Green-Schools Introduction to the Litter and Waste Theme - PowerPoint Presentation

Green-Schools Introduction to the Litter and Waste Theme Litter and Waste Seminar

An Taisce EEU

The aim of the Green-Schools Programme ‘Is to increase students’ and participant awareness of environmental issues through classroom studies and to transfer this knowledge into positive environmental action in the school and also in the wider community’

Green-Schools Ireland International Environmental Programme Award Scheme Holistic Ethos Whole-School Action Long Term Programme

Partnership

GREEN-SCHOOLS IN IRELAND 3,781 schools registered Over 95% of all schools in Ireland 72,825 teachers 882,054 pupils 3,389 schools awarded

Phases Phases

Green-Schools Themes Green- Schools Themes 1:Litter and Waste 2: Energy 6: Global Citizenship Litter and Waste 5: Biodiversity 4: Travel 3: Water 7: Global Citizenship Energy 8: Global Citizenship Marine Environment

2017/2018 In Review

Implementing the Programme – The 7 Steps! 2. Environmental Review 1. Green-Schools Committee 5. Curriculum Work 3. Action Plan 4. Monitoring and Evaluation 6. Informing and Involving 7. Green Code

Does Green-Schools Make a Difference? Raising awareness is KEY!

2016/2017 In Review

Remember... Situation will vary from school to school Green-Schools is a structured but FLEXIBLE programme

Why is Litter and Waste so Important? Litter: ruins the appearance of our towns and countryside.is a health hazard and may attract rats and flies which can spread disease.LA spend millions every year on cleaning the streets of Ireland – an enormous amount of money that could be spent on better things.Can harm or kill wildlife.Waste 367kg of waste is generated per person here ( 19.8 million tonnes per year) (EU average 438kg) 5 operational landfill sites compared with 25 in 2010 Waste to energy incinerators operational since 2011 40% recycling rate

Step 1: Green-Schools Committee Essential: Students (N.B. student led) Co-ordinator Optional: Teaching Staff & Non-teaching staff Principal Caretaker Parents & Community Members Tips: Represent all classes Sub committees Delegate responsibility of notice board to a different class each week, enforcing whole school involvement Award best classroom with ‘green cup/cert’ Meet regularly and keep notes! Remember! Whole school involvement! Eg : St Cronan’s Sec. school, N. Tipp. 58 pupils, teachers, parent rep & community rep.

Identify and quantify the initial situation. how? Essential Actions: Litter and Waste Checklists (online)Identify litter black spotsWaste Audit (online): - What is going into the bins? - How much waste? Assess levels of awareness (Recommended) Create a map of litter black spots (Recommended) What and how much is being recycled (Recommended) Step 2:Environmental Review Check out your Litter and Waste Handbook for an example of an Environmental Review!

Map of Litter Black Spots Recommended Actions

Step 3 Action Plan Two overall objectives 1) Increase levels of awareness2) Practical improvements Action Person/Group Responsible Time Frame Carry out a Biodiversity Awareness Survey to examine the level of awareness among students and staff Green-Schools Committee Early to mid September Habitat Map the school grounds and do up a list of the biodiversity in our school Green-Schools Committee Early to mid September

Step 3: Action Plan Use findings from Environmental Review to set realistic, quantifiable targetsTable formatPerson/group responsibleTimeframeOngoingDisplay on Notice Board

Step 3: Action Plan ActionPerson/Group ResponsibleTimeframeProgress Made Action Day : Litter Attack Whole School Jan 18 th 2017 Achieved Set up Green Schools Notice Board Committee Jan 2017 Achieved Weekly monitoring of waste going to land fill & recycling. Repeat Environmental Review See Rota Feb 2016 and April 2017 Achieved Reduce paper usage by 50% Whole School April 2016 In progress Include Recycling Tips on our Newsletter Committee April 2015 Continuous Creation of their own environmentally friendly cleaning products Rang 2 March 2017 Action Day : Recycled Paper Dress up Senior Classes May 18 th 2017 Achieved Raise Awareness through environmental activities e.g. art , videos , games , chats Junior Classes Every Friday Continuous

Examples

Developed in parallel with Action Plan Carried out by students when and where possible, How? Litter wardens/fine/detentions/positive incentivesLunch box and bin monitoring systemsRegularly revise action plan Use photos, bills, charts, eco diaries, surveys, graphs, traffic light system; NB: Not just results but how you achieved them! Step 4:Monitoring and Evaluation Red Light : Over 15 pieces of litter found ... Orange : 5-10 pieces Green : 5 pieces or less

Step 4:Monitoring and Evaluation Graph & display your results Publicise work and results Keep records of everything!!! Celebrate !!! June 2016

Step 5: Curriculum Work Geography Promote personal development and well-being Develop citizenship and a sense of personal and social responsibility Promote communication, co-operation and working with others Encourage media awareness Develop a critical understanding of environmental issues at local and global level Study of human and natural environments (land use, sustainable management of resources, etc.) Discussion & exploration of environmental issues; pollution & litter; solutions & possible actions Maps/graphical skills SPHE/CSPE

Step 5: Curriculum Work Maths Provide real life situations for mathematical analysis (graphs/charts) Science Art Develop a scientific approach to problem solving Encourage responsibility for the environment Posters, murals, fashion to aid environmental awareness

Step 5: Curriculum Work Languages CPSE (Secondary)Geography ‘Pick up your litter & let the place glitter’ Essay topics, new Green Code, as Gaeilge/French. Promotes public speaking etc. Recognised as a suitable Action project for Junior Cert Mapping the school grounds, discussion & exploration of environmental issues e.g. pollution & litter

Step 5: Curriculum Work Home Economics WoodworkHistory Examine where our food & textiles come from Investigate ways of reducing/reusing etc . Design & construct bins/signs/bird tables/boxes Examine changes throughout time

Step 6. Informing and Involving Informed through: - Newsletters, texts and emails to families, GS notice board, photographs, local newspapers, action day, participation, reading books, games, committee meetings, programme actions, talks, Posters/art displays, videos etc.Families involved in: - Setting up bins, putting up notice boards, taking photos, accompanying young students when visiting recycling plant and day of action, helping with Green Code songs and logo, art, GS committee, Parents/ grandparents (e.g. Eco Ed) etc.Students involved in : - Monitoring waste and litter wardens, making arts and crafts from waste material, sorting litter and waste on a daily basis and putting them into the correct bins, GS committee, story books (bringing in & creating), creation of graphs and maps etc.

National Spring Clean-Qualifies as Action Day for Litter & Waste flag Day of Action Raise awareness of Green-Schools within and beyond your school Involve the wider community Open Day, Clean-up, Fashion Show, Concert Tidy Towns National Spring Clean Waste free Wednesdays www.nationalspringclean.org

Aim: To state the objectives that demonstrate the school’s commitment to environmentally-friendly actions Green Code Competition Rap/song/poem Code of Conduct Display on Green-Schools Notice Boards

Health and Safety Policies Supervision GlovesBe aware of dangerous areas and insurance policies Health and Safety

Prevention Minimisation Re-Use Recycling Energy Recovery Disposal Most Favoured Least Favoured

Prevention and Minimisation Double-sided printingSpell-check the documentAvoid using disposable products, purchase durable goods rather than short life ones – e.g. Rechargeable batteries, low energy light bulbsTry to repair items rather than throwing them awayLunch boxes

Old bottles and jars –storage Yoghurt pots, milk cartons – planters, wellies ... Scrap Box for paper Envelopes (re-use labels) Art Reuse

Recycling https://recyclinglistireland.ie Any local collections – mobile phones, ink cartridges, stamps (for Charities)

Recycling

What can I compost at my school? Anything that once lived or grew can be composted!Shredded paper All fruit and vegetables wasteTea bags/ coffee groundsPencil paringsKitchen paper Compostable nappies Composting Why compost? Helps the environment by reducing waste Cheap, easy & saves on waste charges! Good for the garden-returns nutrients to the soil, conserves boglands

