5 Steps
A successful Waste Wise School program involves the integration of curriculum and waste conscious school operations. The benefits are multi-facets: educational, environmental, and economical.
The following five stepped guide is modelled on EPA's Waste Education in Queensland (8.8mb) and Sustainability Victoria’s successful Waste Wise School Program which is now expanded into the Resource Smart Schools Waste Program.
Commitment
What is involved?
- Discuss with key stakeholders to identify the issues
- Form a task force or action group
- Review existing school policies in relation to waste
Outcomes
- Committed group of key people with clear understanding of the issues
- Adoption of an Environment Policy formally proclaiming the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability and education, notably through waste minimisation.
- Signing of a Letter of Commitment demonstrating the school’s commitment in incorporating Waste Wise principles in everyday school practices.
Remember
The Waste Hierarchy describes the principles of waste minimization and their level of importance — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. A school waste minimization plan should always seek to reduce or reuse waste prior to recycling.
Data and Information Gathering
What is involved?
- Surveys — teachers and students can develop and carry out surveys and assessments seeking information such as waste generation in everyday school operations, contamination in recyclable waste, litter composition, littering behaviour, etc. Click here to download survey.
- Audits - collect and sort waste materials provide important information in regard to volumes and types of waste, and the potential of recycling. Click here for a school waste audit form developed by Sustainability Victoria. When conducted at class levels, waste audits also provide excellent opportunities to raising awareness and analytical skills. Click here for an audit form designed for students.
- Mapping - use plans of the school, identify litter hot spots, sites of waste generation, and placement of waste and recycle bins
- Integrate the above activities into existing curricular, notably in maths and SOSE. Click here to curriculum linkages put together by Sustainability Victoria (3MB).
Outcomes
- Specific information based on which to develop an Action Plan
- Baseline data to measure the success of the program
- Raised awareness and interest on waste among participants
Develop a Waste Minimisation Action Plan
What is involved?
- Use the collected data / information to clarify and prioritize issues.
- Brainstorm on actions required to deal with the issues. Click here for a checklist of potential actions developed by Sustainability Victoria.
- Consider the logistics of the plan, including added responsibilities of key staff such as cleaners and ground staff, and any additional resources required.
- Set realistic goals, objectives and timeframes.
- When focusing on recycling, try using Brisbane City Council's automated Recycling Questionnaire - Action Plan.
Outcomes
- A Waste Minimisation Action Plan, with clear and realistic goals, objectives, activities, timeframe and targets, incorporating waste education with changes in school operations.
- Responsibilities and resource requirements are identified.
Implementation of the Action Plan
What is involved?
- Clearly informs the school community details of the Action Plan and the role of the community.
- Encourages students’ understanding and participation of the Action Plan through awareness activities (e.g. student jingles, awards, posters, presentations…).
- Assign key positions (e.g. recycling monitors, litter patrol).
- Elicits support from other stakeholders (e.g. P&C Groups).
- Publicize and promote the Action Plan through media releases.
- Check out Brisbane City Council's School Recycling Implementation.
Outcomes
- Process of waste and litter minimisation begun, and if implemented effectively, substantial results would follow.
- Environmental ethics among the school community strengthened.
Monitoring and Evaluation
What is involved?
- Regular audits, surveys and data collection for comparisons with baseline information. Check out Brisbane City Council's School Recycling Review and Monitor.
- Based on the above information, evaluate progress and effectiveness of the various interventions and the Action Plan as a whole.
- Consult and discuss with key people for feedback and suggestions.
- Review and revise the Action Plan periodically, incorporating the lessons learnt through the implementation, and new targets and opportunities.
Outcomes
Objective assessments of the effectiveness of the Action Plan, allowing an evolving Action Plan that brings closer the goal of Zero Waste.
