The Recycle Centre by Charlotte.

“You see that big hill over there? That is the landfill,” I announced. “That is why all the birds are flying around it”. “Where?”  Said Michael. We were going to the Timaru Recycle Centre (Dump). Brigette turned into the driveway and we were greeted by Briony Woodnorth and another lady. They told us where to park and to watch out for two roosters.

Brigette parked the car and she hopped out. We had to stay in the cars in case a child got ran over. As we waited I waved to Penny and Isabella in Shawn’s truck.

After that we hopped out of the cars. Next we put on highlighter safety vests. Briony started telling us what we were going to do. We were going to look at the dumping place and the MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) and then drive up to the Compost Centre. As soon as Briony had stopped talking we walked up to the dumping place. Briony showed us the place where you dump and pay.

After we had looked at that we went to the MRF and saw lots of conveyer belts.  I also saw two teddies around the MRF. On the conveyer belts we saw newspaper, plastic bottles and lots of tin and aluminium cans. We also saw lots of paper on the conveyer belts. Suddenly the conveyer belts stopped and a sound like a VERY loud bumble bee filled my ears. Then Briony said, “Now you can see the squasher in action”. I was in the last group to see the squasher. This miniature digger was lifting up newspaper and putting it on what looked like an iron conveyer belt.

 Then we walked back to the cars and drove up to the compost centre with our hazard lights on. When we got there we watched a big machine. It smelled like my brothers room and trust me that’s bad! After that she showed us a big machine that covers the compost. Apparently the boys that work there love it because they are able to drive forwards, backwards and sideways. Then we learnt a bit more about compost and after that we went back to the cars. We drove back to school. It was a fun trip and I learnt loads. I hope we go back some day.

By Charlotte

This is the machine that covers the compost.

Recycling Centre by Isabella

The sun was boring down on people’s backs as I played Busted, with my awesome friends. Soon after, Miss Galbraith blew her shiny silver whistle and Room 4 and 5 trod in. Mr Gander started calling out car groups and I held on to every word. Finally he called out “Cameron, Jackson, Penny and Isabella you are with Cameron’s dad.”  I was happy I was with Penny.

Once we finished driving to the Recycling Centre, we all jumped out when we were told to. Then we walked quickly to Briony our guide. Briony told us to put yellow vests on and we did.

Soon we walked slowly to the green shed and once I took a big look I realized it was huge.  Not just huge, really, really huge, so I would say it was as huge as an ELEPHANT! As soon as we went inside, I almost screamed because I was terrified of the noise, of well, everything. The conveyer belts, the machines, stuff like that. I may not have liked the noise, but I liked all the interesting stuff like watching the conveyer belts move and watching what was happening with the rubbish.

After that we went to where the paper and cardboard were, but trust me it was messier than a pig sty. All you could see was a man on a machine.

Later on we went back to the cars to drive to the Compost area.  Trust me you would NOT LIKE TO GO IN THERE. It smelt worse than a thousand nappies and I thought that smelt bad! Soon we walked to the compost heaps. They were huge plus they had weird covers on them.  In the meanwhile I was thinking, who would ever want to put covers on compost heaps? Soon Briony started talking about how it works and before we knew it we were walking AGAIN!

 In another ten minutes or so we were driving to school.  My favourite part was when we reached the compost area. You should have seen everyone’s faces. Some said it smelt good, some said it smelt bad. They had weird covers on them.  In the mean while I was thinking, who would ever want to put covers on compost heaps? Soon Briony started talking about how it works and before we knew it we were walking AGAIN! In another ten minutes or so we were driving to school,  my favourite part was  when we reached the compost area, you should have seen every ones faces some said it smelt good some said it smelt bad

I really liked the Recycling Centre and all the interesting stuff, even if some of it was noisy and some smelly.

 By Isabella

Here are the conveyer belts moving fast.

Recycling Centre by Lydia

On Tuesday the 30^th of August Rooms four and five went to the Recycling Centre because we’re learning about caring for our environment. When we got there we had to put on yellow vests so people could see us.       

After that we walked until we got to some stairs.  “You see that green shed over there?’’ questioned Briony.  “Yes,’’ Everyone said.  “That is the MRF,’’ Briony announced. She explained how it worked and what happens. There are twenty nine conveyer belts that all the recycling goes though. We saw paper, milk bottles, cans and glass. After the cans, glass and paper goes though the conveyer belts they fall into a cage. The cans get squashed into a cube of metal and the paper gets taken somewhere else to get squashed down.

