Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | Decarb24
Did you know that a typical primary school produces 45kg of waste per pupil each year?
In this month’s Decarbonisation2024 video, I share a few tips and ideas on how we can reduce our waste by recycling.
Don’t forget to tell me what you’re doing to reduce waste in your school
Simon Geddes
School Building Officer
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This drinks can – if recycled – can save enough energy to power a TV for three hours.
Yet the Bible actually says very little about reducing waste and recycling – it’s just assumed that it’s something that we would do.
You see, up until about 250 years ago, there was no need to convince humanity to be mindful of how they used their resources. Because of the work required to produce them, everything toiled over was precious. When you were limited by the amount of grain that could be grown in a field – every piece of food was used and nothing was wasted.
Then, over the past 200 years, we’ve seen such a boom in technology that allowed for industrial farming;
radical advances in medicine has seen morality rate plumet in the rich, western world;
and huge social and societal transformations with education being available to everyone (not just the higher social classes) which opened new opportunities for work;
all have led to our collective disassociation with how our food, our clothing, and other possessions are created - along with the work required to produce them.And so there’s no explicit command or instruction in the Bible for us to reduce, reuse and recycle – it was just the expected norm for how we interact with this world.
However, Jesus did have an expectation that we use resources and possessions for the benefit of our communities. Throughout the gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – Jesus instructs his followers in how they should spend their money, how they shouldn’t store excess, but to give to those in need. Jesus clearly wanted us to be mindful of how we use the gifts and possessions God has given to us – and for us to use these for the benefit of everyone.
John the Baptist also said the same in Luke chapter 3 verse 11:
“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
So what does that look like within the school community? Primary schools are said to produce 45kg of waste per pupil each year, while secondary schools produce around 22kg.
Let’s break this down into three areas: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
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Firstly: REDUCE
Could you encourage pupils to bring waste-free lunches? Using re-usable containers, cutlery, and bottles; and avoiding single-use plastics and packaging.
You could challenge pupils to measure and monitor the amount of waste they produce in a week, and set goals to reduce it. Why not have a competition during the summer term?
Then there’s the reduction of paper, ink, and printed resources – are there digital and online resources you could use instead?
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Next: REUSE.
Finding ways to re-use items is a huge part of becoming more sustainable.
I know a few schools who have decided to purchase second hand laptops and screens – it’s a great way of saving money as well as stopping electrical waste ending up in landfill.
Is there somewhere you can donate your old computers, screens, and other equipment, rather than throwing them away? Other schools, churches, or local charities?
And how about organising a reuse fair or swap shop? Where pupils can bring and exchange unwanted items: clothing, books, toys, and other items. I was involved in organising a Swap Shop complete with cat-walk to show off donated items to raise money for a local charity. Maybe your PTA could organise something similar to raise funds for your school?
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And our final section: RECYCLE.
Have you watched our recent video from St Anne’s in Sale and how their Eco-Warriors are recycling?
St Anne’s have recycling bins in every classroom and throughout the school – and the eco-warriors are involved in collecting these. They even managed to find a way of recycling their old board markers and felt-tips after being challenged by a year six pupil.
If you haven’t had chance to watch that video – there’s a link in description below.
Have you signed up to any recycling schemes and initiatives that reward schools for recycling? Or have you had a competition to see which class can recycle the most? Let me know in the comments so we can share our resources between schools.
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That’s all for this video – but don’t forget to let me know what you’re doing to reduce, reuse and recycle. May be you will be featured in a future video in this series.
But again, let’s end in prayer:
Jesus, we thank you for the momentum we are building in becoming greener and more sustainable schools. Would you help us as we continue to go further and do more – inspire us, and use our pupils to lead us as we can create school communities that reveal your love through our actions. Amen.