Schools' Waste Summit 2010

'Don’t Let Devon Go To Waste’ annual Waste Summit for Year 10 pupils.

Overview

Resource Futures organised the ‘Don’t Let Devon Go To Waste’ annual Waste Summit aimed at Year 10 pupils. The event was held on the 23rd March 2010 at County Hall and was attended by 7 secondary schools from 7 different districts in Devon.

The schools participating were: Dawlish Community College - Teignbridge, King Edward the VI college - South Hams, Honiton Community College - East Devon, Tavistock College - West Devon, Cullompton College - Mid Devon, The Park Community College - North Devon, and Isca College - Exeter.

Each of the secondaries were asked to bring 8 students with them who would be able to report back to their peers on the day’s events.

On the day

The agenda for the day included:

• Initial presentations from Cllr Symons and Iain Stevens from DCC.
• Three workshops in the Committee Suites, “A vision of a near future”, where the students were asked to create their own realistic film about the effects of climate change if people don’t start reducing, reusing and recycling more.
• The Really Rubbish Quiz; a quiz designed to test each schools knowledge on waste and the 3Rs.
• A radio jingle workshop where the students were asked to create their own radio jingle encouraging the public to reduce, reuse and compost their waste as well as recycle it.

The students also took part in a debate in the Council Chamber where they were able to vote using key pads on their answers to a set of waste questions and give their opinions on this as well. At lunch there was a waste-free lunch competition between the schools with a prize sponsored by Viridor.  Cullompton Community College were the winners of this competition as they produced no waste and had a communal picnic! After lunch there was a speaker, Paul Martin, from Devon Wildlife Trust who talked to the pupils about the implications of litter for wildlife.

Results

Excellent publicity was gained: the event was covered by BBC Spotlight who came and filmed the students across the day in workshops, Council Chamber debate and over lunch time and the report appeared that evening on the 6pm news.

The day was considered a great success with 97% of teachers and students rating the day as a whole as good or very good. There was positive feedback from district officers and from DCC alike.

Some of the comments included: “A really thought provoking day with great student activities that were engaging and informative” (Teacher)

“Interesting and meaningful, the students enjoyed it a lot” (Teacher)

“I really enjoyed the practical side of the day- it was good that the activities involved us doing things rather than just listening” (pupil)

“I found it very educational and informative on rubbish” (pupil)

“I think the creativity and variety of the exercises was really good” (pupil)

As with previous years, a District Officer Pre-Meet was organised so that all Officers and DCC could be briefed on the agenda for the day, the activities and their roles through out the day.

The cost of the Waste Summit came in well within budget.