Eastcote school wins council's cable challenge

The five-week competition encouraged pupils from 36 competing primary schools to find old and unwanted cables at home and, with their parents' or carer's permission, bring them to school and drop them into a dedicated recycling bin.  

Newnham Primary's pupils collected an impressive 88.1kg of cables, with Frithwood Primary School, Northwood, in second place with 86.7kg and Field End Junior School in Ruislip, third, with 76.7kg.  

The total combined weight of cables collected was an incredible 802.7kg or 0.8 tonnes. 

Newnham Junior School will receive £100 towards hiring classroom kits from Team Repair for hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sessions at school. 

Neil Wilkey, Headteacher at Newnham Junior School, said: "The Cable Challenge provided a great opportunity to introduce a new 'habit' and for the local community to work together towards a common aim - helping the planet. 

"Excitement raced through the school when the children first saw the pink bin - many (children and adults) having never seen one. The challenge certainly sent the message that collectively we can all make a difference - from little acorns we can grow mighty trees." 

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said: "The Cable Challenge is part of our ongoing efforts to reduce contamination in recycling and promote the reuse of valuable materials. 

"Congratulations to Newnham Junior School for their tremendous efforts and many thanks to all 36 schools who took part." 

The challenge was funded by not-for-profit organisation Material Focus, which also supports the council's continued drive to recycle small electricals. They have stated that in the UK millions of old cables are lying unused in homes, but many contain precious metals such as copper, which can be extracted and recycled into other things.  

The council has pink recycling bins for small electricals in each of its libraries, for residents to drop off items like cables, old phones and hairdryers, or you can visit one of our Civic Amenity Sites in Harefield or West Drayton.  

Do you know which small household electrical items you can recycle? Find out more at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/small-electricals-recycling