of the 3Rs - reducing, reusing and recycling - and encourages a change in attitude and responsibility towards the earth and its resources.

Stars of the website are the Green Team - Josh, Suzie, Ali and Milly - animated characters that introduce children to the waste journeys of materials like paper, glass, aluminium and plastic. They also show how technologies like energy-from-waste, composting and landfill are used to dispose of our rubbish.

The interactive site - http://rethink.sita.co.uk - contains free downloadable packs for teachers working with children at Key Stages two, three and four.

With every family in the country generating an average of 22kg of waste every week, minimising waste and recycling as much as possible are parts of the green agenda that children can easily connect with.

Rhiannon Williams, SITA UK’s web and design manager said: "We have worked with experienced education professionals to create the teaching materials on this site and the reaction we are getting from children and teachers has been excellent.

"The good news for teachers is that all of our materials are free, and they are linked to the National Curriculum. The characters, quiz, game and waste journeys help make the learning environment good fun, whilst helping to get across some important messages."

Kevan Sproul, Human Resources and Communications Director, said: "Awareness of environmental issues has never been more important than it is today.

"We know that young people can make a significant difference by influencing behaviour at home and that’s why we work closely with teachers and schools.

"There are regular school visits to our facilities across the country so local children can see exactly what happens to the waste we all generate every day.

"The interest that school children show in everything to do with waste and recycling is amazing and the website and information packs pick up on this by looking at the main issues and identifying the steps we can all take to live a sustainable lifestyle."