“Swap sandwich bags and cling wrap for reusable containers, beeswax wraps or silicone sandwich bags that can be washed and re-used.”
“Swap sandwich bags and cling wrap for reusable containers, beeswax wraps or silicone sandwich bags that can be washed and re-used.”
The new school term is a great opportunity to start the sustainability conversation with young students. Here are some simple and practical projects you can explore:
Improving lunchboxes
Cleanaway Education Officer Michelle Murrell recently shared some simple changes to make school lunchboxes sustainable.
“Swap sandwich bags and cling wrap for reusable containers, beeswax wraps or silicone sandwich bags that can be washed and re-used,” she suggests, pointing out that otherwise, using single-use plastic sandwich bags can send around 180 bags sent to landfill per child, per year.
The same goes for disposable water bottles, which requires 3 litres of water and 250ml of oil to produce a single water bottle containing 1 litre of water.
Food waste is especially concerning, as large amounts are being thrown away – wasting not just the resources to grow and produce the food, but also the money on purchasing it in the first place. Michelle suggests involving children in the process of making recess and lunch and letting them choose what to eat. This hands-on approach can “encourage them to spend the time eating the food and not throwing it away.”
Finally, she also points out that if food is coming home, stop sending any to school. Children will let you know if they need more food. As play time often follows eating time, children may decide to forfeit food for more play time, so consider packing food that’s quick and easy to eat.
What goes into the bin
The Australasian Recycling Label, introduced in 2018 to provide recycling information, can help spark conversations and discussions about packaging and help ensure the right materials go into the bin. Planet Ark has a comprehensive Educator’s Tool Kit to help educators and schools introduce this topic to students.
A waste audit is also an effective way to get students to think about what goes in a bin. It’s a practical approach that gets students thinking creatively about waste and its effect on the environment.
From trash to treasure
Creating meaningful artwork from discarded waste can also help students appreciate both their natural environment and kindle a love for sustainability. Activities such as Gympie’s recent “Junk for Junk” and Cleanaway’s Waste Warrior Challenges encourage creativity and heightened sensitivity to the effects of waste on the environment.
It sounds unusual, but worm farming is a novel way to teach students about sustainability while helping schools manage their organic waste, particularly food. Worm farms and compost heaps can get students thinking about where their food comes from and the effort it takes to grow them.
Contact us to learn more about making a sustainable future possible together for your students and school today.