How to Manage Our School Waste

 Schools use a lot of different products and materials everyday. They also generate waste. Schools can successfully recycle materials and some of  their waste. Different practices in schools can reduce the amount of materials used and waste generated, as well as increase the number of materials  being recycled. The NSW Government aims for sustainable waste management and higher rates of recycling.

1.    General Waste General waste is made up of all materials that cannot be recycled through other waste streams.  It is collected and transported to a landfill site where it is buried. Some landfill sites extract methane from decomposing waste for their  energy needs. Paper contaminated with food waste needs to go into general waste.

2.    Paper Recycling Paper and cardboard products are the most common items a school recycles. Secure documents are stored in locked bins before  being shredded and joining other paper fibres.

3.    Co-Mingled Recycling Co-Mingled recycling collects aluminium cans,  glass bottles, plastic bottles, steel cans,Tetrapaks and cartons for recycling.

4.    E-Waste Computers, phones, toner cartridges, printers and batteries all contain resources that can  be recycled.

5.    Organic Waste Schools can manage organic waste on site. Composting systems and worm farms manage fruit and vegetable waste, and mulching recycles green waste. Both processes produce nutrient rich materials for use on gardens.