Food waste lessons roll into schools as vehicle-naming winners celebrated

Pupils at three Wokingham Borough primary schools have taken part in waste and recycling education sessions after their entries helped inspire the winning names for the council’s new waste collection lorries.

The sessions followed the borough-wide competition, which received more than 1,100 name suggestions and over 2,200 public votes on the shortlist. 

The winning names will be displayed on the vehicles when they go into use in June, as part of the council’s new waste collection and street cleansing contract with Biffa. 

Food waste education in the spotlight

The school sessions were run in partnership with the council’s new waste collection and street cleansing contractor Biffa. 

They focused on food waste, helping children understand why it’s important to separate food waste, what happens to it once collected and how small changes at home can make a big difference. 

More than 650 pupils were taught how the lorries work as well as learned practical tips, including using a small indoor kitchen caddy to collect food waste and emptying it into the larger outdoor food waste bin ready for collection. 

They also learned what can go in the caddy, like cooking oil, fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells and teabags, and what should be kept. 

Food waste collected in the borough is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant, where liners are removed and the food waste is recycled into electricity and fertiliser. Watch the video of the journey the borough’s food waste takes.

The winning schools visited

The three school visits brought the ‘winning’ vehicle named and shown to the young people who came up with the idea. Biffa’s mascot Whitney the Wasteater also joined each school visit.

It celebrated:

• Gorse Ride School (Year 3 class) for Binderella
• Hillside Primary School – for Binnie the Pooh, suggested by pupils Amelia and Annabelle 
• Loddon Primary School – for Trash Gordon as suggested by pupil Jack

As part of the new contract with Biffa, more than 30 new vehicles are coming into use, with three more waste collection lorries named by the public - Obi Wan Binobi, Recyclosaurus Rex and Bindiana Jones. 

Two street sweepers were also voted on and named by the public, as Sweeping Beauty and Shaun the Sweep.

A modern fleet supporting improved services

The newly named vehicles form part of the council’s upgraded waste collection and street cleansing service delivered under the new contract with Biffa. 

The fleet includes modern in-cab technology designed to make collections more efficient and cost effective, while supporting crews to work safely and improving the service for residents. 

The fleet will also support climate goals through more fuel-efficient models, technology that supports smoother driving, and some smaller electric vehicles. 

Cllr Stephen Conway, leader of the council, said: “It’s been brilliant to take this competition back into our schools and for the winning pupils to ‘meet’ their lorries.

“As well as celebrating the borough’s creativity, these visits are helping children understand why food waste matters and how simple everyday habits, like using the food waste caddy properly, can make a real difference for our environment.”

Steve Cole, Managing Director, Biffa Municipal, said: “This brilliant competition shows young people are really clued up about the importance of recycling.  

“Hopefully they'll be the ones now encouraging everyone at home to waste less and recycle more. Our new partnership with Wokingham Borough Council will do just that.  

“By helping residents make the most of existing recycling and food waste collections, we’re turning food waste into renewable energy and fertiliser, delivering real environmental benefits for the borough.” 

New contract starts in June

The new contract starts on Monday 1 June. 

Most residents will see minimal impact to their collections, which will continue to take place with general waste one week and recycling the other, with food waste collected every week.

Crews may carry out collections at different times of the day, even if the day is the same, so residents are reminded to put their waste out the night before, or before 6.30am, and leave them out until they are emptied. Bags and bins should be clearly marked with the property number or name. 

Some collections, including garden waste, will be on a different day and these residents have been contacted directly.