London schoolchildren rebuild broken toys to cut waste

Schoolchildren across London are being taught how to take apart and rebuild broken toys and household items in a project designed to cut waste and get them thinking about climate change.

The Broken Umbrella Challenge is being run by the community interest company Science Owl during London Climate Action Week.

Pupil Alice, from Francis Holland School near Regent’s Park, said: “We got given tins, pieces of paper and flowers, and we built it into a nice pretty bag with lots of ribbons. It really changed from its original form.”

Founder Dr Renee Tonkin set up the project after learning that about 28 million toys are thrown away in the UK each year, a figure from the North London Waste Authority.

Classmate Thea said the workshops carried a wider message. “It’s teaching young people that we need to recycle more.

“Now we don’t use toys as much, and if we are able to recycle them, we might be able to get off screens and start using physical items.”

Assistant head Jo Dawes said it was important for pupils to engage with the environment “in a creative and fun way”.

She added: “It’s really important for them to learn how any small change can impact the environment, so that one day they can make those informed decisions themselves.”