More than 1,500 residents in Southend-on-Sea have taken part in a week-long education initiative focused on improving recycling habits and waste management. The project, which ran from 6 to 13 May 2026, featured a mobile classroom called Dennis to the Rescue, created by Dennis Eagle and run by the city’s waste contractor, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK.
The mobile classroom visited four local primary schools to lead interactive lessons for pupils from nursery to Year 6. Schools chosen for the visit included Hamstel Infant School, The Westborough School, Porters Grange School, and St. Michael’s School. During these sessions, children learned about the importance of reducing waste through hands-on activities, such as litter picking and recycling quizzes. The programme was delivered in partnership with Skips Educational.
A key focus of the initiative was sharing safety information with families, specifically the warning to keep batteries and electrical items out of household bins to prevent fires. In addition to school visits, the mobile unit spent a day on the seafront to engage with the wider public. The project is part of a wider commitment by SUEZ and Southend-on-Sea City Council to reach a 65 per cent recycling target by 2030.
The Mayor of Southend, Cllr Nigel Folkard, visited the mobile unit to meet local students and see the educational resources first-hand. During the visit, he presented a prize to Archie, a pupil from Hamstel School who won an online crossword competition, earning him a Lego bin truck. James Gatter, contract manager at SUEZ, noted that these educational efforts are essential for influencing attitudes and protecting the environment for the future.
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