Step 3: Create an Action Plan

As one key activity of their Action Plan to reduce school waste, the Eco-Committee established the weekly initiative “Waste Free Wednesday” to promote the use of zero waste lunch boxes at school. The initiative was complemented by a school wide competition that was shared with parents in the school’s newsletter. Parents were encouraged to send in photos of their children’s zero waste lunch boxes and students could win Eco-prizes. Many families have since gone waste free on Wednesdays.

Step 5: Links to the Curriculum

Teachers in different grades have integrated Eco-Schools into their teaching and have given the students the opportunity to explore waste from different perspectives and disciplines. The focus was put on reducing and reusing waste in some way or another. Grade 4 created reusable, washable wraps for their snacks by painting linen cloths and covering them with beeswax. This project encouraged the children to reflect on how they can reduce plastic and find creative ways (through arts and crafts) for sustainable behaviour.

Step 6: Inform and Involve

After the initial audit of the waste bins found that too much green waste was going into the regular bins, the Eco-Committee installed additional green waste boxes throughout the school and educated the school community about composting during school assemblies and class visits. This project also involved an external partner (the Gardens Department of Basel), who organised a learning sequence about composting with the students. The whole school community has been involved in composting green waste and using the compost to grow salad in the school garden and learned how green waste forms the basis for the growth of new plants that can feed us.