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Educate children about plastic waste

Education really is key, so ensure that you discuss the importance of recycling with your class.

The most effective way to reduce plastic waste in schools is through education on the 3 main elements of waste reduction: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Teachers should be encouraged to model sustainable behaviours at school such as the use of reusable coffee cups. Time should be dedicated to educating pupils, whether through talks, presentations or educational videos, every little helps! Even detentions could be used more positively by getting students involved with litter picking or creating posters to encourage behaviour change.

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Make it easier to recycle

Eliminating all plastic waste will be difficult, but recycling bins will allow you and your class to become more aware of how much plastic you are using and discarding.

Make it easy to recycle by placing recycling bins in sensible areas. Next to printers and photocopiers are good starts. Having them in all classrooms and in the staff rooms help too.

Use clear posters and signs to encourage everyone to use recycling bins, and use them correctly. Making them readily available and accessible makes it easier for them to dispose of their waste in the right way. This could mean that more waste is recycled and less makes its way into the ocean or landfill.

Labels with illustrations will help children identify and differentiate between the different recycling bins and they will know where the different recyclable waste materials should go.

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Choose reusables for class parties and events

Plastic plates, cups, and cutlery are at the centre of many class parties and events. Using reusable plates and cutlery is a good way to cut down on your plastic use in the classroom. For drinks, try juices and milk drinks in refillable jugs instead of in plastic cartons.

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Use a tote bag

Tote bags are simply the best way of carrying your belongings. They are easy to fold up and take anywhere with you, making for a practical addition to your school bag.

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Encourage less plastic in school lunches

Avoid bringing in pre-packaged food and instead, make you own lunch and bring it to work in a lunchbox. Make your lunches the night before, or prepare your meals for the entire week to save time.

To cut down your plastic use even more, use reusable beeswax wraps or reusable sandwich wraps instead of cling film. Also, consider carrying a spoon or fork (or spork!) in your bag or keeping cutlery in your desk at work to avoid having to use plastic cutlery.

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Use a reusable water bottle

Say goodbye to single-use plastic bottles! Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic use and save money too.

Encourage pupils to fill up their reusable bottles and put them in their school bag as part of their morning routine.

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Schools, the place where children will spend the majority of their waking hours, can produce large quantities of plastic waste to keep up with the demands of school life. Wasted items include stationary, plastic cutlery and drinking cups, plastic-containing wipes, and gloves for cleaning the classrooms.

Since the pandemic, schools have also used a significant number of single-use, disposable masks and are cleaning more frequently.