What started as a simple online learning session has grown into a school-wide movement, as pupils at Rivington Primary School in Windle take action on textile waste across their community.
More than 200 pupils from Years 1 to 6 recently took part in a Textile Champions assembly delivered by Roberts Recycling Ltd, St Helens Council’s official textile recycling partner.
The session brought to life an issue often overlooked, what happens to clothing once it is no longer worn, and how small actions can create meaningful change.
Online Learning to Real-World Action
Rivington Primary’s textile recycling journey began with an online ‘Textile Talk’, delivered by the Roberts Recycling community team, as part of joining their award-winning Recycle 4 School programme.
The session, designed to introduce young people to the impact of textile waste and the importance of reuse, was initially attended by members of the school’s Eco Club.
What followed was a ripple effect across the school, as pupils shared what they had learned and pushed for further action.
That momentum led directly to the in-person assembly, where the entire school came together to explore how clothing donations can reduce waste, support reuse, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
The visit marks the next step in the school’s sustainability journey, with the school now preparing for a wider textile collection drive over the Easter period, encouraging their local community to donate quality, reusable clothing through local recycling banks and help raise funds for the school.
Supporting St Helens Council Through Partnership
The activity at Rivington sits within a wider partnership between Roberts Recycling Ltd and St Helens Council, working collaboratively to improve textile recycling across the borough.
Roberts Recycling currently services more than 20 official textile recycling locations across St Helens, providing residents with accessible, reliable options to donate clothing, footwear, and household textiles for reuse.
You can find all the official textile recycling location points across the borough by visiting:
Alongside this infrastructure, education remains a key focus.
Through school talks and community engagement, the partnership is helping to build long-term awareness and encourage better habits around textile reuse.
A Recycling Movement
Recycle 4 School is a nationwide initiative delivered by Roberts Recycling, supporting over 3,000 schools.
The programme enables schools to raise funds through textile collections while promoting sustainable behaviours within their communities.
By encouraging donations of quality clothing, schools play a direct role in extending the life of garments and reducing unnecessary waste.
Delivering Real Impact
The partnership between Roberts Recycling and St Helens Council is already delivering measurable results, with more than 30,000kg of textiles diverted from landfill since the partnership kicked off.
Lewis Webster, Head of Marketing at Roberts Recycling Ltd, said:
“It’s great to see how well Rivington has engaged with the programme. From the Eco Club session through to the school assembly, the students have really taken on board the message around textile reuse and why it matters.
We’d like to thank the teachers and pupils for their support, and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact of their upcoming collection.”
Get Involved!
Schools interested in joining the Recycle 4 School programme can find out more at www.recycle4school.org.uk or contact info@robertsrecycling.co.uk.
