A Hurstville early learning centre is teaching children about recycling, one bottle at a time.
Jenny's Kindergarten & Early Learning Hurstville has been encouraging its young charges to bring in empty bottles, which are then recycled at a local Return and Earn facility.
In an added bonus, the proceeds are then donated to charity.
Centre director Xiao Jing He came up with the idea one day on her way home from work after she saw a Return and Earn advertisement.
"At our centre, we have activities for the children to promote sustainability to establish a natural, sustainable environment," she said.
"I thought this was a way we could really start taking action."
She discussed the idea with staff, who were keen to introduce Return and Earn recycling at the centre.
Xiao Jing said the activity had been a great way to teach the children about recycling.
"We show them pictures that explain how to recycle and we show them the 10c symbol on bottles and explain to them that it means the bottles can be returned in exchange for money," she said.
"Then we ask the children to check bottles at home for those symbols and bring the eligible bottles to kindergarten."
Families are asked to collect empty bottles and cans and bring them to the centre before they are recycled at a Return and Earn collection facility.
She said the children were also involved in helping decide where to send the proceeds, before they settled on "helping the firetrucks and the community".
The centre donated the money from refunds to the NSW bushfire appeal and a local Aboriginal Community Centre.
Xiao Jing said it was clear the children were taking in the information, even at preschool-age.
"One of the parents told us that every time they finish a bottle of water at home, their daughter takes the empty bottle and puts in a bag, saying, 'We have to take it to Kindergarten for charity'," she said.
"Using Return and Earn and donating to charities has become an important way for the centre to be involved in the local community."
Details: To find out more about Return and Earn click here.
