James Cropper Paper & Packaging has partnered with Biffa to produce ‘Whitney the Wasteater and the Wrong Bite’, a playful new children’s storybook designed to encourage proper recycling habits and community engagement.
Launched to coincide with World Book Day and aimed at children aged 2-7, the story follows Whitney, a lovable yet ‘picky’ Wasteater who thrives on clean, dry recyclables but falls ill after taking a wrong bite from mixed or contaminated bins. The tale blends imaginative storytelling with practical lessons on sorting materials correctly, making recycling both fun and educational for children and families alike.
James Cropper supplied the storybook’s paper through its CupCycling™ process. Each copy of ‘Whitney the Wasteater and the Wrong Bite’ is made from approximately 15 recycled coffee cups, turning everyday waste into something children can hold, read, and enjoy.
Jordan Scott, Head of Marketing at James Cropper, said, “We’re proud to support Biffa on this project by supplying CupCycling™ paper. ‘Whitney the Wasteater and the Wrong Bite’ brings recycling to life in a playful, tangible way. Children can see, touch, and hold proof that everyday materials, like a simple coffee cup, can become something beautiful when we sort and recycle correctly. It’s a story that connects imagination with real-world sustainability.”
The Wasteaters programme, created by Biffa in 2016 and relaunched last summer, uses colourful monster characters to make recycling fun and visible. The storybook will be incorporated into around 1,000 school visits per year and community engagement activities, with 100% of proceeds donated to WasteAid, supporting global initiatives that help communities manage and repurpose waste safely and sustainably.
Georgia Gibson, Biffa’s Social Value Manager in Manchester, said, “Breathing life into one of our Wasteater characters in a children’s book is a wonderful way to spark curiosity about recycling from an early age. By using rhyme and imagination, we’re helping youngsters see how their choices matter, and how small everyday actions can make a big difference to the environment.”
‘Whitney the Wasteater and the Wrong Bite is available via the website now, offering families, schools, and libraries a playful introduction to recycling and a real-world demonstration of circular economy in action.
