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Schools throughout Poole have been offered free recycling facilities which, with the help of 'Spruce', Pride in Poole schools education campaigns' fun mascot, is aimed at bringing recycling and environmental conservation messages to life in the classroom.

The scheme launched by the Borough of Poole in partnership with Cartridge World and Alu-Pro will give schools the resources, encouragement and assistance they need to make environmental education a part of everyday life.

Kate Hodder, Environmental Enhancement Officer, Consumer Protection, Borough of Poole, said: "Schools across Poole have been really receptive to the Environmental Programmes for Schools' CD ROM which we launched last September. The enthusiasm from both teachers and pupils has been very encouraging and we hope with this further provision of recycling bins on site it will create a stronger commitment."

Each school will have the opportunity to recycle paper, plastics, cans, aluminium foil, cartridges and even compost their own left over lunch. Pupils will also be encouraged to take the recycling message home to parents who can also utilise the facilities.

Peter Pawlowksi, Head of Consumer Protection, Borough of Poole, said: "As one of the UK's top performing Councils, Poole has been set challenging targets by the Government. Poole has to recycle 33% of its total waste by 2004/5 and 40% of its total waste by 2005/6. Through the introduction of recycling in schools it is hoped that we can convince both the parents and children that they will play an important and necessary role in achieving these targets."

Councillor Jonathan Pethen, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: "We believe that every school child in Poole should understand the value of recycling. Children hold the future in their hands and the better educated they are about the effects of good waste management the better able they will be as adults to make sound environmental decisions."

• The UK gets through around 12 billion cans each year. If placed end to end they would stretch to the moon and back \n
• One tonne of paper from recycled pulp saves 17 trees. The borough of Poole recycled 3500 tonnes of paper last year, thus saving 59,500 trees \n
• Recycled plastic can be made into fleeces, sleeping bags and even window frames