TAVISTOCK College students have learned how to help the environment by taking advantage of improved recycling services.

Year 7 and 8 students were visited by Terri Easton, waste education officer for West Devon Borough Council, who talked to them about the council's new scheme to reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfill.

Teacher Heather Richardson, who organised the visit, said: 'Terri described the kerbside collection and how the service has been extended recently to take batteries, mobile phones and textiles in the green recycling boxes.

'Food waste is the cause of bad smells and a large amount of the greenhouse gas methane, so in this area it is taken to the local anaerobic digester where it is converted to compost and electricity.

'The waste management industry is developing at a rapid rate to deal with our present problems of producing waste, so the students could see how science is important in the creation of jobs and in solving practical issues in society.'

Sophie Smale and Alice Kodritsch said they had learned that recycling was important and could help save the planet.

'If you use more recycling bins you can sort things ready for collection,' added Stephanie Hutchins.