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Reduce waste at school

We offer a range of services to schools and education providers to assist with waste reduction.

There’s a lot of waste that comes out of a classroom daily that can easily be recycled or composted. By learning about reuse, repurpose, and repair and setting up good waste separation systems you can achieve a range of benefits for your school, including reducing costs and creating positive learning experiences for students.

New Waste Education school units available in Tauranga 

Tauranga City Council now offers two new waste education units for Years 3-4 (Remarkable Recycling) and Years 5-6 (Rethinking Waste). Delivered over two in-class lessons (one teacher-led, one facilitator-led), these units focus on reducing, reusing, recycling, and raising awareness of waste’s environmental impact, especially on Papatūānuku (Earth Mother). Students each receive a workbook to support their learning and will develop critical thinking and decision-making skills, and improve their knowledge on recycling in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Both units have been developed with qualified education specialists and are aligned with the current New Zealand Curriculum. Across the units they cover Science, and Social Science, as well as encouraging collaboration and problem-solving. Students will investigate waste issues, explore environmental impacts, and develop critical thinking and decision-making skills. 

How to book a unit 

Both units are free to Tauranga schools and are available for primary school students in Years 3-4 and 5-6.   

Remarkable Recycling brochure - Years 3-4 (7.3mb pdf) Rethinking Waste brochure - Years 5-6 (7.3mb pdf)

Follow the link below, let us know your details, and you will be connected with one of our specialist facilitators.

Book a waste education unit

Zero Waste Education

Schools and preschools in Tauranga city can book the award winning Zero Waste Education programme offering units to pre-schoolers aged 3-5 and students in years 1–8. All units are delivered by a Zero Waste education specialist teacher and are free to schools thanks to funding from Tauranga City Council.

For more information or to book the programme for your school, visit the Zero Waste Education website. The programme can be tailored and timetabled to fit the needs of your school. 

Resource Wise Programme

Tauranga City Council runs the Resource Wise Programme, that supports schools with advice to reduce waste to landfill. To find out more information register your interest using our online form

Composting and worm-farming in schools

Does your school currently have a compost or worm farm system to deal with your food scraps? The Zero Waste Education programme includes a composting unit where students can build their very own mini worm farm as a learning tool. Alternatively, download our worm farm and composting factsheets.

Paper4trees

This programme encourages recycling of paper and cardboard by providing recycling bins (free of charge) for each classroom. Schools are rewarded with native plants or trees depending on how much paper is recycled in the school year. For more information or to sign up your school, visit the Paper4Trees website.

Waste reduction hints and tips for your school

  • Carry out a visual waste audit or assessment to determine waste composition (have a look in your bins and see what is in there!)
  • Develop a vision and set small, achievable goals to reduce waste.
  • Set up an Enviro or Green team of enthusiastic students or staff to champion. 
  • Create a litter free lunch policy for students and staff.
  • Set up photocopiers to print double sided as default and reuse scrap paper before recycling.
  • Set up a composting system to deal with food scraps or have a waste company collect for you.
  • Ask students to be responsible for collecting classroom recycling. 

It can really help if your staff and students know what items can be recycled at your school

Download our bin bay posters to display above your bins to help users make the right choice for their waste.

Bin bay posters

 

Related Information

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