Awareness and behavioural change are the keywords to reduce the flow of residual waste. Since 2014, we have therefore offered the "Waste-Free Schools" programme. This programme teaches pupils that waste consists of valuable raw materials and gives them the knowledge to deal with it properly.
More and more schools want to make students aware that waste contains valuable resources, such as paper, plastic, food scraps and more. Sustainability is therefore increasingly high on the agenda. A good development. Especially since there should be no more residual waste in the Netherlands by 2050 and raw materials are constantly being reused. Fortunately, more and more pupils take a sustainable mug and lunch box with them. This saves mountains of disposable packets, sandwich bags and aluminium foil. Separate waste collection at school is obvious, but proves difficult in practice. That is where the "Waste-Free Schools" project can help.
Waste-free school
But what exactly is a waste-free school? A waste-free school is a school that goes for less waste. The waste that does eventually arise is properly separated. This means that the school has less and less residual waste Kortom, waste separation and waste prevention. In exchange for their efforts, schools do not have to pay for the separated waste collected by Waardlanden.
Some 80% of all regional schools in our region are now waste-free. When parents and carers see how enthusiastic their children are about separating waste and the importance of recycling, they are encouraged to take steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle at home too. Thus, the initiative at school becomes not only a learning moment for children, but also an opportunity to reach whole families and work together towards a circular future.
Educational and practical support
We provide materials, such as waste bins to separate the different raw material streams in the classroom, separation guides and grabbers. We also give guest lectures, organise excursions to an environmental centre, help with teaching programmes and monitor waste separation in primary schools. Together with Gorinchem Nature Centre (NCG) We provide environmental education at schools in the municipalities of Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam and Molenlanden. In Vijfheerenlanden, we do so in cooperation with The Green Meadow.
Secondary schools can also get tips, advice, and possibly guest lessons and tours from our education officer. If you are interested, please contact us by sending an e-mail to ozancimen@waardlanden.nl or call 06-57535337.
Teaching kits
To unburden primary schools as much as possible, Nature Centre Gorinchem and De Groene Weelde have developed ready-made teaching kits to work with in the classroom. Waste-free schools can book these free of charge.
A teaching box contains elaborated lessons and materials around a theme. This makes giving your own lesson very easy.
Questions about the teaching boxes of Natuurcentrum Gorinchem
Mail to educatie@natuurcentrumgorinchem.nl or call 0183-630911 on weekdays between 9am and 5pm.
Questions about De Groene Weelde's teaching kits?
Mail to info@groeneweeldevhl.nl
Guest lectures - excursions
Teaching about the circular economy is one thing, but seeing and experiencing it is two! Some lessons we can also teach at school or in the neighbourhood.
Guest lesson on waste separation
During this lesson, education officer Ozan Cimen discusses the different raw material streams with the students. Themes will be discussed: buying less, the cycle, repairing, the environmental street, the danger of litter and why separating waste is so important. What belongs in which bin and what can we make with properly separated raw materials? We end the lesson with a fun quiz and hand out up-to-date separation guides. After the lesson, pupils will know all about reducing and properly separating waste and will be able to separate school waste correctly. Because a lot is changing in the world of waste, the lessons are not only interesting for pupils, but teachers also learn a lot from them.
The lesson lasts 25 minutes per class. Groups 1 to 8 may all be scheduled on one day. The education officer then takes turns visiting a class.
Want to know more? Contact Ozan Cimen and send an email to ozancimen@waardlanden.nlv or call 06-57535337.
Visit educational trail Ecopark
During this lesson, education officer Ozan Cimen gives the group a tour of the Ecopark in Groot-Ammers. The pupils take a look at workshop De Gezel, and 2nd chance building materials. This is followed by an interactive lesson in the Ecopark's education room, with small groups making assignments about waste and valuable raw materials. Themes covered include textiles, smartphones, electronic devices, batteries and litter. Activities such as 'electronic devices bingo' and 'litter on the clothesline' make the lessons interactive. Pupils thus playfully discover how long nature takes to break down different types of waste. Finally, themes such as sustainability and consumerism are discussed with the group.
Partner De Gezel made the furniture for the education room from discarded materials, such as bar stools made from old bicycle tyres and tables made from old wood.
The tour and lesson lasts a total of 1.5 to 2 hours and is free for Waste Free Schools.
Is your class also coming to take a look at the Ecopark?
The tour is not only suitable for primary schools, but also connects very well with secondary schools.
Engineering classes in collaboration with The Gezel and SitY Academy
To introduce primary school pupils to engineering, crafts and professions in the circular economy, we offer on-site classes in cooperation with The Gezel and SitY Academy.
During these lessons, students will be prepared for the circular economy of the future, where repair is central.
Clean-up campaigns against litter
Clean-up campaigns are fun to do. You get to work outside while keeping our environment clean and beautiful. We are therefore happy to help schools that want to organise clean-up actions with the necessary equipment and tips. We supply:
- Safety vests
- Rubbish bags
- Prickers
- Gloves
Afterwards, we will come by with one of our collection trucks and dispose of the bags of litter.
> Picking up litter with your school? Send an e-mail to our education officer Ozan
Become a Waste Free School too?
Does your school also want to become litter-free or would you like more information first? Fantastic! Education officer Ozan Cimen would love to get in touch with you.
Contact person Waste-Free Schools
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Education officer Email Phone number Working days |