CHILDREN from north Durham have been learning about the importance of recycling. Pupils at South Stanley Infant and Nursery School in Stanley, have been collecting empty yoghurt pots They earn 2p for every container from TerraCycle, which turns the collected materials into affordable, eco-friendly upcycled products such as lunch bags. Teaching assistant Carol Jackson said: "South Stanley Infant and Nursery School joined the Danone Yogurt Brigade in October 2010 and to date we have collected over 200 yogurt pots and bottles earning money for the school. "The money will be used to help develop an outdoor play area. "But the real value for the school is how excited the children get about how many plastic pots they can save and enabling us to teach them practically the importance of resource conservation and recycling." The school is part of a free nationwide programme called "Brigades" that pays organisations such as schools and charities to collect difficult to recycle waste that could otherwise go to landfill. The firm uses the waste material to make a wide range of products such as folders for schools, pencil cases, shopping bags, notepads and more. Mrs Jackson added: "It is great to see how excited they get about how many plastic pots they have collected. It is quite inspiring." Ends Schools, organisations or individuals can learn more about the programmes or sign up to a brigade for free by logging on to www.terracycle.co.uk