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NEW WASTE SYSTEM WORKING!!

Just a quick update on our new “RUBBISH” system. We must be doing something right because the cleaners have reported that they are putting out less green bins each week. We have reduced the number of green general waste wheelie bins that go to land fill from 33 per week to 21 last week and 20 bins the week before. That reduction of bins means that there was a lot less rubbish sent to the local dump.

We are starting to see a lot more recycling happening in the classrooms. Teachers and students are really getting behind the new system.

What can you do to help? Next term we will be running a “LITTER FREE LUNCH” competition for the classes. Some classes like 6M have already taken this on board and students earn points each time they have a litter free lunch box.

This has lead to some very creative lunch boxes. Instead of plastic wrap, sandwiches, biscuits, and cut fruit are put into containers. We are seeing a lot more snap lock bags, where the children can eat the contents and then take the bag home again to be filled up again the next day. I know my sink now has a set of bottles that I use to dry the bags after washing. Some parents are even using the snap lock bags for chips and biscuits – buying a large packet and filling it rather than buying the pre packaged ones that have packets that get thrown into the black general waste bin. This is a far more economical way of buying them, and the children tell me they get more in their packet than in the pre packaged ones.

We are still hoping to reduce the amount of food scraps that we generate each day. There is a lot of food that is thrown away, and not just peels and cores. Some classes are lucky enough to have someone take their food scraps to feed the chickens. If you have chickens and would like a bucket of food scraps daily please contact your child’s class, or the school to arrange it.

Hopefully, when the permaculture garden is up and running we will be able to use more food scraps for composting and for our worm farm. Some classes are hoping to have a compost bin in a garden near their classroom so they can help to improve the condition of the soil and plants around the school.

We are glad to see that our new system is working. We are filling up our 12 recycling bins very quickly each week. One problem that we still have is the Tetra pack “poppers”. They are not recyclable as they are lined with silver foil. The packets carry the recycle symbol but this is to show that they are made FROM recycled goods. With a little more education I am sure we will be able to get them into the correct bin. It is great to see the children so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about using the new bins. The year 6 and 7 students who are helping with talks and demonstrations on parades are wonderful teachers to the other students. Hopefully this shared knowledge will go with them into the community and we will have environmentally aware adults for the future.

I look forward to sharing more good news with you in the future.

TERRI-ANNE HARRIS

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