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Schools are encouraged to reduce the amount of waste they produce and as a part of this set-up a recycling system in their school. This may reduce operating costs, and show pupils that the school is ‘walking the talk’ on environmental matters.
What can be done?
Schools like most organizations use gas or electricity to heat rooms and generate hot water, use electricity for lighting and operating equipment, use water for sanitation and produce waste.
Like any workplace it is useful to occasionally check to see if your organisation is working effectively, this includes looking at waste and waste minimization.
It is worth checking if your school is operating efficiently – producing minimum waste. You should probably involve the school caretaker.
Check out the following links or for further assistance call the Waste Minimisation Officer at the Taranaki Regional Council 06 765 7127, who can help you with waste minimization planning. Check out the Inventory of energy consuming items and material recycling options for your business
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Free recycling collection for New Plymouth and South Taranaki Schools
Schools create waste – just like most businesses and industries - and they need to look at how they manage their waste and dispose of recyclables and rubbish. From 1 October 2006 schools will have to meet the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (2004) which means they will only be able to use an incinerator if they have a resource consent issued by the Taranaki Regional Council. However, new options are being introduced to help schools manage their waste in an environmentally responsible way.
Free kerbside collection of recyclables at your gate
New Plymouth and South Taranaki district councils will provide a free kerbside collection of recyclables only, for most schools in their district, beginning 1 October 2006. It is expected that only the remotest schools will not be offered this service and they should contact the Ministry of Education for assistance and information. To see if your school will have access to free kerbside collection check out List of eligible schools for free recyclables collection.
Recycling service offered by New Plymouth and South Taranaki district councils
- Free kerbside collection of recyclables:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Plastics type 1 & 2
- glass
- Aluminium cans
- Steel cans
- 240 litre blue wheelie bins
- Collection of mixed recyclables (they can all go into one bin)
- Weekly service (or fortnightly if volumes are small)
- Advice and information to get you started
What can your school do?
- Use the free kerbside collection of recyclables if offered by your district council
- Stop burning waste at school
- Find out where recyclables are generated around the school
- Have a system to separate recyclables from non-recyclable waste
- Find a safe place to store wheelie bins
- Make arrangements to place wheelie bins at the kerbside on collection days (collection days to be announced)
- Consider how to maximize recycling at your school (the Waste Minimisation Officer at the Taranaki Regional Council can assist with this. Phone 06 765 7127 or email info@trc.govt.nz)
- Check out the Ministry of Education’s guide on dealing with school waste: Re-thinking rubbish: Best practice for dealing with school wastes
What to do with non-recyclable waste
- Don’t burn school waste after 1 October 2006 (unless you have a resource consent to do so)
- Don’t put waste in the recycling bin
- Contact your local waste collection company for quotes for waste disposal
- Check out the Yellow Pages for commercial waste collectors under the headings
- General waste
- Recycling
- Document destruction
- Take the waste to the local transfer station
- See your district council’s website for location, opening times and charges for your nearest transfer station.
How to find out more about the recycling services in your region
You can contact the waste officer at your local regional or district council, the collection contractor – Waste Management NZ Limited or the Ministry of Education using these contacts:
New Plymouth District council:
Phone: 06 759 6060
Website: www.newplymouthnz.com
South Taranaki District Council:
Phone: 0800 111 323
Website: www.stdc.co.nz
Stratford District Council:
Phone:06 765 6099
Website: www.stratford.govt.nz
Waste Management NZ Limited
Phone: 06 757 8381
Website: www.wastemanagement.co.nz
The Ministry of Education
Phone: 0800 757 334 9am – 5pm weekdays
Enviroschools
Kama Burwell (Coordinator)
Ph: (06) 756 9100
Website: www.enviroschools.org.nz
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