web links

The following websites may be of interest to you and could help your school to develop its own environmental project.

The list is provided for guidance purposes only and Valpak accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the content on these sites.

Air Quality Archive
This site was developed by NETCEN, part of AEA Technology Environment, on behalf of the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Devolved Administrations . It has up to date maps of pollution levels in the UK along with information on what causes air pollution and its effects.

Alupro
Alupro is the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation. The site holds useful information about aluminium recycling, including a specific area for pupils.

British Glass
Want to find out what happens to your glass bottles? This site tells you all you need to know about glass recycling in the UK with links through to glass manufacturers.

British Plastics Federation
There are many uses for recycled plastic. Several suggestions can be found on this site, as well as detailed information about the British Plastics Federation.

Capitalwastefacts
Capitalwastefacts is a website dedicated to explaining what is going on with waste across London.

Capitalwastelearning
A complete waste and recycling teaching tool for Key Stage 2 professionals working in London. Although dedicated to London, it also contains countrywide information.

Centre for Alternative Technology
The Centre for Alternative Technology is an educational charity striving to achieve the best cooperation between the natural, technological and human worlds. They test, live with and display strategies and tools for doing this.

Centre for Sustainable Energy
The Centre for Sustainable Energy is a charitable company offering a wide range of research, advice, consultancy, education, training, lobbying and policy development skills.

Council for Environmental Education
The Council for Environmental Education (CEE), is a national umbrella body in England. CEE's website provides an overview of the work of the Council and developments in the field and covers the fields of environmental education and education for sustainable development.

CREATE
CREATE is a not-for-profit organisation working to reduce the effects of climate change. In the 'Teachers' Zone', find out more about energy management, transport and the environment. Access interactive websites and web based resources.

Department for Education and Skills
The Department for Education and Skills web site.

Energy Savings Trust
Provides information covering energy efficiency in the home.

Environment Agency
The Environment Agency (EA) regulates the environment in England and Wales. The website contains a wealth of environmental information on all three topics, tools, resources and features, with the latest news on legislation.

Environment and Heritage Service
Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) regulates the environment in Northern Ireland.

Envirowise
The Envirowise website is aimed at UK businesses, but it contains easy to understand information about how to reduce packaging waste, water and energy use and improve packaging design.

Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is an independent food safety watchdog set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.

Friends of the Earth
Leading environmental pressure group in Great Britain. Organizes international and local networks of activists and provides comprehensive coverage of green issues.

Global Action Plan
A site developed for teachers focussed around 'Action at School', an environmental programme run by the UK charity Global Action Plan. It is linked to Key Stages 3 and 4 and is designed to help the school develop in a more sustainable way. Schools can choose to tackle water, waste, energy or transport over three terms.

GreenChoices
The GreenChoices schools section offers links to learning about "green" perspectives, teaching resources about the environment and sustainable development and resources to help manage schools in a more environmentally friendly way.

Green Dot UK
Although we do not use the Green Dot system in the UK to comply with the Packaging Waste Directive, Valpak manages the Green Dot in the UK on behalf of Pro Europe. This ensures companies use the green dot trademark on their packaging appropriately.

Green Energy
This site is aimed at teachers and children who want to know more about alternative sources of energy, such as solar and wind power.

HDRA
Organic network for schools. This site provides a learning pack for Key Stage 2 and 3 as well as bite sized facts and figures on composting and gardening.

INCPEN
INCPEN - The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment is a UK based non-profit organisation dedicated to analysing the environmental and social effects of packaging, creating a better understanding of the role of packaging, and minimising the environmental impact of packaging. Their 'Packaging Education' area educates young people about the essential part that packaging plays in the modern world.

PRO Europe
The PRO Europe site gives information on all of the 15 European Green Dot compliance schemes, which come under the umbrella organisation of PRO Europe. PRO Europe is running the Youth Eco- Parliament.

RECOUP
RECOUP is a charity established to further plastic recycling. Information is provided on setting up a plastics recycling scheme and how plastic is recycled.

rescape™
rescape™ is the latest innovation in street furniture -designed to send recycling rates rocketing. rescape™ offers a cost effective solution to anyone wanting to increase recycling rates in their area. The recycling centres also provide a range of exciting and practical features ensuring simple functionality for the public and safe practical operation for collectors.

Save Energy
The Save Energy website is the place to find out to what extent your home has been wasting your money. Discover a wealth of information designed to help your home mend its criminal ways!

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) regulates the environment in Scotland. SEPA's education pages are designed to provide an introduction to SEPA's education work and provide links to other relevant areas of the web site on water, air and waste. In addition, they have included extensive links to other sites. Although SEPA has not produced educational material specifically targeted at schools, a range of publications that are relevant to a school audience can be found on this site.

SCRIB
The Steel Can Recycling Information Bureau is funded by Corus and forms part of the Corus Steel Packaging Recycling Unit. All aspects of steel recycling are covered on the site.

Think Energy
Developed by Educational Communications Ltd for British Gas, this resource is for use in teaching about energy efficiency with KS3 pupils at school and at home. The site includes a discussion board, surveys, quizzes, activities, information, and downloadable worksheets. It supports the National Curriculum and Scottish 5-14 Guidelines for science.

Valpak
Valpak is the UK's largest compliance scheme dealing with the Packaging Waste Regulations. The regulations are the UK's answer to complying with the European Packaging Waste Directive, and differ from the Green Dot systems used to comply by most European countries. This site tells you about the regulations, and about some of the projects Valpak is involved with.

Waste Aware Scotland
Waste Aware Scotland is a national campaigning programme. Through Waste Aware Scotland they hope to change public attitudes and behaviour towards waste.

Waste Watch
Waste Watch is a national organisation that educates, informs and raises awareness on waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Waste Watch provides educational projects, information, consultancy, publications and training events, campaigning and advocacy for all sectors.

Water UK
A site for the water industry aimed more at adults and businesses but has many further links.

Water in the School
The website contains a wealth of information, both for teachers and pupils. The site can support cross-curricular work as well as a Water Conservation Project.

Wiggly Wigglers
Some 30% of all household waste is organic and can be recycled. By just 'throwing away' this waste we are adding to the millions of tonnes per year that is simply left to rot in landfill, so this site aims to provide advice about composting.