Emojis Give Kids a Bincentive to Recycle

Emojis Give Kids a ‘Bincentive’ to Recycle

The British Plastics Federation (BPF), PlasticsEurope and the Marine Conservation Society have joined forces for a new campaign called ‘Bincentives.’

It’s all about making young people more aware of litter and how to properly dispose of waste, and they are providing resources that use language that youngsters will understand. Secondary schools are being given free emoji posters and resources for a school assembly to support the campaign. Students will be given tokens for disposing of their rubbish correctly, and the students or classes with the most tokens will be given a prize.

Why has the campaign been introduced?

The aim of the campaign is to make more young people aware of the issues surrounding litter and how they can dispose of waste properly. Using emojis in posters and other campaign materials is a fun way of getting young people to engage.

The campaign focuses particularly on plastic litter, and the problems it causes, such as damaging the marine ecosystem and harming wildlife. It is hoped that the children will learn that plastic waste is actually valuable, and that it can be turned into other things rather than simply being discarded. The ‘Bincentives’ scheme is being touted as a campaign for students, which is run by the students themselves. It’s not about them completing a project to get a mark, it’s about acting on what they have learned to make a difference and encouraging other pupils to join in.

How to get kids involved with recycling

One of the keys to making sure that the planet and all its resources are still around for generations to come is educating children about how important it is to recycle.

Introducing recycling schemes in schools

There are nearly 34,000 schools in the UK, and recycling schemes can play a huge part in increasing awareness of recycling, improving the local and wider environment, and cutting waste disposal costs. Here’s the steps you can take to implement a recycling programme in schools:

Recycling paper

Paper makes up the majority of waste created by schools.

• Contact the council to ask if you can get a designated recycling bin for paper if you don’t have one
• Reuse scrap paper for taking notes and making lists

Recycling metal

You should do this especially if your school has vending machines.

• Place recycling bins next to the vending machine and label the bins clearly

Composting Scheme

• Some councils provide free compost bins, so it might be worth asking for one
• Make a compost heap and add food waste from the cafeteria to it, plus any grass cuttings or leaves from the grounds or gardens if your school has one

Ideas for activities to do in schools

• Hold a mini-debate for and against recycling
• Word searches with terms related to recycling
• Do arts and crafts with recycled materials
• Recycling quizzes