The Landfill that Time Forgot: Christ College Hunts for Fossils and Sees the Future for Recycling

 

 

Suitably attired in hard hats and high visibility vests, Year 8’s from Christ College enjoyed a trip to the Grundon Landfill site at Bishop’s Cleeve. The 140 acre site is part of Wingmoor Farm, the largest area of landfill in the county.

 

The students were able to look for fossils in a freshly dug landfill ‘cell’, where the layers of clay had not seen the light of day for some 180 million years. A variety of fossils, glittering in the sunshine thanks to a patina of iron pyrite, were harvested and identified by the enthusiastic budding palaeontologists.

 

They where then taken on a guided tour of the recycling facilities, where everything from bulbs to bicycles and sofas to stereos are sorted to optimise the recyclable content.

 

Methane from the buried waste is piped away from the sealed landfills via special vents and burned to generate 4.2 megawatts of electricity, which is fed into the national grid and is about enough to power Bishop’s Cleeve, Prestbury and Pittville.

 

County Council Waste Technical Officer Roger Smith showed the students round the facility.

 

Astonishingly, about 700 tonnes of rubbish is tipped at the Cory site every day—200.000 tonnes per year.

 

Christ College Science Teacher Karl Morris said: “As well as enjoying looking for fossils, our students are learning to become responsible citizens by being aware of the enormous impact everyday waste has on the environment, and this is reflected in our schools achievement of the Silver Eco Schools Award.”

 

The pupils enjoyed the day, with Lacey saying “It was the best trip yet!”, and all of them hope that it is repeated next year, but with even more time to hunt for fossils.

 

Deputy Head and Geography Teacher Julian Simcox added: “We certainly look forward to making a return visit”

 

 

This news item was posted on 26^th September 2008