West Sussex recycling plant gets top marks!
The state-of-the-art Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and Education Centre in Ford has shown itself to be at the top of the class for educational visits by being awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.
Awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, the Quality Badge combines for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside the classroom experiences.
The MRF, operated by leading recycling company Viridor on behalf of West Sussex County Council, is one of the most-advanced recycling facilities in the UK.
Ford MRF sorts and separates plastic bottles, metal cans, glass bottles and jars, paper and card, liquid food cartons and even aluminium foil from mixed household recycling collections across the county. The separated materials are then baled up ready to be transported to reprocessors for manufacturing into new consumer goods and products.
Derek Whittington, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “The Education Centre provides an ideal environment for schools and community groups to see first hand what happens to their recycling once it has been collected from their home. They also learn more about sustainable waste management and the role they can play to make the county greener.”
Viridor’s education officer, Jen Hake said: “Being awarded the Quality Badge is a real coup for all the staff here as it shows that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from.
“We're thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people from West Sussex to our education centre at Ford MRF.”
The Quality Badge was developed as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities to have these experiences as part of the curriculum.
The Quality Badge scheme is part of the Government’s £4.5m Out and About package which, along with the badges, provides guidance and information for teachers on how to plan and organise high quality activities. The badge is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify providers of quality educational visits. Organisations will display the badge as a signal to schools that their venue has met required standards, so teachers do not need to carry out their own risk or quality assessments.
