School launches recycling programme
Getting rid of lunch box waste in an environmentally-friendly way has become a lot easier for a school.
Otara’s Dawson Primary School is the first of sixteen Auckland schools to receive a soft plastic recycling bin.
The bins, usually only available at places like supermarkets, will be delivered to four schools each term for students to recycle things like chip bags and food wrap more efficiently.
Launched at Dawson Primary, the programme is being delivered by Tread Lightly Caravan to support schools and increase awareness about soft plastic recycling.
‘‘It’s teaching them to make conscious decisions at home about what doesn’t need to go into landfill,’’ science and environment teacher Deborah Davies says.
For students like Iunesi Ahyou, Tiare Kelly-Peyroux, and Carlynne Taitua, the programme is a great way for them to help protect the environment.
‘‘It’ll make our school cleaner,’’ Iunesi, 10, says.
‘‘If the plastic goes in the sea the turtles will all die because they’ll think it’s jellyfish,’’ Carlynne, 7, says.
Tread Lightly Caravan, operated by Urban EcoLiving Charitable Trust, is a mobile environmental classroom which visits schools across Auckland.
It teaches students about environmental consequences of their everyday lives, with a vision to inspire people to live sustainably.
Its soft plastic recycling programme was trialled for weeklong periods last year, but this is the first time schools will have them for a full term.
General manager Katie Jones says the goal is to work towards accommodating soft plastic be shipped to Australia where it can be made into things like circuit equipment and park benches.
Redoubt North School in Clover Park, Roscommon School in Manurewa, and Waikowhai Primary School in Mt Roskill also have the soft plastic recycling bins for this term.