Rubbish and recycling
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Waste education for schools
Visit the new Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)
Visy's new 'state of the art' recycling facility has an in-class education
programme where students can learn about the benefits of recycling.
Read more >>
WasteWise schools
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Waterview School, a WasteWise
school where
children are wearing
outfits made from trash. |
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Towards zero waste in Auckland city
This programme encourages schools to cultivate sustainable practises and see waste as a resource.
The aim of this programme is to:
- reduce waste
- conserve natural resources
- reduce the need for landfill (tips)
- foster sustainable behaviour.
Schools on the programme are assisted by a facilitator over a period of two years. This is a stepping stone to the Enviroschools programme.
Places are limited so please contact us to register your interest.
E-newsletter
A quarterly e-newsletter is produced with information about waste and what's happening in our schools.
To receive this please simply subscribe to our email update - Waste education for schools
E-waste
Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste types. E-waste
contains many toxic materials which are harmful to the environment when
sent to the landfill.
E-waste includes:
- computer hardware
- laptops
- monitors
- networking equipment
- scanners
- keyboards
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- mice
- speakers
- ink jet cartridges
- games consoles and
- mobile phones
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E-waste does not include whiteware, televisions or photo copiers.
For a list of businesses that will take working computers and refurbish them for further use in the community, search the
Yellow pages website.
RCN & Associates will fully recycle old computers including old monitors (CRT's). Visit the RCN website
for more information.
For information about future collections and disposing of or recycling e-waste you can visit the e-day website,
or view more Re-use and recycling options.
Enviroschools
This programme encourages schools to think and act sustainably. Students develop skills, knowledge and understanding through planning, designing and
creating a sustainable school. Council supports this programme through a facilitator. However, places are limited and you may go onto a waiting list.
For further information contact us or
visit the Enviroschools website.
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Glendowie students next to their new
worm farm from WormsRus. |
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Fruit in Schools programme
The Fruit in Schools (FIS) programme is funded by the Ministry of Health and encourages healthy eating by providing students with a piece of fruit each
day. Read more about the FIS programme on the Ministry of Health website.
Funding has been provided for schools participating in the FIS programme through their local community board for a purpose built worm farm. If you are
eligible for one and would like to follow this up please contact us.
Read more about worm farming
Poo at the Zoo and you
An environmental education programme for primary school classes. Students can learn about waste management and recycling at Auckland's Zoo.
For further details visit the Auckland Zoo website.
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Otahuhu Intermediate students doing
a waste audit. |
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Waste audit
Schools can examine what waste they are creating by doing a waste audit. A number of days waste is collected from the school and sorted and
weighed. Results provide useful baseline information for making changes and measuring progress.
Contact us
and speak to the Waste Education Officer for further information or assistance.
Kerbside recycling
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| Recycling bin |
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As part of the new recycling service which starts on the 30 June 2008, all primary, intermediate and secondary schools
are eligible for a recycling collection at no cost to the school. Bins will be allocated as follows:
- Primary and intermediate schools - one blue-lidded recycling wheelie bin per 100 students
- Secondary schools - one blue-lidded recycling wheelie bin per 75 students
Schools will be notified of the delivery date and provided with additional information about the service at a later date.
Please note: this is a kerbside collection service and any exceptions to this need to be advised to council.
Schools which already receive the current recycling collection using the blue
crates will be able to keep them after 30 June should they want to.
See Recycling for lots more information about what can go into your recycling bin.
Contact us if your school would like to use this recycling service.
Ideas for being waste-less around school
Below are some key ways for schools to minimise waste:
The cafeteria
Food preparation scraps, plastic and cardboard packaging, drink containers, lunch leftovers, uneaten sandwiches, crisp packets, you name it, it's
most likely to be found in the cafeteria rubbish bin. Luckily, the cafeteria is an excellent place to think about the whole process of waste
minimisation - from procurement, to use of food, through to disposal.
Have a look in your rubbish bin and see what can be eliminated through a change in what you buy in for the cafeteria. For example, organic food
wrapping, like banana skins, can be composted - unlike crisp packets which cannot be recycled.
- do away with the need for water bottles and plastic drinking cups by installing a drinking fountain
- if you have a wide variety of packaging to recycle, simplify the process by only buying in items with one type packaging eg PET plastic drink
bottles (which are easily recycled) instead of having to deal with plastic and aluminium and tetra packs and glass
- wasteful use of resources just doesn't happen with rubbish, it can also happen with electricity and water. Think about how you use energy and
water, and carry out actions to reduce the amount you use - ensure equipment is not left on unnecessarily over night, learn to
be conservative with water and put aerators on tap fittings.
Anywhere that there is food preparation carried out will be an excellent source of material for the worm farm or compost bin.
See More information on minimising waste in schools
Project ideas
For ideas of how to incorporate waste education into your schools programme
see Project ideas for schools
The Worm Story
Kids and worms just seem to go together somehow. WormsRus has been teaching people of all ages about the benefits of vermiculture
(worm farming). Visit their website to find out about how they can help your students create
a happy worm farm and waste reduction.
See also Worm farming for more information about setting up a worm farm.
Fact sheet
Composting - organic waste and composting.
Look in the rubbish bins of a normal New Zealand school and you will likely find that nearly three quarters of the contents could be either recycled
or turned into compost. Over a school year, that's an awful lot of waste that could be diverted from landfill.
What is the problem?
Our garden and cafeteria rubbish is perfect for composting, but it is rotten in the landfill. As it breaks down it produces methane, a potent
greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and liquid known as leachate that can pollute our seas and waterways.
Other disposal methods also cause problems - putting food scraps down the sink waste disposal unit places pressure on the sewer system and treatment
plant, whilst incinerating waste causes air pollution and is prohibited by a National Environmental standard.
Not only does getting rid of this material cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars, it also means we are wasting the valuable nutrients that organic
material contains and that our soil needs.
If you have a cafeteria, lunchroom, playing fields or gardens at your school, you have a great opportunity to reduce the amount of waste you send
to landfill by either composting, setting up a worm farm, or starting a Bokashi composting bin. Which would be right for you? Check out these links for
more information:
Note: you can use your browsers back button to come back to this page!
Waste minimisation manual
A guide to minimising waste at school. Towards zero waste in Auckland city.
Collecting and disposing of waste in Auckland is becoming increasingly difficult because:
- we are using our resources at an unsustainable rate and our landfills are filling up fast
- our landfills are no longer local - Auckland city's waste is taken to Hampton Downs landfill in the Waikate
- environmental protection measures at landfill sites are increasing
- the transportation costs are high.
This manual has been designed as a quick reference to assist you with waste minimisation at school. It will also provide you with the opportunity
to involve the entire school in a positive programme of action.
How can your school help?
By using this manual and advise from Auckland City Council you can decide what options you want to take to reduce waste at your school.
You can download the full manual below in PDF format:
A waste minismisation manual (530kb PDF)
To view PDFs download Acrobat Reader from the
Adobe website. Further help on how to view PDFs.
Other useful resources
Updated September 2008
