Can you help tackle Fenland's contamination culprits? Solve the case in new school recycling competition!

Fenland District Council and their Getting It Sorted recycling volunteers have launched an aspirational new primary school competition, Inspector Blue - The Case of the Contamination Culprits, which invites pupils to come up with creative ways to help tackle real-life recycling contamination problems.

Recycling contamination happens when items that haven't been emptied or washed out properly, or wrong items, are put into recycling bins. It's a messy business, with the most common culprits being full bottles of liquids, dirty plastic containers and boxes, carrier bags, black bags, pet food pouches and tissues.

Every year, tonnes of valuable recyclables are being wasted and not recycled at all due to these wrong items being placed in recycling bins, at a huge cost - both financially and environmentally - to the Council and local communities.

Now children are being asked to help Inspector Blue solve the recycling mysteries by coming up with ways to help keep Fenland's blue bins contamination free! Whether it's a class video, a TikTok story, a poster, or a local community event, they can let their imaginations run wild!

The competition is open to all primary school aged children, and entries can be made as an individual, a class or a whole school. Entries will be judged on creativity and practicality and may even be used in real-life to combat contamination issues.

Children can win prizes for themselves and their school, including a year's free recycling service, worth up to £660.

The deadline for entries is 31 March 2023.

Competition packs will be sent to primary schools across the district and are also available on our Recycling Competition webpage.

Cllr Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council's Portfolio Holder responsible for waste and recycling, said: "Not only is recycling contamination bad for the environment, but it also ends up costing the Council and taxpayers money as an entire recycling load can end up having to go to landfill if found to be contaminated. It's a great shame as it wastes all the good work of residents who are recycling their waste correctly.

"I am keen to see the competition entries and what ideas children have to help solve the case of the contamination culprits! It's a perfect opportunity for children to get creative and learn more about recycling too."

How to get involved!

For more information and details on how to enter, visit our Recycling Competition webpage or email the Council's Getting It Sorted recycling team at: gettingitsorted@fenland.gov.uk

Article date: November 2022