Mayor Bryan Cadogan today delivered a recycling skip to South Otago High School as part of Clutha District Council’s rollout of additional recycling collections to schools throughout the district.

As part of its new Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, Council has offered additional recycling bins free of charge to all schools and non-profit early childhood education centres on or close to the wheelie bin collection route. Ten schools have so far taken up the offer.

Mayor Cadogan said that additional recycling for schools would help encourage recycling from an early age.

"Good habits are learned young and there are several reasons why recycling is a good habit to get into," he said. "Diverting waste from landfill saves ratepayers money in waste levy costs, and will also help lower costs under the Emissions Trading Scheme when landfills become liable for emissions from next year."

"As well as this, we have a responsibility as a community to look after our environment and achieve a more resource efficient, less wasteful society," Mayor Cadogan said.