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Waste management in schools
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School waste collection and disposal
Effective school waste management is pivotal in shaping sustainable practices within educational settings.
Explore how strategic approaches to managing waste can streamline operations and cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility among students and staff.
We will cover the following subjects in detail:
Compare school waste management solutions
Exploring different waste management solutions for schools isn’t just about complying with waste regulations; it’s an opportunity to save money, reduce environmental impact, and get excellent customer service.
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Save money
Compare commercial waste collection providers in your area to find competitive rates and flexible services tailored to your school’s needs.
Environmental impact
Find the most sustainable waste options to reduce your carbon footprint, minimise landfill waste, and support your school’s environmental goals.
Customer service
Assess waste collection providers’ reputations and track records to ensure reliable, high-quality service delivery.
School waste management in numbers
School waste streams
Discover the six primary waste collection services essential for schools and colleges. In line with the waste hierarchy, each recycling category must be properly segregated to prevent contamination with other types of waste.
General waste
General waste refers to all types of school waste that cannot be recycled, including contaminated paper, polystyrene, and tissue paper.
General waste is transported to a local incinerator or landfill site for disposal by your school’s waste collection provider.
Dry mixed recycling
Dry mixed recycling collections allow schools to collect recyclable plastic bottles, paper, and cardboard waste in a dedicated dry mixed recycling bin.
Waste providers will sort dry mixed recycling at a waste transfer facility before transporting each type of waste to a dedicated recycling facility.
Food waste
Students primarily contribute to food waste through uneaten homemade lunches and cafeteria meals.
Excess food prepared by cafeterias beyond consumption needs and overbuying perishable supplies that spoil before use also add to this waste.
Confidential waste
Confidential waste in schools includes student records with personal and academic information, staff documents detailing employment and payroll data, and exam materials intended to remain secure until their official release.
Proper disposal of this waste is crucial to prevent data breaches and maintain confidentiality.
Electronic waste
Schools generate electronic waste primarily through the fast ageing cycle of computers and laptops increasingly used by students and staff.
These dead devices can be recycled with one-off collections.
Sanitary waste
Sanitary waste obligations require schools to place sanitary waste bin in all bathrooms.
Sanitary waste collection providers offer comprehensive washroom services to help schools help maintain a hygienic environment for students and staff.
Waste minimisation strategies for schools
In this section, effective waste minimisation strategies are tailored for educational settings.
Learn how schools can implement recycling, digital documentation, and other sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact and instil eco-friendly habits in students.
Discover practical steps that transform schools into models of sustainability for future generations.
Composting
Organic waste, such as food scraps and garden waste, can be composted to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for school gardens.
Composting programs can serve as hands-on science lessons for students.
Sustainable purchasing
Opting for durable, repairable, and recyclable products supports waste reduction.
Schools can prioritise buying supplies made from recycled materials or goods with minimal packaging.
Zero waste events
Organising school events without generating waste encourages planning and creativity.
This includes using digital tickets, reusable decorations, and serving food with minimal packaging.
Upcycling projects
Encouraging students to repurpose old or unused items into new products reduces waste and fosters creativity and problem-solving skills.
This can be integrated into art and science curricula.
Digital documents
Reducing paper use by switching to digital communications and assignments can significantly reduce paper waste.
Schools can implement systems for electronic homework submissions, notices, and newsletters.
Commercial bins in schools: Types and strategic placement
Discover the critical role of commercial bins in managing school waste efficiently.
This section outlines the commercial waste bins types suitable for an educational environment and discusses their strategic placement to maximise usage and effectiveness.
From recycling to general waste, learn how to optimally position these bins around school premises to support robust waste management practices and promote a cleaner, greener school environment.
General waste bins
Placement: Classrooms, offices, corridors, and outdoor areas.
Common Materials: Non-recyclable waste such as wrappers, polystyrene, and contaminated paper.
Reason: To collect waste that cannot be recycled or composted, minimising litter and maintaining a clean school environment.
Recycling bins
Placement: Classrooms, libraries, staff rooms, and near printers or photocopiers.
Common Materials: Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, cans, and glass.
Reason: To separate recyclable materials from general waste, facilitating effective recycling practices and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills.
Compost bins
Placement: Canteens, kitchens, and nearby food preparation or eating areas.
Common Materials: Food scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, and biodegradable paper.
Reason: To collect organic waste for composting, which can be used in school gardens or grounds, teaching sustainability and reducing organic waste in landfills.
Electronic waste bins
Placement: Administrative offices, IT classrooms or special collection points accessible during specific events.
Common Materials: Used batteries, old electronics such as calculators, computers, and mobile phones.
Reason: To safely dispose of electronic waste, preventing harmful chemicals from contaminating the environment and recovering valuable materials for reuse.
Hazardous waste bins
Placement: Science labs, maintenance areas, or other secure locations.
Common Materials: Chemicals, paints, solvents, and cleaning agents.
