TAVISTOCK college student Ellie Meakin made the most of a recent work placement, when she launched a recycling campaign for charity.

 The 14-year old student set up a fundraising account for the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, while on a week's work placement at the Launceston-based Marketing and PR Company.

Ellie hopes to inspire local businesses to raise money for the trust, which provides education and support for young people with profound physical and learning disabilities, by recycling old printer cartridges and mobile phones at http://www.recyclingappeal.com">www.recyclingappeal.com

Ellie said: 'I thought of raising money for Dame Hannah's through the scheme, after Carolyn Daw of Marketing-PR asked me if I could come up with a useful way of recycling cartridges from the office.

'Then I realised that many other businesses may not be aware of the possibility, so encouraging them to join in became my main project for the week.

'It's really easy to join the scheme. All you have to do is put your old cartridges and phones in an envelope and send it to a freepost address.'

 Around 30 million inkjet cartridges are disposed of in the UK every year, according to the Recycling Appeal. It will donate up to £1 for empty printer and fax cartridges and up to £5 for mobile phones, when companies recycle on behalf of the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust.

The charity is currently seeking to raise £100,000 to purchase three new minibuses.

 Carolyn Daw, managing director of the Marketing and PR Company, said: 'I was delighted by Ellie's initiative and pleased for the Marketing and PR Company to be the first to sign up to her scheme.

'Like many of the best fundraising ideas this is so easy — if everyone helps in their own small way it will make a big difference to the lives of the children at Dame Hannah's.'

 Colin Eves, principal at Tavistock College, said: 'Ellie should be very proud of this work which will undoubtedly make a significant impact.'

 To join the recycling scheme, visit the website or call 08451302010, quoting the account number VEN0305626 to fund raise for the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust.