Working with schools.
Our Schools Waste Programme has been running since 2023, working alongside local schools to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill and build waste minimisation into everyday school life.
The programme is about more than teaching students which bin to use. We work with each school to understand what is happening with their waste, identify opportunities for change and support students, staff and whānau to put practical solutions into place.
And it works.
Warkworth School has reduced the waste they send to landfill by 72%.
And they're not stopping there.
Small changes.
Big results.
Our programme looks at the whole picture. From the physical systems and infrastructure that manage waste, to education and student involvement.
Together, we can work with schools on:
Composting and diverting food scraps
Improving recycling systems
Reducing waste sent to landfill
Reducing soft plastic waste
Reuse and repair
Reusable stationery and office supplies
Reducing waste at school events
Creating change that lasts.
The goal isn't to create a perfect school overnight.
It's to start with the easy wins, build confidence, and make changes that can become part of everyday school life.
When students understand where their waste goes, have a say in what happens next and are given the opportunity to lead change, waste minimisation becomes something they actively participate in.
Could your school be next?
Whether you're just starting out or already have waste systems in place, we can work with your school to identify practical ways to reduce waste to landfill and create lasting change.
Students are part of the solution
One of the most important parts of our programme is giving tamariki an active role.
Students don't just learn about waste, they help investigate it, identify opportunities for change and put solutions into practice.
Where possible, students help lead the direction of their learning and can take responsibility for waste-related projects within their school.
This builds practical skills, confidence and a sense of responsibility for the environment. It also helps make waste minimisation something that becomes part of the school's culture, rather than a one-off project.
How the programme works.
Our educators work alongside each school over a year, developing a waste minimisation plan that is specific to their needs.
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We visit the school, look at existing waste systems and talk with staff about what's working and where there are opportunities.
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Students take part in a waste audit to establish a baseline and identify the biggest opportunities for reducing waste.
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Together, we identify achievable goals and practical changes for the school
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Over the year, our educator works with staff and tamariki through hands-on sessions based around rethink, reduce, reuse + repair, rot and recycle.
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After a year, we conduct another waste audit to see what has changed, what is working and where there is still room for improvement.
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Our support doesn't simply stop at the end of the programme. We help schools embed systems so they can become self-supporting, while remaining available when further support is needed.