After she explained, we went inside. The noise was loud. Some people cover their ears but we got used to it. We looked around for a while, then we got into the cars and drove to the compost heaps. I was with Carl, Ben, Carolyn and Michael.

We got out of the cars and everyone blocked their noses because the smell was disgusting. We looked at the compost heaps and they smelt like dead rats. After that Briony showed us a big machine that takes covers on and off the compost heaps. She told us how it worked and most of us were amazed. We walked round the corner and Briony showed us the air vents that the cold air comes out and into of from the compost heaps. Everyone bent down to feel the cold air. After that we had time to ask questions and about ten minutes later we had to leave because it was almost three o’clock.

 We walked back to where the cars were parked got in and drove back to school.

I would like to go to the Recycling centre again because it was fun.

By Lydia   

This is the cans all squashed down to a square.

Recycling Centre by Carl

At 1pm on Tuesday August 30^th, Room 4, Room 5, parents and staff were sitting in cars ready to leave Sacred Heart Primary School. I was with Lydia, Ben, Carolyn and Mike (my Mum & Dad).

When we arrived at the Recycling Centre, we got welcomed by 2 roosters and Briony (the lady that took us on a tour). Briony said, “Put on a vest, yellow for kids and orange for adults”.

She walked all of us up the steps into this big green building where they sort all the rubbish. I was amazed as having 1 million dollars. There were 29 conveyer belts. I was so amazed at how many wrong things were put in the recycling bin. There were: clothes, tennis balls and other random things.

Then suddenly all of the conveyer belts STOPPED!!!!!!!!! I was thinking that someone missed something out. Next we went to where all of the paper went. I was cracking up with laughter because it was messier than my room at home!!!!!!!!!

Once we had enough time in that big green building watching what happened to our recycling we walked to our cars and put our hazard lights on and started driving to the composting area. Once we got there we had to take our last breath of fresh air and open our doors and smell the composting area. “NO!!! This smells bad around here,” I said.

There was this big machine crunching up all the compost there was a big mountain of it.

I loved going to the Recycling Centre because it was very fun.

By Carl

The big box of cans

This is the big machine that was crunching up all of the compost.

Recycling Centre by Flynn

At 1 pm on Tuesday August 30, Room 4, Room 5, parents and staff visited the Timaru Recycling Centre. We went because our focus is caring for our environment.

When we arrived in our car groups we got introduced to a rooster’s crow, loud trucks dumping recycling and a really nice smell.

The first place we visited was where the bottles come through massive vents. The paper makes a huge paper mountain, the plastic bottles fall into one big cage and the glass bottles into another.

 Then we got back into the cars and drove up to the compost area and that even smelt better than when we first got to the Recycling Centre. While we were there we were all shocked by how big the machines were and how some machines worked.

One thing I was really surprised about was the things that people put in the bins like lawn mowers, plastic bags and glad wrap because they should go in the red bin.

My favourite part was when we went to the compost area because of how it smelt.

By Flynn. J

This is a huge machine mulching up some compost. 

      

Recycling Centre by Lylekah

As the sun shone on Tuesday the 30^th of August students from rooms Four and Five at S.H.P.S were buzzing with excitement because we were going on a trip to the recycling centre. Suddenly Miss G’s whistle went off (that was our signal to come inside). When we were all inside Mr. Gander read out the cars that we were all going in, with what parent and what students.

As soon as we arrived at the recycling centre we were greeted by two roosters and Briony Woodnorth (TDC member) who showed the parents where to park. She then started talking to us about what we would see to give us an indication about how noisy and stinky it would be.

First we put on HIVIS vests and straight after that we entered the MRF a.k.a the Materials Recovery Facility. The MRF was horrendously loud and very stinky because of all the rubbish. We saw forklifts, paper flying everywhere, blocks of crushed milk bottles and twenty nine conveyor belts. It took about twenty to thirty minutes for everyone to have a good look at everything inside the MRF.

Later we got back in the cars and went to the compost area. It was so disgusting, but at least it was good for the environment. Briony then talked to us about the new equipment and the tools they need to make the compost perfect. Suddenly it was time to go back to school. I was upset because I found it very interesting.

Hopefully we can make our world a better place and people stop littering.

By Lylekah

There is a machine that crushes milk bottles. Here is a block that is already crushed.

Challenge programme sharing

O-R has been learning how to sew as part of her Challenge Programme.  She has made this skirt and a couple of weeks ago she finished a very trendy cushion aswell.  I can see a fashion designer in the making!  Keep it up O-R, what a wonderful talent you have :)