DAY THRRE IT’S not just at home that the Clarke-Morris family, from Norton, near Worcester, thinks about recycling.

At the girls’ local first school, recycling is high profile and much encouraged, with bins and information around the school site.

Mum Sue said: “The school encourages recycling through different initiatives.

“For example, we were all asked to collect plastic bottle tops for a period of time and take them into school for recycling and there is a composter. The children are very aware of getting involved in these activities as part of the green issues handled at school.”

And at work, Sue and husband Jeremy are both aware of recycling initiatives.

At Kendall Wadley Accountants in Worcester and Malvern, where Jeremy is a partner, both offices work hard to encourage staff to recycle. Mr Clarke-Morris said: “Recycling bins around the offices are there for all our paper. Confidential paperwork is shredded and recycled and non-confidential is recycled.

“All our cardboard from work is recycled, too, as are printer cartridges through charities. Even office furniture which is no longer required is advertised using Free Cycle and local adverts to ensure it is reused or recycled. Computers due for replacement are always offered to staff first and then sent to be recycled.

“We encourage our staff wherever we can but it is quite difficult for businesses like us because we are not allowed to take waste to the local tips as they are for domestic use.”

Recycling and waste expert David Lawrence, managing director of Lawrence Recycling and Waste Manage-ment, near Stourport-on Severn, said: “Our kitchen appliances, mobile phones and computers offer us many benefits during their working lives but when this equipment is thrown away it affects the environment.

“We throw away a million tonnes of household electrical and electronic waste every year in the UK. And at least as much waste again comes from non-household sources such as offices, factories, schools and hospitals.

“Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) plays an ever-increasing role in our daily lives, and subsequently, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the UK and the EU.”

Some WEEE contains hazardous substances and parts ,such as mercury in some switches, lead in solder and cadmium in batteries. Recycling rates for most types of WEEE – other than large white goods such as fridges and washing machines – are currently very low. The WEEE directive aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it.