The first Our Planet, Our Say workshop was held at the Closed Loop Recycling Plant in Dagenham on Saturday, 20th June.

Our 22 eager green Think Tankers were joined by eco-expert, Julia Hailes, as they toured the facility and learnt a lot!

Nick Cliffe, the Managing Director at Closed Loop, took our Think Tankers through the process of recycling bottles; from recycling bin and back to the shelf again. Our Think Tankers also learnt that recycling is not perfect, it still uses up energy, but less CO₂ emissions are produced from recycling a bottle than making a new one, and even less when you reduce your waste and reuse!

Waste reduction expert, Ken Webster, talked to us about sustainability with a great presentation, ‘Message From The Ants’.

Think Tankers then brainstormed their own ideas on how to get Britain recycling. These policy recommendations will form part of their eco-manifesto.

• More recycling facilities in city centres, cinemas, theme parks and fast food restaurants
• Free recycling collections from all schools
• Supermarkets should just use PET or HDEC plastics
• Communities should be educated on the different types of plastics and the recycling process
• Targets and rewards in offices for recycling things like printer cartridges
• Use white boards instead of paper
• More local green groups, ‘if we had one in our area I’d go…’
• Green bus, travelling around telling everyone about green issues

What you can do

• Sort yourself out!

  As our Think Tankers found out, it’s important to re-use what you can to reduce the amount of waste you generate and plastic you buy; for example, by re-using containers.

  When recycling don’t just throw everything in one bag – separate your plastics from paper, general rubbish and food scraps. Make this part of your home manifesto, get mum, dad, everyone onboard the recycling train!

• Separate your school from the rest!

  Our Think Tankers learnt that schools produce 7 times more waste than homes, so talk to your teachers about how you can get your classroom, or whole school, involved. Start separating your plastics, paper, cans and more!

• Take it to the streets!

  Get involved in your community; see what your local council is doing. Join your local green group, or start one up, and take eco-action around your neighbourhood!

  As our eco-expert Ann Finlayson says, ‘Have a go – don’t accept the ‘yes, but....’ answers from other people’.

  So go for it Eco Rangers! It’s up to you!