Bedfordshire Explorer Scout Tom Rochester (17), was one of several specially chosen by Scout Headquarters to help them launch the new Environment Badge. Designed to support green issues, the badge allows UK Scouts to raise the concept of recycling and to take care of their local areas.

Tom’s role as the Scout’s spokesman took him to the Milton Keynes Regional Recycling Centre in Wolverton. There he saw for himself how Serco Local Government support services sorted the region’s millions of tons of rubbish. Later, he was at Westminster to meet Environment Minister Hilary Benn to introduce him to the Scouts’ initiative. Mr Benn said, “What a great opportunity for young people to take a lead in helping to clean up the towns and cities where they live. Their new badge now gives them an opportunity to encourage parents and peers to make a real difference to the environment by tackling the recycling challenge head on.”

The new campaign, aimed at Scouts of all ages, will unleash the largest green force ever seen in the UK as tens of thousands of young people will look to raise awareness of the need to recycle and to take care of their local areas.

Research has already shown huge interest in green issues among young people, with over 80% questioned in a poll by the National Lottery supporting the idea of rewards for recycling. Almost half of those questioned (48%) also said that they actively encourage their parents to recycle. 10% even went as far as to say that they were embarrassed by their parents green credentials![1]

Now, the Scout Movement, including nearly 6000 Bedfordshire Scouts, will mobilise its huge membership base to allow young people to make a real difference to the environment, both by tackling the recycling challenge head on, and by influencing the behaviour of their peers and parents.

Importantly, the Environment badge involves understanding what happens to recycling on its journey from the home, through collection to the recycling plant. Exercises will also encourage young people to think about what items can be recycled from their rubbish bins.

A resource pack has been developed in partnership with Serco Local Government that will assist the Groups with arranging a Clean Up Campaign in their local area and encourage reducing, reusing and recycling of rubbish. The pack will also provide safety advice and necessary equipment to ensure the programme is completed safely, including hi-viz vests, rigger gloves and recyclable rubbish bags.

The badge will then be awarded to those who have taken part in a community clean up campaign, and shown initiative in recycling the materials collected.

The programme provides a unique platform for young people to think about why their neighbourhood is so important, and what steps could be taken to improve the areas in which they live. The pack will also highlight the impact that waste and littering can have on an area and the role that young people can and should play in tackling it.

Tom Rochester said, “I have had great fun today doing some of the activities to get the badge. I never realised how much material could be recycled and how much carbon could be saved by taking some simple actions at home. It’s a really good idea and great to get the Scouts involved”.

Mike Brown, CEO from Serco said “It is vital that young people develop an understanding about the importance of recycling, and the impact that litter can have on the communities in which they live. We are delighted to be working alongside The Scout Association in this project, and look forward to rolling the Environment badge programme out to other part of the UK over the coming months”.

He added “We also hope that the Scouts will take some of the lessons they have learnt back to their homes, and help their parents and friends recycle and reduce their waste output.

“By way of example, recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for six hours. So, if Bedfordshire’s 6,000 Scouts managed to do that, there would be enough energy saved to light a room in 1,500 homes for 24 hours or every home in a town the size of Luton for about two hours.”  

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