REFUSE collectors visiting a Ferryhill school have been getting a lighter load recently thanks to the pupils' recycling efforts.

Ferryhill Comprehensive School pupils have been helping to keep the school's rubbish bins empty by cutting the daily waste output by 58 per cent.

After taking part in the Global Action at School's project, the youngsters have achieved the reduction in waste by introducing a series of recycling measures throughout the school.

Steps were taken to recycle paper, aluminium cans and ink cartridges when an audit highlighted the materials formed a large percentage of the school's overall daily waste.

After analysing a breakdown of the results, extra bins were bought for each classroom, allowing students to separate each product from the rest of the rubbish. Instead of going to a rubbish dump, the waste is now recycled by local companies.

An audit carried out recently shows the scheme has successfully reduced waste levels throughout the school.

Technology teacher Mel Cormack said: "While the environment and recycling are part of the national curriculum, it has always been a subject covered by a text book.

"We have never had the opportunity to be involved at a practical level on such a large scale before and it is a great achievement to have cut waste so much in only 12 months. It has given our students an opportunity to see that recycling really does work.

"Having provided new bins and set up links with local recycling companies and organisations which re-use these materials, we won't just stop now that the project has finished.

"The framework is in place for the students to continue recycling in the future."

Global Action at School is a national initiative supported by Co-operative Insurance Services (CIS) and run locally by the WasteWise project, an initiative funded by the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT).

It aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and reduce levels of waste in schools by discouraging students to throw away recyclable products with the rest of their rubbish.

WasteWise project officer, Ruth Clayton, said: "By getting young people involved, we can develop good habits at an early age and encourage them to make recycling a routine part of their lives at home and at school."

For more information about CDENT, visit the website at www.cdent.co.uk