Reason: To handle dangerous materials that require special disposal methods to prevent harm to students, staff and the environment.
Reusable item collection points
Placement: Common areas or entrance lobbies.
Common Materials: Books, uniforms, sports equipment, and other reusable items.
Reason: To encourage reuse and sharing of good condition items within the school community, reducing the need for new resources.
DEFRA: Waste management in schools
Like all businesses and other organisations, schools in the UK are legally required to adhere to the waste hierarchy: prevention, preparation for reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal.
Here is a summary of how DEFRA’s latest guidance on applying the Waste Hierarchy applies to the education sector:
Prevention
Schools and universities can significantly reduce waste by minimising paper use in the learning environment.
Digital learning platforms offer a waste-free alternative to paper worksheets. Similarly, going paperless in educational administration has many operational advantages and significantly reduces paper, confidential waste, and ink cartridge usage.
Preparation for Reuse
The UK education sector is being transformed by adopting digital technology in the learning environment. Unfortunately, the lifespan of IT equipment in education can be short due to its intensive use in multiple classes each day.
A dedicated IT function can focus on repairing damaged equipment, thereby avoiding the need to purchase replacements and dispose of commercial electronic waste.
Recycling
The key to maximising recycling in schools is ensuring the appropriate segregation of the various types of waste.
Providing separate waste bins for each recycling category in the classroom and actively encouraging students to use them helps prevent the cross-contamination of waste, which can hinder recycling efforts.
Other Recovery
Composting food waste, such as scraps from the school canteen, can be a valuable educational tool. It demonstrates direct waste recovery and produces compost that can be used to fertilise gardens within the school’s grounds.
Disposal
Even if you follow best practices for waste management at your school, you’ll still need to dispose of various types of waste.
A reputable commercial waste collection company will provide appropriate waste bins to store your waste before their regular collections.
Your provider will give you a waste transfer note to demonstrate you’ve fulfilled your compliance obligations in disposing of the waste produced at your school.
Barriers to effective waste management in schools
According to Waste Watch – a leading UK environmental charity, here’s a summary of the most significant barriers to effective waste management in schools:
- Staff Time: Limited staff time in schools is often a barrier to effective waste management. Teachers’ workload can seem endless, so it’s understandable that finding the time to ensure waste is appropriately managed is challenging.
- Awareness: A lack of awareness among students, teachers, and staff about the importance of proper waste management and methods can hinder the implementation of effective waste management practices in schools.
- Funding: Insufficient funding for waste management initiatives in schools is a significant barrier, as it limits the ability to invest in necessary infrastructure, resources, and educational programs related to waste reduction and commercial recycling.
Overcoming the vast amount of waste per pupil
Figures indicate that the education sector only recycles around 23% of its waste. Primary schools generate about 45kg of waste per pupil, while secondary schools produce 22kg per pupil. This totals 250,000 tonnes of waste every year.
As schools face the growing challenge of significant waste generation per pupil, it is essential to adopt innovative and effective strategies to tackle this issue head-on.
This section explores various approaches that educational institutions can implement to reduce the environmental footprint of their waste management practices.
What are the strategies to overcome this issue?
Addressing the challenges of waste management requires targeted strategies that reduce waste and foster a culture of sustainability.
💡 The majority of food waste in both secondary (77%) and primary (78%) schools was found to be avoidable.
Explore practical solutions that can transform waste management from a logistical challenge into a learning opportunity and environmental commitment.
- Enhance Recycling Programs: Schools need to invest in comprehensive recycling programs to address the low recycling rate of 23%.
- Waste Audit and Reduction Plans: Conducting waste audits helps identify the specific types of waste generated and the sources.
- Food Waste Reduction Initiatives:
- Portion Control: Implementing better portion control in school cafeterias can reduce the amount of food waste produced.
- Educational Campaigns: Educate students about the impact of food waste and teach them how to avoid it.
- Composting: For unavoidable food waste, schools can start composting programs.
- Share and Donate Excess Food: Establish systems for donating excess edible food to local charities or food banks. This not only helps reduce waste but also meaningfully supports the community.
- Involve Students in Planning: Including students in planning meals and waste management strategies can increase their commitment to reducing waste.
Why do primary schools produce almost double the waste per pupil compared to secondary schools?
Due to various educational and operational practices, primary schools typically produce more waste per pupil than secondary schools. Younger students frequently participate in craft-based activities using materials like paper, glue, and plastic, significantly increasing waste.
Primary curricula also depend heavily on physical materials such as worksheets and handouts, unlike secondary schools, which often use digital resources and textbooks.
Primary pupils generally have less awareness and responsibility regarding their waste habits, leading to higher food waste and extensive use of single-use snack packaging.
Adopting disposable dining ware for safety and convenience also contributes to increased waste.
Secondary students are better equipped to engage in sustainability efforts, actively participating in recycling programs and opting for durable, reusable items.