Devon councils spend £30k to send food-waste monster into schools

Devon councils are spending £30,000 to send Bonster, a food-eating monster, into primary schools across the county as part of a programme designed to reduce household food waste. 

The initiative, funded by the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, a partnership of Torbay Council, all eight district councils in Devon and Devon County Council, will visit schools between November and March next year.

The eight district and borough councils involved in the initiative are: East Devon, Mid Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, West Devon, North Devon and Exeter City Council.

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The partnership explained to the North Devon Gazette that the £30,000 programme is part of a wider drive to encourage greater use of food-waste collection bins across the county.

According to the partnership, nearly a third of Devon’s black‑bin household waste is made up of food, 79 per cent of which is considered avoidable. 

They estimate that if this waste had been recycled instead of thrown away, residents could have saved around £4 million.

A spokesperson on behalf of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, which is a partnership of local authorities including Torbay Council, all eight District/City/Borough Councils in Devon, and Devon County Council, said: “A significant portion of black bin waste in Devon is made up of food waste (27 per cent) despite the majority of households receiving food waste collections. Had this food waste been put out for recycling in the food waste collection and not in the black bin for disposal, it would have saved Devon residents approximately £4 million.”

The programme will see pupils meet Bonster during interactive assemblies led by Resource Futures. 

Children will learn about recycling food waste, receive activity sheets and stickers, and be encouraged to check whether their household food‑waste caddy is being used correctly. 

A follow‑up visit at school pick‑up time will allow parents to collect a caddy if they do not already have one.

Alex Mack, education team lead at Resource Futures, said: “The assembly is fun, very interactive and age appropriate. The children love meeting Bonster the monster and it really inspires them to go home and check if they are recycling all their food waste. The follow‑up visit gives families who aren’t recycling the chance to start doing so, helping change behaviour at home.”

Councillor Ruth Williams, chair of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, said: “It is vital to teach children about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling waste from a young age in a way that is engaging and fun. The messages the children learn can be put to good use at home and set a strong foundation for later life.”