Waste-saving activities to try

REDUCE

• Set your school printers and photocopiers to print double sided
• Have a scrap paper drawer in your classroom
• Ask office staff and parents to receive school correspondence by email rather than paper
• Introduce weekly/monthly/termly ‘waste free’ lunch days
• Set up a Waste Action Group to tackle waste in school
• Complete a waste audit to find out how much waste your school makes and see if you can cut down. Don’t forget to involve the school kitchen, caretakers and cleaners
• Encourage your class to write an article for the school newsletter outlining what your school is doing to reduce waste (and email us a copy!)

RE-USE

• Set up bins to collect left over arts/craft materials, display materials etc. for re-use
• Set up collections for reusable items such as textiles, mobile phones and printer cartridges
• Hold a bring and buy/swap shop/ sale for old uniform unwanted clothes, shoes, toys etc.
• Replace all disposable drinks bottles and cups with reusable alternatives
• If your school is having a clear out, advertise unwanted furniture to families in your newsletter or on swapping sites like Freecycle or Freegle
• Take items for re-use at charity shops or your local Recycling Centre
• Give to and buy from charity shops – you might find a real gem!

RECYCLE

• Ask the school bursar to buy as many recycled products as possible e.g. paper, toilet rolls and pencils
• Check what you can recycle at school with your local authority or refuse contractor
• Arrange a school assembly on recycling
• Recruit recycling monitors from each class.
• Incorporate recycling into school events e.g. recycling bins, reusable crockery at discos, performances, fetes etc.
• Make sure all school bins are clearly labelled for recycling, compost and non-recyclable only.
• Set up a display/ notice board to inform and promote what’s happening waste-wise in school.

COMPOST

• Set up a classroom composting scheme and collect food waste for composting
• Set up a kitchen and dining hall composting scheme and collect fruit and vegetable waste
• Investigate food waste digester systems for composting cooked food waste
• Start composting waste from your school garden
• Send us a photo of your finished compost/compost activities in use at school. Email us at waste.management@suffolk.gov.uk. 

RECOVER

• Investigate how an Energy From Waste Facility operates
• Debate the advantages and disadvantages of Energy From Waste compared to landfill with your class
• Plan a visit to the Energy From Waste facility for your class – there is a fabulous new visitor centre