Pupils learn about composting

Westpoint Arena opened its doors to 1,400 primary school pupils from across Devon for the third annual Farm Wise event.

As part of this hands-on learning approach to agriculture, the children donned wellington boots and rolled up their sleeves to discover how Coastal Recycling transforms ordinary garden waste into free organic compost for farmers.

This nutrient rich compost fortifies soil, promoting a fertile environment for crops and therefore plays a vital role in our food chain. Coastal Recycling creates more than 35,000 tonnes of compost each year, which farmers can then spread free of charge to condition their farmland.

Far from the usual classroom environment, the children were transfixed as Coastal’s £275,000 shredder broke down a pile of ordinary household garden waste in front of their eyes. They were then invited to get their hands mucky and feel the shredded compost, before hearing how it can help to put food on their plates.

Operations Coordinator Lyn Chadwick said, “It’s been a real pleasure sharing our composting process with the children. Their reactions have been priceless as they watch the machinery grab, shovel, shred and screen the garden waste. They now understand that composting is an important part of the food cycle and without it we would be knee deep in rubbish.’ 

Chairman of Teignbridge District Council said, “I’m honoured to have been invited along to this positive event. It’s very important that all children understand where our food comes from. A huge amount of hard work goes into agriculture, which is a key contributor to our economy in Devon.”

As well as processing garden waste into compost, Coastal Recycling also provides skip hire, grab hire, wheelie bin collections and most recently confidential waste shredding.