Can Effective School Waste Management Change The Way Kids Look At This Planet?

Posted by Timeless Issues on February 6th, 2020

Studies claim that 25% of school waste consists of paper and 50% of food which are recyclable and compostable respectively. If done in every school this could be a game-changer for the earth crisis. Not just that, such behavior would also ensure values like empathy, companionship, and collaboration among students and teachers alike while reducing the waste dramatically in the most eco-friendly recyclable way. A simple habit that holds the potential to change the way we look at the world if carried out by each and every school.

Not just that, a lot of books that are left while dispensing or are used but in good shape can be generously handed over to the needy by systematic donation camps at school. Not just books but also clothes, basic stationery and much more. While doing so not only are the needy helped and the financial burden is cut out on them, but the kids back at school learn the religion of humanity and are made to know and realize what true happiness of giving and sharing looks like.

The importance of 3R's reduce, reuse and recycle have mostly been confined to the textbooks. When given the opportunity to be used by the students in real, this path to recycling and donations and composting can indeed turn out to be a global monumental achievement. In doing so, every child is given a choice to work towards a greener future that they and their upcoming generations would surely want to be a part of.

The steps to proper waste management at schools.

• Paper Recycling

A major type of waste with 25% in most schools, they can be easily recycled and reused and can dramatically decrease deforestation.

The paper wastes include:

Copy paper

Computer paper

School letterhead

File folders

Paper grocery bags

Notebook paper

Colored paper

• Books, stationary and clothes donations.

children are known to have many books that are left in great condition. Instead of dumping them, they can be given out to the needy who would be massively benefited from this scheme. Same with clothes in good conditions and stationary.  It also helps kids to become more cheerful and giving as they begin to understand the real truth behind happiness.

• Plastic recycling

Be it cups, plastic spoons, utensils, forks, packaging, food covers, carry bags, the amount of plastic influx in schools is increasing every day. If kids are made to dump all the plastic including the tiniest of wrappers from cafeterias in a separate trash can and this is made to recycle, not only would the waste management become an easy affair but also the trash reduction could lead to a mass recovery of the earth from global plastic pollution. Because it all begins at schools.

• Composting

With over 50% of school waste being food, schools can effectively compost much of its left out food with help from the students and the cooperation from the cafeterias. With composters, it can be effectively done. Food waste, coffee granules, fruit and vegetable cuttings, etc. can be put in the composter and kept away from landfills.