Everyone knows (we hope) how important it is to get involved with recycling. And the sooner this message gets across, the better. That’s why we think it’s so important to get schools involved.
Like any large organisation, schools generate a lot of waste and spend a lot of money. Having a policy to encourage everyone to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle makes sense both environmentally and economically.
Schools should set a standard for the children to follow, so the first thing any school should do is look to itself.
For example, how much paper is wasted around your school each year? The paperless office is something that many businesses have been chasing for years; can your school manage it? And the paper you are using; it is recycled paper isn’t it?
What about the school canteen? School dinners are something that every parent has an opinion about. From a green perspective, you should be looking to reduce the amount of food that is wasted. We throw away far too much in this country so we would encourage you all to work hard at only buying in the food you need. If any of it must be thrown away, why not think about composting food waste instead?
A school composting scheme, recycling bins, and bottle banks are just a few of the ways schools can encourage their children to think green; we’ve really only scratched the surface. But what we’re trying to say is; it’s not just for lessons. Being green should be part of everyday life in your school.
Think about using recycled paper. Think about using chairs and desks made from recycled product. Think about setting up a scheme to reuse or recycle your old equipment. Make your whole school a green effort and the lessons will make much more sense to the kids. Show them it works instead of telling them
More information is available at http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/
