St David’s RC Primary School in Newport has successfully reduced the amount of waste going to landfill through a comprehensive school-wide project. By implementing a new bin system and educating students about the importance of recycling, the school has made a significant impact on its environment and community.
For our project we have looked at reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. We decided as a Senedd Group that we were going to look after the planet and our futures. We knew that there was a new law coming into place in April 2024 regarding this, therefore, we wanted to make it a priority. We first introduced recording sheets to each class for them to identify how much waste was in their class bins. Then, we held a school assembly to introduce the new bin system we have bought. As a committee we have been keeping track of this.
Using our environmental review, and walking around the school, we noticed that the bins had a variety of different items in, and some items were in the correct bins. As part of our lessons in Y6 we looked at the effect of waste on the environment and the importance of recycling. From this, our Eco Senedd group decided that they wanted to focus on waste management in school.
Before the project started, we had 20 litres bins and each class produced roughly three bags a week. So that is 20 litres x 3 bags = 60 litres x 7 classes = 300 litres of waste a week!
Since the new bins, we have communal bins in two phases now (no bins in classroom) 20 litre bag x 1.5 bags = 30 litres x 5 days = 150 litres
150 litre divided by 20 litre = 7.5 bags less each week!
In a school year that will be a saving of 1425 bags of waste! That is half of what we were sending!
We have celebrated success by rewarding classes, who have the least waste with rewards. We have introduced new bins around the school – highlighting which items need to be included in each.
We have noticed that before the new bins we were producing three black bags of waste, roughly, per classroom, per week. Since the project, and with waste being sorted, there are half a black bag of waste per phase (two phases) a day.
I think what the children have worked on this year is great – they have really been engaged and worked hard to achieve the outcomes they have! L Shepherd Eco Lead
L Shepherd Eco Lead
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