Recycling and Reusing: A Report by the School Council, May 2008
The School Council and two representatives from Year 1 and Reception decided to walk around the school building and outside environment to look at ways to promote ‘Reusing and Recycling’. Here are the areas identified and outcomes:
Overfilled bins:
During term time too many parents are using the school bins to get rid of waste from lunchboxes that should be taken home and disposed of with general household rubbish or recycled. Therefore, the Council would like to remind parents to use the recycling bins which are situated on the school grounds rather than filling up the wall mounted bins.
Bins directly outside the school gates:
The Council reported that the bins which are outside directly in-front of the school are often overflowing with rubbish which makes the entrance to the school look dirty and uninviting, therefore they would like to write to the Borough of Redbridge and using video evidence try to encourage them to empty the bins more often. They would also like the Borough to remind local householders about the importance of recycling.
What can the Council do about the Fruit Peel?
The Council reported that fruit peel which is on the playground floor often causes accidents and looks terrible. Gui was quick to point out that he had reminded children in Key Stage 1 to use the bins but this was not always working. Therefore, Rhea and Aria suggested that perhaps more appealing bins (Newsround reported on the success of a talking bin) could be researched and used around the school. Aria and Rhea will research more appealing bins and whether they would make a difference.
Compost bins:
Amy reminded the Council that Caterham (a local secondary school) are already using compost bins to combat this problem and that as a Council this is something they should look into doing. Amy will speak to Ms. Bunt about this area.
Waste paper:
Mr Betteridge spoke to Mrs Walters about the amount of paper (newsletters, letters, and advertisements) left in the playground on the ground at the end of the school day. Davina reminded the Council that parents could recycle their paper in our recycling bins if they wanted to, rather than leave it all over the ground. Aaron pointed out that perhaps parents needed to be reminded that they can request school letters via e-mail. Aaron will ask Ms. Brannan if the school could publicise this feature.
Recycling ink cartridges:
The Council looked at ways to recycle ink cartridges and the recycling box that is situated by the ICT bay. They would like to promote recycling ink cartridges to parents and carers; therefore they will speak to Mrs Skinner about the possibility of arranging for another box to be placed near the school office for parents to use.
Everybody is responsible:
The School Council spoke about some Year 5 children who were using ‘litter picker uppers’ to pick up and dispose of waste on the school field. Amy reminded everyone that it is unhygienic to pick other people’s rubbish up with your hands but she would be quite happy to pick up odd pieces of rubbish using the litter pickers. The council agreed that the litter pickers should be on hand for anyone to use in the office. Amy will speak to SLT about this and inform the Health and Safety Coordinator to see if this is possible.
Recycling Paper bins:
The Council spoke to Mr Dodd who reported that the recycling paper bins were always full in the school. Joshua reminded the Council about classes reusing paper from the bins for draft work. Aria told the Council that Mrs Hastings in the office makes her own note pads out of reused paper which she thought was a good idea.
James said that teachers should use this idea rather than lots of post it notes. He will try to encourage his own teacher to adopt this idea and will ask all reps from the School Council to encourage all teachers to trial the idea.
Recycling plastic bottles in the dining hall:
The School Council were very pleased with their efforts to encourage children to recycle plastic bottles in the hall after their lunch. The Council said that the recycling bins were nearly always full and that some children were taking their bottles home to be reused the next day which was very pleasing.
The Council were a little concerned that some of the water bottles left in classrooms over night were often put in the general waste bin. School Councillors will now make sure that any bottles left in classrooms would be collected and recycled by themselves on a daily basis.
The Council asked whether staff have a recycling bin in the staffroom. When informed that they did not the Council remarked that a recyling bin for bottles should be placed in the staffroom.
Looking after our environemnt is a job for all of us...
