We have a team of officers who visit schools and community groups to teach fun and practical ways of reducing, reusing and recycling waste. This team also offers sessions discouraging littering, spitting, graffiti and vandalism. Sessions are linked to the national curriculum. 

School assemblies

We will:

• deliver assemblies to schools throughout the borough
• teach pupils about the materials that are thrown away each day and the problems this causes to the environment. By the end of the assembly the pupils will know what they can do both at home and at school to reduce waste and improve the environment
• deliver the assemblies with the aid of an animated wheelie bin and pictures to describe to the pupils
  • where our rubbish goes (mainly to landfill sites)
  • why landfill is not the best option for our waste
  • the three rs- reduce, reuse and recycle

Outline of the school assembly (.doc, 43Kb)

School waste audits
The aim of the waste audit is to identify the areas of the school where the largest amounts of waste are found and to identify which types of waste the school has most of.

The waste audits can be carried out by pupils. They are tasked with inspecting the bins and physically sorting the waste saved over one or two days. This will depend on the size of the school and the space to store the waste.

Through the waste audit the pupils will learn:

• how and where the school's waste is generated
• how to measure the waste collected and record the data gathered
• how to use the data gathered to draw conclusions about their school's waste and produce an action plan on how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Outline of waste audits  (.doc, 43Kb)

Waste education packs- 'The Recycling Challenge'
The Recycling Challenge makes recycling in the classroom flexible and fun. Supported by their parents, pupils are encouraged to make practical changes in school and at home to boost their recycling. The worksheets, classroom activities, homework challenges and fun games are suitable for children of all ages and abilities.

Download the education packs  

• Education pack: introduction(.pdf, 208Kb)
• Education pack: resources (.pdf, 36Kb)
• Education pack: bronze  (.pdf, 911Kb)
• Education pack: silver  (.pdf, 1175Kb)
• Education pack: gold(.pdf, 601Kb)
• Silver borough recycling map (.pdf, 1076Kb)
• Pupil certificates (.pdf, 954Kb)

Please contact the Waste and Environmental Education Team to request the CD-ROM games.

School workshops
The composting workshops teach pupils about the role of micro-organisms in the composting process. During the workshop officers help pupils to make a mini composter from old plastic bottles. 

In the paper making workshops children learn how to make paper and learn how recycling paper protects the environment and saves resources.

Outline of composting workshop (.doc, 44Kb)
Outline of paper making workshop (.doc, 35Kb)

If your school is interested in any of these free services, please contact us on 020 8937 5095.

Further information:

• DIY Planet Repairs is a website from the Mayor of London which gives practical advice and useful information on how to reduce your carbon footprint and help save the planet.  
• Worried about your carbon footprint? Direct.gov has a on-line tool you can use to calcute it.