Learning how to Manage Waste Properly at School!
Green Action Centre recently developed a waste reduction program for École River Heights School. Based on the school’s climate science curriculum, students have already taken part in three out of the four total sessions in the program.
Students started off by learning basic information on climate change, intermediate information on linear and circular waste systems, and advanced information on what items belong in what waste stream – and why they belong there. The majority of people unknowingly practice improper waste management on a regular basis: placing non-recyclables in the blue bin, such as disposable coffee cups, recyclables that are dirty or full of food, and the habit of throwing out everything in general. These are a few of the misinformed waste routines that we, at Green Action Centre, are working to change. By teaching students about waste early on, such common waste habits will soon be a thing of the past.
The students got their hands dirty and conducted a waste audit of the entire school: 450 students and 18 homerooms all in one day! Here are the results of the waste audit:
The students found that only one third of their garbage is actually garbage! Most of it is organic waste, recyclable, reducible or reusable. These can all be diverted from the landfill with proper waste reduction practices. The biggest takeaway is that a whopping one third of all the waste the school produces is organic waste, which can be composted! École River Heights School has already begun taking action to improve their waste practices. As of late December 2022, the school has been receiving organic waste pickup services from Compost Winnipeg. The school and the students are well on their way to becoming waste experts!
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Vermicomposting Basics
Vermicomposting can be done indoors, making this option particularly appealing for people without yards. You can’t compost quite as much as you would be able to in a backyard bin, but you may be surprised to watch how much your worms eat. The worm castings make for great house plant fertilizer.
Vermicomposting Basics
Vermicomposting can be done indoors, making this option particularly appealing for people without yards. You can’t compost quite as much as you would be able to in a backyard bin, but you may be surprised to watch how much your worms eat. The worm castings make for great house plant fertilizer.
Composting Basics and Getting Started
Backyard composting is a cost effective method that is particularly appealing for gardening, as they’re able to use the finished product as organic fertilizer.
Composting Basics and Getting Started
Backyard composting is a cost effective method that is particularly appealing for gardening, as they’re able to use the finished product as organic fertilizer.
Protecting Mother Earth
Intended for First Nation classrooms, this presentation provides a basic understanding of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in relation to Indigenous worldviews – how we are connected with the planet and how we must find a harmonious balance with our environment for the sake of the next seven generations. This includes actions students can take at home, in school, or within their community. Examples will explore what other schools in First Nation communities around Manitoba are doing to reduce their impact on Mother Earth.
Protecting Mother Earth
Intended for First Nation classrooms, this presentation provides a basic understanding of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in relation to Indigenous worldviews – how we are connected with the planet and how we must find a harmonious balance with our environment for the sake of the next seven generations. This includes actions students can take at home, in school, or within their community. Examples will explore what other schools in First Nation communities around Manitoba are doing to reduce their impact on Mother Earth.