1.Use quality MATERIALS (Greens & Browns) 2.Create an adequate VOLUME for the pile3.Maintain consistent MOISTURE 4.Ensure good AIR circulation The 4 rules of Composting

Case Study Lunch box initiative Wormery and a composter: skins, peels, tea-bags, withered flowers from nature tables, used shredded paper, left over food Litter Wardens kept a close eye on classroom, yard and general school litter-Announcements at assembly Recycling ( i ) old phones (ii) used batteries (iii) Christmas stamps (iv) used ink cartridges  Convent Primary school, Co.Cork Christmas Tree decorations from re-used materials. Surveys frequently carried out on ( i ) Litter, waste reduction figures ( (ii) Lunch box use At the end of every School Year a Green Schools Newsletter typed on green recycled paper is sent home to the parents informing them about the many Reduce, Reuse, Recycle practices which were adopted in our school during the year.

Case study 2 St. Marys Primary School, Co. Offaly 587 pupilsCommittee –13 staff and 30 pupils , meet every fortnight Environmental Review – internal and external waste audits, Formulated the results into graphs and charts Action plan; recycle paper, batteries, mobile phones, art materials, ink cartridges,  stamps, shoe boxes and clothes. Each class is designated a different day to pick up litter in the school grounds with pickers ensuring a litter free zone. New lunch policy to reduce packaging waste, lunch waste is brought home in pupil’s lunchbox Action Day - everyone wore green Each Child planted a crocus bulb A recycling corridor was formed. From May 2005 to October 2006 the following results were found; Overall a decrease of 75% in waste production in the school!   4 bags of rubbish per day down to 1   20 bags of landfill a week down to 6

Application Process Online Application Form-December 1stRecommendationsAssessment visit(March 16th 2019) National Awards Ceremony (May) Flag raising ceremony -Everyone involved -Wider Community -Celebrate!!!

Green-Schools Litter Less Campaign 2018-2019 Litter Less aims to raise awareness of Litter and Waste issues and promote behaviour change among young people around the world. What is involved? Carry out a Community Action Day, complete monitoring of litter and waste throughout the year and report back.What are the benefits? Additional teaching resources and support from Green-Schools staff, counts towards your Green Flag application and selected schools will receive a 250 euro grant towards their Action Day!To apply, return your completed application form to cobrienmoran@eeu.antaisce.org by 1st October 2018 – eligible primary schools will have received the application form via email on 20 th September. Further info: http://www.ecoschools.global/about-the-campaign

Neat Streets Benefits to the school:Anti-Litter & Waste Pack (hoodies, hi-vis vest, badges, litter pickers, gloves & bags) Anti-Litter & Waste Workshops free of charge! Neat Streets Conference €200 grant to aid Neat Streets / Green-Schools Action Plan Continuing Support from An Taisce Neat Streets Award on completion of the programme

SEAI Primary School Teacher CPD Workshops An Taisce manages, delivers and administers SEAI’s workshop programme.SEAI offers workshops for both teachers and pupils at primary and post primary level.Primary Teacher CPD Workshops give you all the tools you need to teach energy and sustainability in the SESE curriculum Post Primary Teacher Workshop is suitable for JC Science teachers & examines the concept of the energy theme across the Earth and Space and Physical World strands of the new Junior Cycle Science specificationPrimary and Post Primary Student workshops available however priority will be given to schools applying for teachers workshops combined with pupil workshops Relevant for schools working on the Energy theme For more info and to register for a workshop: www.seai.ie/teaching-sustainability/

SEAI Resources All resources online: www.seai.ie/teaching-sustainability/ Free online resources for primary and post primary levels include:Lesson PlansExperimentsStory book Interactive whiteboard/power point presentationsQuizzesWebquest

Green-Schools Website-Online Forms !

Questions & Answers Thank you for your attention! Contact us01-4002222greenschools@antaisce.org Questions?