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Waste minimisation strategies for schools
Government statistics show that UK schools generate between 40 and 90 kg of waste per pupil annually.
Even for small primary schools, the commercial waste collection costs associated with managing this waste can be significant.
In addition to the high volumes of waste, issues such as cross-contamination are common, which can lead to costly recycling contamination charges.
In this guide, we explain the best strategies to optimise school waste management, reduce costs, and minimise the environmental impact of waste. Here’s what we cover:
- Waste minimisation strategies for schools
- Waste management practices for schools
- Creating a waste management plan for schools
- Overcoming challenges in school waste management
Waste minimisation strategies for schools
Our experts present the top waste minimisation strategies applicable to schools.
Each of these strategies reduces the volume of waste a school generates, helping to minimise [school waste collection] costs.
Composting
Organic waste, such as food and garden waste, can be composted to reduce waste and produce nutrient-rich soil for school gardens.
Additionally, maintaining a compost heap on school grounds can serve as an excellent hands-on science lesson for students.
For more information, visit our guide to setting up composting in your business.
Digital documents
Reducing paper use by switching to digital communications and homework can significantly decrease paper waste.
Schools can implement systems for electronic submissions of work, notices, and newsletters.
Where printouts are necessary, students and staff should be encouraged to use double-sided printing to reduce paper waste.
For more information, visit our full guide to digital transformation.
Bulk purchasing
We recommend purchasing supplies, such as stationery and cleaning products, in bulk to minimise packaging waste.
Short-term purchasing of supplies through services like Amazon generates large volumes of packaging waste, much of which is difficult to recycle.
Choose vendors that advertise sustainable packaging to reduce unnecessary waste generation.
Setting up a donation programme
Facilitating donations between students is an excellent way for schools to reduce waste, promote reuse, and foster a sense of community.
Donations of essential items, such as school uniforms, textbooks, and stationery, are an effective way to support underprivileged families and minimise textile waste.
Cafeteria waste reduction
There are several ways in which school cafeterias can significantly reduce the volume of food waste they generate.
One effective approach is implementing a pre-ordering meal system, allowing students to order their lunch in advance. This enables the cafeteria to prepare the precise amount of food needed, eliminating over-preparation.
Additionally, schools can partner with local charities to donate safe-to-eat excess food.
For more ideas, visit our full guide to restaurant waste management plans.
Incorporating waste reduction into the curriculum
Incorporating waste reduction into the curriculum can help embed sustainable practices into students’ everyday lives.
Here are some ideas for how this can be done across key subjects:
Science – Teach about ecosystems, the impact of waste on the environment, and concepts like the carbon emissions associated with waste.
Geography – Study local and global waste disposal practices, such as landfills, recycling, and waste-to-energy facilities.
Waste management practices for schools
Like all organisations in the UK, schools are required by commercial waste regulations to adhere to the waste hierarchy.
In this section, our experts provide guidance on applying the waste hierarchy in a school environment:
Prevention
Refer to the section above, where we’ve provided our top tips for minimising school waste.
Preparation for Reuse
The UK education sector is undergoing a transformation with the adoption of digital technology in the learning environment. Unfortunately, the lifespan of IT equipment in education can be short due to intensive use across multiple classes each day.
A dedicated IT function can focus on repairing damaged equipment, thereby reducing the need to purchase replacements and dispose of commercial electronic waste.
Recycling
The key to maximising recycling in schools is ensuring proper waste segregation to avoid cross-contamination.
Providing separate waste bins for each recycling category in the classroom and actively encouraging students to use them helps prevent cross-contamination, which can hinder recycling efforts.
Use clearly labelled bins for different types of recyclables (e.g., paper, plastic, metal, and glass).
On our [school waste collections page], we have provided recommendations for the types and locations of recycling and commercial waste bins at schools.
Other Recovery
Composting food waste, such as scraps from the school canteen, can be a valuable educational tool and is often the most viable “other recovery” option for schools.
Disposal
Even if you follow best practices for waste management at your school, you will still need to dispose of non-recyclable waste.
A reputable commercial waste collection firm will provide appropriate waste bins to store your waste and recycling before their regular collections.
Your provider will issue a waste transfer note to demonstrate compliance with your obligations when disposing of the waste produced at your school.
Creating a waste management plan for schools
Creating a school waste management plan is a structured way to evaluate waste practices, set goals, and implement strategies to minimise waste and promote sustainability.
Here is a step-by-step guide to developing an effective school waste management plan:
Step 1. Initial assessment
Start by understanding the school’s existing waste management practices and identifying areas for improvement.
A waste audit is an effective way to systematically evaluate current waste practices and identify opportunities to minimise waste.
For more information, visit our practical guide to conducting a waste audit for your business.
Step 2. Implement waste minimisation strategies
The next step is to consider the school waste minimisation strategies highlighted in this article and pursue those most relevant to your school.
These strategies can significantly reduce waste generation at the source, eliminating the need for extensive waste management.
Step 3. Maximise recycling opportunities
The next step is to maximise the recycling rates to avoid waste disposal in the general bin. Refer to our section on waste management practices for schools.
Under the Simpler Recycling regulations in England, a school will typically arrange for the following waste and recycling collections:
General business waste – For residual non-recyclable items.
Commercial food waste collection – For unused cafeteria ingredients and leftovers.
Commercial dry mixed recycling – For recyclables such as glass, aluminium, and plastics.
Commercial cardboard recycling – For recyclable paper and card.
Step 4. Measure improvements
A school can measure progress in waste management by conducting regular waste audits to track the volume and types of waste generated, recycled, and composted over time.
A less time-intensive approach to measuring progress in the effectiveness of school waste management is to monitor a key performance indicator (KPI), such as waste disposal fees per pupil over time.
Overcoming challenges in school waste management
As schools face the growing challenge of significant waste generation, adopting innovative and effective strategies to tackle this issue head-on is essential.
However, schools encounter notable challenges when implementing the waste minimisation and management strategies outlined in this guide.
In this section, we discuss three key challenges and provide advice on how to overcome them.
Addressing staff time constraints
Teachers’ workloads can seem endless, so it’s understandable that finding the time to ensure waste is appropriately managed can be challenging.
We recommend making an upfront effort to ensure that school waste management practices are simple and not time-intensive.
For example, implementing user-friendly systems such as colour-coded bins or posters with clear instructions can significantly reduce the time spent on waste sorting and management.
Staff and pupil 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.
However, schools are in a unique position to increase awareness of waste management issues by including them in the curriculum.
In the minimisation tips above, we’ve provided examples of how to incorporate waste reduction into the curriculum.
Funding
Insufficient funding for school waste management initiatives is a significant barrier, as it limits the ability to invest in necessary infrastructure, resources, and educational programmes related to waste reduction and commercial recycling.
However, there is a strong business case for effective waste management paying for itself through reduced waste collection costs.
The cost of a commercial mixed recycling collection is significantly lower than that of general waste due to the inherent value of recyclable materials and the avoidance of the landfill tax.
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