Youngsters are welcome disruptors for Excel Vending
If you have been reading our blog lately you will know that we have been doing a great deal of work in recent months to promote Reverse Vending and the implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland. Much of the process has been through demonstrating our Reverse Vending Machine at our showroom in East Kilbride and on our dedicated Envirovend website. We’ve entertained many interested representative from environmental agencies and the Scottish Government who have been keen to learn how it works and about the environmental benefits of Reverse Vending.
However, it’s not just about educating the decision makers, it’s also about raising awareness among the general public about the positive impacts our Reverse Vending Machines can make in everyday life and there’s no better example of our education initiative than our outing to the Scottish Borders last week.
We were delighted to visit Stow Primary School and work with the children as part of their Hunter Foundation 100 Disruptors initiative. The Hunter Foundation challenged youngsters to come up with ideas that provided positive disruption in Scotland and Stow School were one of the 113 eventual winners. The prize was a £1000 grant to implement their idea in the local community. Stow Primary chose to DISRUPT the current thinking around single use plastic within their community.
Excel Vending Director, John MacDonald was delighted and encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by the youngsters when he took a Reverse Vending Machine along to the school. The visit allowed the pupils to see what could be done to help with the disposal and recycling of the bottles and cans that they had so eagerly collected before his visit. Speaking afterwards about the visit, teacher Debbie Matthewson said, “We are all ( children & staff ) still buzzing from your visit and learnt so much. On leaving the school at 3.15pm several pupils were clutching their voucher and announced that they were going to keep them somewhere safe as it was such a special thing to see and be part of! Evidence of how well you came over and how much your visit was received by all the classes.”
At Excel Vending, we have invested in Reverse Vending because we believe in the need to change the thinking on the use and disposal of single use plastic, we also accept the challenge of educating people on the benefits. It is therefore very satisfying and gratifying to spend time with youngsters who now understand it and who are genuinely interested in the environmental impact that fresh thinking can achieve.
As part of their Hunter Foundation grant, Stow Primary School are hosting an event in Stow Town Hall on the 13th & 14th September to show the community what they have being doing to make a difference to the environment, Excel Vending will be there to demonstrate the Reverse Vending machine, you are welcome to join us with the children from the school.
We will continue to demonstrate the Reverse Vending machine in our East Kilbride showroom and at various venues around the country. Following on from Stow, the next venue is at the Perth street festival 14th – 16th September at the request of Zero Waste Perth.
Below is a short video and some pictures from the visit. If you are interested in finding out more about Reverse Vending, please call us on 0845 60 40 111 or email John MacDonald at John@excel-vending.co.uk, we will be happy to explain the benefits to you.