Reduce & Reusing & Recycling
Ideas for getting started:
- Talk about waste in class and importance of reducing, reusing and recycling
- Identify different sorts of school waste and sort it into special bins for recycling: paper, plastics, cans, tetra paks, e-Waste, food scraps
- Use reusable containers for food and drinks. Avoid single use wrappers plastic bottles and plastic bags.
- Use both sides of paper.
- Recycle whenever possible: paper, plastics, batteries, food scraps.
- Students can measure how much waste has been recycled in display their findings in graphs and charts. (See Conducting a School Waste Audit module)
- Recycling programs can be extended to include waste from the wider community.
- Select monitors in the school to ensure everyone in the school community is trying to reduce waste. The school may have leaders or a team of students who lead waste management within the school and also reach out to the school community in the playground, visiting classes, at assemblies or making videos to upload for the school website.
- The student leaders also communicate what is happening using noticeboard and newsletters. Display photos and graphs to show progress of the projects to the school community.
Examples in schools around the world
The following list of schools features examples of sustainability practices which are part of school programs around the world.
Generally, these schools aim to achieve a Whole School Approach; the school community integrating sustainability into their daily programs and school life.
These examples highlight some of the outstanding but achievable practices. Projects do not have to be on a large scale to be effective.
Ghana: “Nationwide Waste Education Campaign”
18 schools across Ghana in Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi:
Recycle Up Ghana’s “Nationwide Waste Education Campaign” commenced in 18 partner schools across three regions of Ghana.
Its overarching goal is the implementation of waste reduction, source segregation and recycling practices into the standard educational curriculum in Ghanaian schools.
The NWEC has developed a waste handbook for the Ghanaian standard education curriculum highlighting the need for proper waste management, plastic reduction and recycling.
Schools (students and staff) have already collected nearly 12,400 kg of plastic in 2 years.
Thailand: Waste-Free Community
Ban Map Ta Phut School, Wat Chak Lookya School and Wap Map Challut School, Rayong Province, Thailand
As part of a pilot project called “Waste-free Community” run by SCG Chemicals, these schools and their communities (school, households and temples) adopted a practice model of “maximising resource, separating waste and proper disposal”. The students learnt in class about waste management and then practised their new knowledge at school.
The schools have set up “stations” specialising in different types of waste such as “Milk Pouches Save the World station” where plastic milk pouches are recycled. The students wash, cut and collect their milk pouches which are sent for recycling to make chairs and planters. Water from pouch washing is then used for the school vegetable garden. The students also collect and sell plastic bottles and cups to raise funds for their school.
India: Ashkar School
Assam, India
Recycling plastic into eco-bricks
Students and their families bring plastic waste to school which is then used to in a recycling program where it is turning into eco-bricks.
The community benefits because school fees are now paid by bringing in plastic waste.
Also, less plastic is now being burnt, decreasing toxins and creating healthier air.
India: Nand Vidya Niketan School
Jamnagar, India
Recycling bottles to make art objects
This school is part of the Eco-school network. It has student eco committee which has teacher involvement, and has conducted an environmental review and interviews with the local community.
From the information gathered, activities were planned as part of the Eco Waste Management Program, (EcoWaM).
Planned activities are linked to the school curriculum. One example is creating art objects and decorations for Diwali.
Australia: Camdenville Public School
New South Wales, Australia
“Food Scrap Friday”
The school collaborates with the local community garden to assist in a food waste reduction program. Every Friday the local community brings food scraps to school to be added to the compost in the community garden.
The students assist by bringing food scraps to school and collecting leftover scraps from school lunches. They have a food scraps bucket in every classroom. The garden is situated in the school so the scraps are quickly taken there to be weighed and added to compost bins.
The students also count and add the weight of the scraps so that a record is kept of the amount of food being kept from landfill and recycled instead.
India: ASN Secondary Public School
Delhi, India
Waste Management Program
Students monitor and record waste consumption at their school and outline waste management plans for households.
The school has run a multi-layer single use plastic (MLP) collection drive from homes, collaborating with the Safari Bank for sustainable waste disposal.
The students have made a podcast called “ASN Speaks for Sustainability”, which was broadcast to 32 schools of Dehli NCR during the Mega Litter-less Drive.
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United Kingdom: St Mary’s School
Colchester, UK
“Trashion Shows”
Students take old clothes and redesign them into new garments. These new clothes are exhibited in fashion (Trashion) shows.
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Guatemala: Caj Sya’ School
The Story of Slidasaurus Rex, dinosaur playground made of recycled materials
The idea for the playground came from the school children’s drawings when asked what their dream playground would look like.
This playground was constructed with local partner Ancris Babezas to the design of Playground Ideas, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in sustainable playground designs.
Playground Ideas is part of Global Play Alliance, a group of open-source organisations working collaboratively to provide playgrounds for children.
Kiribati: Temwanoku Primary School and Abaunamou Primary School
South Tarawa, Kiribati
Reducing plastic use
Working with the Government of Kiribati, Environment and Conservation Division
Their “Clean School Program” and “Plastic Free Schools Initiative” is reducing the use of plastic bags and ice bags (used for ice blocks) in schools by adopting the use of reusable food containers and utensils.
Thailand: Bangkok Patana School
Bangkok, Thailand
Phasing out plastic
The Student Environmental Committee at Patana School have decided to phase out the sale of single plastic bottles at school. Instead, students and staff bring their own reusable bottles.
They are educating the school community about appropriate waste disposable and have instituted a recycling bin system. Students also participate in beach clean ups, removing large amounts of plastic from the shore and reefs. .
Indonesia: Schools in the Banda Islands
Banda Sea, Maluku Province, Indonesia
Since 2012, as part of a municipal waste management program, school students lead the community by not using single use cups, plates and cutlery.
They have switched to reusable only and are leading their community in making this change. This program is funded by the German company Banda SEA e.V
Australia: St Therese School
Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Reducing plastic packaging
Students are encouraged to bring their lunch to school in reusable containers, not disposable wrappers. They have a ”Nude Food Day” every Friday when students bring food completely wrapper free. They are also taught about making choices when shopping; choosing food that is not in single use packaging.
These messages are reinforced widely in class, assemblies, newsletters and notices around the school. St Therese School has received awards for its action on sustainability.