Page 23 - Day of Action

5.1

Waste minimisation

Waste minimisation can be a very rewarding topic. Some local authorities charge a fixed rate for collecting The Eco-Schools objectives in this topic area are to:
As well as encouraging pupils to consider the wider waste, others charge in relation to the amount of
impacts of their buying habits, they can also discover waste produced. In these areas, minimising your waste • raise awareness of what schools can do to
the value in some types of waste. Schools may also can save you money. Some types of waste, aluminium minimise waste going to landfill
see direct benefits such as reduction in waste disposal cans for example, contain valuable raw materials that • reduce, reuse and recycle waste whenever it is
costs. can easily be recycled. You may be able to make money practicable
for the school by selling used cans. • help schools appreciate the financial as well as the
Monitoring the amount of waste a school creates, environmental benefits of waste minimisation and
while also taking steps to minimise this amount, Reducing single-use plastic can be taken up as a recycling activities
takes time, effort and the cooperation of the whole school challenge. Actions can be developed to reduce • work with the local community in raising
school. However, having this knowledge can be really items such as drinks bottles, cups and lids, plastic awareness and facilitating waste minimisation
empowering and decisions can be made to bring about bags, food packaging, straws, cutlery, stirrers and crisp whenever possible
real differences. packets. • help pupils, parents and teachers to understand
that by minimising their waste they are
To work out how best to minimise the amount of waste A large percentage of school waste is food. Although a contributing to the National waste minimisation
your school produces, firstly consider what comes into reduction in the food waste you produce is the priority, strategy
your school. Reducing waste may involve reviewing the a great way to deal with your food waste and recycle at
various resources your school buys, cutting down or the same time is to compost it.
finding alternatives.
Compost heaps are useful resources for school. As
If you can’t reduce it, can you reuse it? There will be well as providing a free source of fertiliser for the
many items you can almost certainly reuse like paper school grounds, they provide plenty of opportunities
and packaging, envelopes and cardboard boxes. Can for science-related activities. Alternatively, investigate
the waste be recycled? Contact your local authority or if your local authority offers a food waste collection
recycling organisations to find out about local facilities service for your school. Complete the Waste Minimisation section of the
and services. Lastly, remember refusing is also an Environmental Review
option. We can refuse to use items if we don’t need
them e.g. plastic straws.
Let’s go