Awareness and behavioral change are key to reducing residual waste. Our colleagues are in your area every day and are happy to help you with questions and advice.
Our Education Team
Environmental coach Nelleke
Our Environmental Coach Nelleke is out and about every day. You can find her everywhere: on the street, at meetings, and at events. She gathers ideas, offers tips on reducing residual waste and separating raw materials more effectively, and brainstorms with you. Environmental Coach Nelleke: "Separating waste is beneficial! All sorts of new products are made from separated waste. Reuse and recycling conserve resources, save energy, and reduce CO2 emissions."
So, if you're unsure about something or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask your question online or when you see Nelleke!
Ask your question to our environmental coach Nelleke
Education Officer: Awareness and Behavioral Change in Young People
What you learn as a youngster, you'll be able to do when you're older! Our education officer teaches classes at the Waste-Free schools in the region about raw material separation. We also talk with principals about reducing residual waste. Raising awareness among young people is an important step towards
A waste-free future. Secondary schools can also receive tips, advice, and possibly guest lectures and tours from our education officer.
Educational programs and initiatives
Waste-free schools
Since 2014, we've offered the "Waste-Free Schools" program. This program teaches students that waste is made up of valuable resources and equips them with the knowledge to manage it effectively.
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. This is a welcome development, especially since residual waste will be eliminated in the Netherlands by 2050 and resources will be reused over and over again. Fortunately, more and more students are bringing a sustainable drinking cup and lunchbox for lunch. This saves mountains of disposable cartons, sandwich bags, and aluminum foil. Separate waste collection at school seems obvious, but it proves difficult in practice. The "Waste-Free Schools" project can help with this.
But what exactly is a zero-waste school? A zero-waste school is a school that strives for less waste. The waste that is ultimately generated is properly separated. This means the school has less and less residual waste. In short, waste separation and waste prevention. In exchange for the effort schools make, they don't have to pay for the separated waste collected by Waardlanden.
About 80% of all regional households in our region are now waste-free. When parents and caregivers see how enthusiastic their children are about separating waste and the importance of recycling, they're encouraged to take steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle at home as well. This way, the school initiative becomes not only a learning opportunity for children but also an opportunity to reach entire families and work together towards a circular future.
Interested in becoming a Waste-Free School? Contact us!
Practical support
Waardlanden offers educational and practical support to all Waste-Free Schools. We do this by providing information, making materials available, organizing excursions, offering assistance with curriculum, and monitoring waste separation.
Environmental education in schools
Together with Gorinchem Nature Center (NCG) We provide environmental education at schools in the municipalities of Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, and Molenlanden. In Vijfheerenlanden, we do this in collaboration with The Green Wealth.
Teaching boxes
To make things as easy as possible for primary schools, the Gorinchem Nature Center and De Groene Weelde have developed ready-made lesson kits for classroom use. Waste-free schools can book these for free. Each kit contains detailed lessons and materials related to a theme. This makes teaching your own lesson very easy.
- Questions about the teaching kits from the Gorinchem Nature Center?
Send an e-mail to educatie@natuurcentrumgorinchem.nl or call 0183-630911 on weekdays between 9.00am and 17.00pm. - Questions about the De Groene Weelde teaching kits?
Send an e-mail to info@groeneweeldevhl.nl
Guest lectures and excursions
Teaching about the circular economy is one thing, but seeing and experiencing it is another! We can also teach some lessons at school or in the neighborhood.
Guest lecture 'Waste separation'
During this lesson, we'll discuss the different raw material flows with the students. We'll cover topics like buying less, recycling, repairs, the recycling center, the dangers of litter, and why waste separation is so important. What belongs in which bin, and what can we make with properly separated raw materials? We'll conclude the lesson with a fun quiz and distribute current waste separation guidelines. After the lesson, students will know everything about reducing waste and separating it properly, and they'll be able to separate school waste correctly. Because much has changed in the world of waste, the lessons are not only interesting for students, but teachers also learn a lot from them.
Practical information:
- The lesson lasts 25 minutes per class.
- It's possible for groups 1 through 8 to all be scheduled on the same day. The education officer will then visit each class in turn.
Excursion: Ecopark educational trail
During this lesson, we give the group a tour of the Ecopark in Groot-Ammers. The students will visit the De Gezel workshop and the second chance building materials. This will be followed by an interactive lesson in the Ecopark's education area, where small groups will complete assignments about waste and valuable resources. Topics covered include textiles, smartphones, electronic devices, batteries, and litter. Activities like "electronic device bingo" and "litter on the clothesline" make the lessons interactive. Students will playfully discover how long nature takes to break down different types of waste. Finally, the group will reflect on themes such as sustainability and reducing consumption. Our partner, De Gezel, has made the furniture for the education area from discarded materials, such as bar stools made from old bicycle tires and tables made from reclaimed wood. The tour and lesson last 1,5 to 2 hours and are free for Waste-Free Schools.
Practical information:
- The tour and lesson last 1,5 to 2 hours and are free for Waste Free Schools.
- The tour is suitable for both primary and secondary schools.
Technology lessons
To introduce primary school students to technology, crafts, and professions in the circular economy, we offer on-site lessons in collaboration with De Gezel and SitY Academy. These lessons prepare students for the circular economy of the future, where repair is central.
Want to know more about our guest lectures and excursions? Contact us!
Schools take action against litter
Cleanups are fun to do. You're doing something fun and keeping our environment clean and beautiful at the same time. We're happy to help schools that want to organize cleanups with the necessary supplies and tips. We provide:
- Safety vests
- waste bags
- skewers
- Gloves
Afterwards, we will come by with one of our collection vehicles and take away the bags of litter.
Picking up litter at school? Contact us!