Great Acts for Great Lakes

Canadians produce more garbage per person than just about any other country in the world.  The average person in Ontario generates a whole tonne of trash every year.  When that much garbage is generated, it creates problems. Schools are a large source of waste, especially paper waste.  A recent study estimated that a public high school could generate 16 kilograms of waste per student per week. With over five million students (both elementary and high school) in Canada that adds up to 80 000 tonnes of garbage a week!

What happens to all of this waste once it is created?  The majority of it still ends up in our landfills.  Many of these landfills are reaching capacity and new locations are getting harder and harder to find.  No community wants a new garbage dump located close by. So what are the solutions to this problem?  Most experts agree: there is no easy solution to our waste woes.  But reducing the amount of waste we create is the first step. It's time to do our part and make a difference.

Reduction not only cuts down the amount of waste produced, it also saves money and conserves the resources and raw materials that go into making new things.  Waste reduction at school means buying only what you need and making smarter choices about what you buy, such as environmentally friendly products.  It also means changing our "throw away" mentality.

Even with an increased effort to produce less, schools will still have waste.  Reusing and recycling are two more options for decreasing the amount of waste schools send to landfills. Reusing involves finding a new use for items other than what they were originally intended for; repairing items rather than buying new ones; or buying used materials rather than new.    Recycling and buying products containing recycled materials are also ways to reduce waste. 

Schools are the perfect place to introduce waste reduction programs.  Students can learn about waste in class and take what they have learned home with them to help educate their families about opportunities to recycle, reuse and reduce.  Schools that establish waste reduction and recycling programs teach students behaviours and conservation practices they will carry with them throughout their lives.

Where is solid waste generated in a school?

Art Classroom: paper, paints, used art supplies (i.e. brushes, clay, glue)

Science Classroom: paper, used instruments, waste from experiments

Cafeteria: food wrappers and packaging, food waste, paper bags, napkins, beverage containers (cans, bottles, drink boxes), paper plates, plastic utensils

Office Areas: paper, paper coffee cups, printer cartridges, plastics, shipping packages, envelopes, cardboard, packaging, batteries

School Grounds: litter (food wrappers, beverage containers)

Washrooms: paper towels

Taking action at school

The best thing we can all do to cut down on waste is to make less of it in the first place!  When we reduce the amount of waste that we produce, we reduce the amount of garbage that goes into landfills. 

The secret to any waste reduction program is education.  Help make students and teachers aware of what happens to the waste that they create every day.  An educated school body realizes that as far as waste goes “less is definitely best”.

Some ideas for taking action:

· Take your school’s name off unwanted mailing lists to reduce the amount of junk mail.

· Set up photocopiers to make double-sided copies.

· Encourage students and teachers to only print what is needed. 

· Print on both sides of the page or reuse paper that has printing only on one side. 

· Avoid printing out materials wherever possible.

· Use electronic mail to send messages rather than written memos.

· Keep a supply of extra mugs, glasses and utensils in staff and lunch rooms.

· Recycle items such as paper, aluminum cans, cardboard, plastic bottles.

· Use rechargeable batteries and solar calculators.

· Donate old or outdated equipment, books or furniture to local community organizations.

· Buy products and supplies with less or reusable packaging.

· Save and reuse boxes and envelopes for shipping or storage.

· Encourage students to bring lunches in reusable containers.

· Set up “swap” areas in classrooms to share reusable materials.

For more ideas visit the Pollution prevention page (link)

The following Web sites have valuable waste reduction information, resources and activities geared toward educators and students: