The recycling of beverage cartons throughout Hertfordshire schools is set to increase significantly, thanks to substantial funding provided bv Tetra Pak – one of the world’s leading carton manufacturers – to a local paper recycling project, known as Paper Magic.
Run by Apsley Paper Trail, Paper Magic is a scheme which collects white waste paper from schools and recycles it into new paper for re-use in schools. Thanks to an investment of £50,000 from Tetra Pak, the project will now include the collection of milk and juice cartons in schools to boost recycling even further across Hertfordshire.
Following a successful trial in Dacorum, the extended scheme was launched on Thursday 25 May, with teachers and pupils from Tudor Primary School and Chaulden School enthusiastically telling the guests how well the pilot had worked in their school.
Jane Brooks, from Tudor School said: ‘We’ve loved doing the pilot. Yes, it was a bit messy at first, and we did have a few children covered in water and milk, but it was a good learning experience. We used the project to encourage healthy eating – drink your milk before you can squash your carton – and for maths. We found that the school discards nearly 20,000 milk cartons a year!’
Peter Ingram, the Paper Trail’s chairman, added: ‘We’ve worked hard on the Paper Magic project to ensure the paper we collect from schools can be recycled effectively and put straight back into schools so they get the maximum benefit from it. With Tetra Pak’s support we can also now include collection of cartons in the scheme. As such, the scheme is unique in the UK and will be rolled out to all Hertfordshire primary schools following the very successful pilot in Dacorum this year. Mike Penning MP said ‘I’m really pleased to see what great work the children have done in school. They’re setting us all a very good example and their interest will make sure that the environment is being cared for in the future.’ For more information on Apsley Paper Trail and Paper Magic, please visit www.thepapertrail.org.uk. For more information on carton recycling in the UK and a map showing the areas where carton collection exists, please visit www.tetrapakrecycling.co.uk. | 
