Waste education

Resource Futures’ mission is to help others to use resources efficiently and effectively; minimising the impact of consumption on the environment now and for the future. Our team of experienced Waste Education Officers have been running dedicated waste education projects since 1998. We aim to provide the best waste education in the country, equipping the next generation with essential knowledge, skills, attitudes and understanding to help them reduce waste and protect our planet.

Why waste education?

Schools are perfectly placed to provide highly visible and influential examples of sustainable waste management to the local communities that they serve.  Supporting schools to adopt good practice and educate their pupils in waste issues will not only decrease the residual waste the schools produce; pupils will develop habits and knowledge that influence their families for years to come.

For authorities prioritising broader sustainability goals (e.g., One Planet Living) waste education is popular way to engage schools with environmental issues. The introduction of recycling and waste minimisation systems represent 'quick wins' for teachers and pupils, producing a sense of collective empowerment. Waste is easily visible, and can be understood by both younger pupils and those with special needs, making waste education projects accessible to all schools.  The links between waste and other sustainability topics provide seamless routes to introduce pupils and teachers topics such as energy and biodiversity.

From schools' perspective, waste issues provide a topical context for science, citizenship, geography and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) teaching at all key stages. A whole-school recycling, composting or waste minimisation project will support  progress towards Eco-Schools awards, with excellent potential for pupil-led projects with measurable outcomes. 

What we offer

Resoure Futures offer tailored programmes designed to meet the needs of Local Authorities and their schools. Projects can be short term or long term; focusing on one particular theme (e.g., recycling) or the waste hierachy; and working with a small group of targeted schools (e.g., in areas of low domestic participation) or all schools in the authority.

Key elements of our programmes include:

  • A whole-school approach - involving senior managers, pupils, teachers, catering staff, teaching assistants and the school's site team in addressing waste issues together.
  • Evidence-based action - waste audits with pupils identify the key issues, and support schools in moving up the waste hierachy. 
  • Support with setting up / maintaining schools' waste management systems - we have particular expertise in dry recycling, in-vessel composting for food waste, and the roll out food waste collections to schools.
  • Strong curricular links - our wide range of workshops meet schools' needs with  cross-curricular links to science, maths, literacy, geography, citizenship, and PSHE. 
  • Customised and ongoing school support - a flexible programme supports schools according to their changing needs.
  • Teacher training and support - engaging teachers to ensure waste issues become embedded into teaching. 
  • Campaigns and competitions - linking with local initiatives to keep waste issues exciting and relevant to staff and pupils.
  • Home-school links - supporting pupils to share their learning with parents and take action at home as well as at school. 
  • Resource development - using a range of media and techniques to engage adults and children with topical issues.

For examples of our current and recent waste education projects please click on the links below or see our case studies page:

To discuss how we can help you develop and implement your waste education plans please contact our Education Manager.

 

Case Studies

Reducing energy use in Bristol schools

Resource Futures worked in partnership with Bristol City Council, Green Path Solutions and Sustainable Redland to help Bristol Primary schools reduce their energy usage.  The key messages were why saving energy is so important to help the environment and save money and how everyone can do their bit to help. 

Devon Composting in Schools project

The Devon Composting in Schools project, delivered by Resource Futures, was possibly the biggest schools' food waste composting programme in the country, involving over 80 Devon primary and secondary schools.

Top Recycler! Waste Education Project

Working in Cambridgeshire primary schools to support the waste partnership's aim to increase dry recycling.

News and Events

Oxfordshire community food waste initiative is runner-up in EWWR awards

DinnerTime, the community kitchen initiative delivered by Resource Futures’ Community Action Groups (CAG) Project in Oxfordshire, was runner-up in the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) Awards – the only event from the UK that made the finals.

Community Action goes from strength to strength in Oxfordshire

Resource Futures’ Community Action Groups (CAGs) project met or exceeded all of its targets to support community-led climate change action in Oxfordshire in 2012/13.

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