News Release
11/02/15
Children learn to recycle with Bin Bunny
game
A new web game ‘Bin Bunny’ has been launched by Recycle for Greater
Manchester’s European funded Life+ Up and Forward project in partnership
with Manchester Metropolitan University.
Originally designed for students as a recycling app, the web version has
been developed to provide a fun way for children to learn about recycling
by challenging players to sort through rubbish as quickly as possible.
Madeeha Murtaza, Project Support Officer, Greater Manchester Waste
Disposal Authority said: “Bin Bunny offers schools a free, easy, fun and
educational way to inspire and inform pupils about recycling. We have seen
throughout the Life+ behavioural change campaigns how enthusiastic
children are about putting the right stuff in the right bin.”
The game was designed by computer experts at Manchester Metropolitan
University using high-tech apparatus inside MMU’s computer research labs,
which are equipped with special glasses to track users’ eye movements
across a screen.
Dr Darren Dancey, Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing, Mathematics
and Digital Technology said: “It’s simple to play and features different
levels where the recycling needs to be sorted, becoming increasingly
difficult with bonus levels. It’s a great way to educate children about the
importance of recycling.”
www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com
Councillor Catherine Piddington, Chair of the Greater Manchester Waste
Disposal Authority added: “Educating children is an effective way to change
recycling behaviour in the long-term. This web game engages children of
primary and high school age, teaching them about recycling in a new and
refreshing way. We are looking for schools throughout Greater Manchester
to take up the challenge and encourage children to think about recycling
and where their waste goes.”
‘Bin Bunny’ is available to play online at www.binbunny.co.uk . The phone
and tablet-based student app ‘Getting Wasted’ is available on the iOS and
Android systems. A web version is available at www.gettingwasted.co.uk .
L-R Mia Lynch (age 10) and Ben Lynch age (7) from Bury playing the game.
www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com
Notes to Editors
The Up & Forward project looks at ways of encouraging residents to waste
less and recycle more in currently hard to reach communities. The aim is to
carry out a project that will demonstrate how improved communication and
engagement can increase waste prevention and recycling in low performing
urban areas.
The Up and Forward project is funded by the European Union EU funding
stream Life +. LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting
environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU. Since
1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3708 projects, contributing approximately
€2.8 billion to the protection of the environment.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm.
Recycle for Greater Manchester is a partnership between Viridor Laing
(Greater Manchester) Limited (VLGM) and the Greater Manchester Waste
Disposal Authority (GMWDA), encouraging the people of Greater Manchester
to recycle more and recycle better. Our Vision is to help make Greater
Manchester a shining example of urban recycling.
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) provides recycling
and waste disposal services for over one million households in Bolton, Bury,
www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com
Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford,
Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. It handles around 5% of England’s waste.
Viridor Laing (Greater Manchester) Limited (VLGM) is a joint venture
company owned by Viridor, a subsidiary of Pennon Group PLC, and John
Laing PLC, who have come together to deliver a 25 year Recycling and
Waste Management Contract.
www.recycleforgreatermanchester.com