Activity 4 – WRAPPER SCRAPPER

Recycling has become a buzzword in environmental circles, and as we draw close to joining the EU, recycling practice will become law. But while the third of the Three Rs* gets all the publicity, not much is being done about the most important one: REDUCE!
This activity encourages the building of good practice in using resources, i.e. cutting down on waste. In this activity we get the children to take up two simple habits that we hope will set the ball rolling for the whole school by the year¹s end.

• Introduce the idea of reducing waste. Draw kids' attention to a full bin after break. Ask them to say what things they threw away. List these items on the board. Show how most waste comes from packing. Tell them that packaging accounts for a large chunk of household waste.
  

• Encourage children to start reducing waste in two ways:
  by getting their lunch in a reusable box, rather than in disposable wrapping.
  by getting their drinks in a reusable bottle, rather than throwing away bottles/juice packs
  Emphasise that both habits will save on packing
  

• Once a week do a count of kids who use a lunch box and those who use refillabe bottles. Turn these numbers into percentages and keep weekly records. Don't do the survey on the same day every time, so the kids won't know when you're going to check them out.
  

• Now get other classes to join you in this initiative! Make it a school campaign!
  

• Prepare a chart to show weekly totals for all participating classes. The chart shows the list of classes against the number of weeks from the start of your activity till the end of May (see sample table). Every week, percentages of "correct practice" for every class is entered in the grid. Put up the chart in a central area and you will soon see kids regularly checking out their place in the race! See the percentages (hopefully) creeping up!
  

• Make sure to get the "reduce" message across at every opportunity: morning assembly, green board, circulars to parents, school magazine etc.
  

• At the end of every term (or other period, minimum three per year) give a prize to the greenest class. If you get your prizes donated by business outlets, this activity will tie in with Activity 13
  

• Take pictures of the chart at different stages, prize-giving events etc. Send them in together with the Feedback Form. You need at least 25% of the school taking part in order to qualify.
  

Points...

100 points

50 points = bonus points if every class in the school participates!