A MANAGER at a new £8m recycling plant has been teaching children about the impact of wasting food.

Emerald Biogas opened in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, last month, and is capable of converting 50,000 tonnes of discarded food a year into heat, power and fertiliser.

The firm recently launched a Waste Warriors schools campaign and today (Friday, February 7) commercial manager Esther Brown visited Coxhoe Primary, near Durham.

She talked with about 25 pupils in years four and five.

Workbooks were handed out and children can enter a competition to design posters for the campaign.

Over the next fortnight, Emerald will collect food waste from the school to be processed at the plant.

Ms Brown said: “Coxhoe Primary School is the first school to take part in this new initiative and it was a delight to speak with the pupils.

“They were very excited to hear about what happens to the food waste and what they can do about it and very much looking forward to completing the workbooks and getting creative with the poster competition.”