Waste Aware in Schools

Waste Aware Programme

Welcome to Waste Aware - Environmental Education programmes brought to you by the Napier City Council's Waste Minimisation team.

The Waste Aware - Environmental Education programmes are aimed at educating primary and intermediate aged school children (particularly Years 5-8) and the wider community about waste minimisation and sustainability. Note: High Schools may also participate in the Waste Aware programme as programmes can be tailored to specifically meet the interests and needs of a particular school group. Discuss with the Waste Aware facilitator.

The programme's vision is to 'educate school children and the wider community on how to minimise solid waste entering the local landfill'. This is achieved by focusing on the following aims:

• Critically assess what we do with our rubbish and gain knowledge about what happens to rubbish in the wider community
• Understand what impacts our rubbish has on the environment (e.g. marine and atmosphere)
• Learn ways in which we can minimise our rubbish that we produce and to create and implement a strategy for reducing rubbish within the student's environment (i.e. at school and at home).

With the options of either Full-term or Half-day programmes, there is something to suit every school, class and teacher.

The Waste Aware programmes encourages students to take up the challenge to minimise solid waste by forming their own Waste Aware ACTION at their school or local environment.

Full Term Programme

Based on previous experience, the full-term programme is an exciting and thought-provoking time for students as well as teachers! A certain level of commitment during the programme is required to ensure safety on field-trips and fully-achieve learning outcomes.

Half Day Programme

Schools visiting from outside the region or classes, unable to commit to the full-term programme, may find the half-day programme option suitable.

The half-day programme of the Waste Aware Environmental Education, is in essence similar to the full-term programme, but with only two 'impact Waste Aware' messages and run during a morning or afternoon at the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

During the course of the programme, students will increase their knowledge-base on waste issues and importantly be involved in social participation and set personal initiatives while discussing how their school is going to promote Waste Awareness.

Safety and Hazard Management

The school must provide adult supervision for site visits. The programme facilitator will supply a safety management plan for each site visit. The School is responsible for the safety and behaviour of students while on field-trips. A copy of all site RAMS will be issued at the commencement of the course.