Schools, like many other institutions, create waste on a day to day basis. From food packaging to used paper, educating young people requires a lot of resources. It is estimated that the UK education sector produces upwards of 210,000 tonnes of waste every year. Schools carry the responsibility of not only reducing and recycling waste but also educating young people about how to be eco-conscious citizens who understand their role as custodians of the environment.
School Waste Disposal
Every school has a legal duty to ensure that an efficient school waste management system is in place, aiming to reduce, reuse and recycle. Increasingly, schools are being viewed as role models for eco-friendly waste management and this somewhat daunting responsibility must be addressed appropriately by every school.
We can help your school to reduce, reuse and recycle. We can provide you with an efficient school waste management system, providing you with the peace of mind that your waste management is in the hands of professionals.
Types of waste a school produces
Schools produce tonnes of waste without even realising. It is safe, easy and a great way to help the environment if you can implement an effective school waste management system. Some of the most common types of waste which schools produce are:
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Paper and card – from textbooks, workbooks, letters, printed and photocopied paper
Food – food waste from pupil’s lunch boxes and lunch provided by the catering facilities on site
Packaging – food packaging, new supplies packaging
General waste from rubbish bins around the school
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)– computers, tablets, interactive boards etc.
Sanitary
Plastic
Furniture
Glass
Food
School Waste Litter Bins
School waste comes in many different forms which are often the reason why many schools struggle with implementing an efficient school waste management system. Increasingly, schools are being viewed as role models for eco-friendly waste management. Consequently, it is essential that your school has an effective school waste management system in place.
Our expert waste management providers can implement a comprehensive waste management system for your school, providing you with ways to save money, time and resources, whilst aiding the environment.
Typical bins a school will use are;
1100L General waste bins
240L Food waste bins
240L Glass waste bins
1100L Cardboard bins / Mixed dry recycling
Dependant on the size of the school a larger capacity Roll-Off container might be used.
Why is it important to promote recycling in schools?
With thousands of young people entering through their doors each day, schools are at the forefront of the fight against waste and its damaging impact on the environment. Their influential role in the lives of young people means that they have the opportunity to teach young people habits that they will take out into the wider world when they are adults. The recycling habits that young people are taught in school will go with them into their places of work and into the homes that they build with their future families. The UK is working towards recycling at least 50% of household waste by the end of 2020. It’s an ambitious target, especially when it is difficult to change ingrained behaviours. The decreasing rate in the recycling of household waste is worrying, and suggests that the current adult population is unlikely to reach the target set. However, there is hope. If schools can educate young people about the importance of recycling and empower them to take responsibility for their environment, then such targets can not only be reached but also surpassed.
How can you promoting recycling in schools?
As with all forms of education, fostering a passion for the reasons behind behaviours is the key to creating sustainable habits. Making children curious about the world around them, the environment and its vast biodiversity is the foundation of promoting recycling in schools. With an understanding of how waste affects wildlife and the natural world, many young people become passionate about their responsibilities and are motivated to protect it by reducing waste. Embedding the promotion of recycling and responsible waste management into school curriculums ensures that all pupils are exposed to the topic, and also provides them with a way of exploring their personal response to it. Literacy activities offer the opportunity to write articles and letters as well as to discuss and debate the issue. Maths and science are the perfect vehicles for exploring the science and statistics behind how and why we recycle. For recycling to become a way of life in school, it needs to be a part of the day-to-day lives of young people.
What should consider when setting up a recycling scheme in school?
Before launching a recycling scheme in school, it is important to consider whether there are any resources needed. Bins, signage and clear labelling are all vital to the success of any recycling scheme, and making sure that these are present and placed in the correct areas will make a significant difference to pupils’ engagement in the scheme. As with all things concerning young people, the offer of fun and rewards will add to the success of a recycling scheme. Think about ways in which recycling could be incentivised. Perhaps consider linking the scheme to the school’s existing reward program in order to encourage pupils to form good habits.
Five ways to reduce waste in schools
• Serve food on plates rather than in takeaway boxes.
• Go paperless by communicating with parents and carers via email.
• Create a school ‘swap shop’ where pupils and parents can trade unwanted items.
• Replace traditional display boards with interactive screens.
• Create a school upcycling club.
School waste management – Bins, collection and recycling services
Our leading waste management services can provide your school with a uniquely tailored school waste management system, ensuring that your requirements are comprehensively met. Whether you require more bins and containers for the different types of waste you produce, or simply need more frequent collections of your waste, we will aim to meet your needs in the most efficient way possible.
We provide free bins to all schools, you only pay for collections.
School Waste Recycling
Paper and card make up at least a quarter of the waste which schools produce. Recycling paper and card can save your school time, money and resources, whilst giving your school the eco-friendly reputation it deserves. There are many different options that your school can take for an efficient school waste management system. If you require further assistance and advice, contact our professionals today for a free quote on 0800 211 8390.
