Investing in your school’s waste management may be lower down the list of priorities. Your classrooms are low on stationery, sports equipment might need replacing, and the playground installations are in disrepair. You get your bins collected weekly, and there doesn’t seem to be any issues on the surface. So why should investing in school bins be a priority?
We often hear that schools have to cut costs in certain areas to prioritise their main concern. But this doesn’t fix anything; it just changes what needs funding. Often, the cost-cutting doesn’t fully cover other areas either, leaving your school with two more problems to fix rather than one.
So why should bins and your overall sustainability be a larger point of focus?
Impact on education.
By introducing a sustainability initiative to your school, you can change how your students perceive waste. Without the right approach, it can feel as if you’re just imposing more ‘dumb rules’ on a crowd of pessimistic 13-year-olds.
It’s not just about instructing people on where they can and can’t dispose of their waste. Bring sustainability lessons into the classroom and focus on understanding your waste. Kids often aren’t interested in doing something the right way if they see it as ‘pointless’.
Discuss with your class:
- What potential does their waste have for a second life?
- What are the dangers of improper waste management?
- What is climate change, and how will it impact the world?
- Why should we manage different materials independently?
By getting them to think more about their waste and what to do with it, students’ waste action becomes much more intentional. With reasoning and context about the impact of waste, every time a student goes to throw something out, they will instinctively think about whether it’s the right bin and second-guess their action if not.
You could also encourage teachers to offer a new perspective on the topic, depending on their subject. In Science class, students may learn about different materials and how people recycle them. Alternatively, geography lessons could discuss the impact of pollution on the environment and habitats.
It isn’t about a single assembly saying it’s important to recycle. It’s about how sustainability impacts so many areas of their lives.
How will it impact the school?
Overall, adopting a more positive approach to individual waste management encourages students to keep the school environment tidier. While this is generally a nice thing to have, it also offers additional benefits.
- Reduce costs. Commit to a sustainable, on-site waste management plan to minimise your waste and costs. This minimises waste and contributes to your sustainability targets. However, it also leads to lower transport costs, lower landfill tax, and the opportunity to claim waste rebates.
- Clear school, clearer mind. Studies have shown that a messy, unclean environment can make it difficult for people to work and study. The idea is that when they notice a mess, it occupies their mind as an additional task. Encouraging proper waste management minimises the risk of this happening, helping students to make the most of their lessons.
- Build personal responsibility. When students understand the importance of waste management, they are more likely to take pride in their surroundings. They will think more about the impact of all actions, not just those regarding waste. This encourages better behaviour both in and out of the classroom.
You can also use the opportunity to act on your school’s ESG policy. You may not have an ESG policy in the same way a large corporation does. But that doesn’t mean you haven’t made a public commitment to supporting sustainable action. Having labelled bins on premises supports each element of ESG in a unique way.
Environmental: Reduces the amount of waste you actually throw out, minimising your carbon footprint.
Social: Helps educate students while building their sense of responsibility.
Governance: Provides an example of policy in action—the benefits of a school’s commitment to legislative change.
Impact on the future?
Children are our future, so take this opportunity as a teachable moment to prepare them for it. The UK has set a goal to reach net-zero by 2050. Whether through legislation or personal action, everyone will have to change their behaviour to ensure the UK reaches this goal. By instilling positive, sustainable attitudes in young people early on, we help them carry that mindset throughout their lives.
They will take these behaviours home with them. Given the current state of climate change, we need to prepare children for a world that uses resources consciously. Primary and secondary schools should support them in developing future habits that society will require. Action is more than just classroom discussion.
Prepare the next generation for the world they will grow up in. Then help them build the long-term habits needed for the future.
How can Agecko help?
Agecko can help your school begin its sustainability journey in several ways.
- Free Audit. A waste management plan is the best plan of action for integrating sustainable processes into your school. First, you will need a free audit so Agecko can understand the scope of your operations and equipment requirements.
- Education Support. We can also be more involved in the classroom. If you’d like to give your students a memorable lesson from the experts, then please contact our team. We can deliver educational workshops that highlight the importance of using the correct bins.
- Products and services. If you’ve received an audit, we can provide your school with the equipment you need as part of a waste management plan. From bins and larger containers to pallets and Longopac systems, we have what you need when sticking to a plan.
For more information about bringing sustainability into schools, get in touch, and we’ll see how we can help.
