Western Springs College – Waste Minimisation Project

In March 2011 Western Springs College submitted an application for funding to the Waste Minimisation Fund, which is administered by the Ministry for the Environment. After several months of negotiations, moving through the various stages of the application process, we were awarded $55 224 toward our waste minimisation project costs of $61 360!

The overall aim of the project is to reduce Western Springs College’s waste to landfill by 50%. This included:

• a reduction in compostable waste going to landfill by 66%
• a reduction in recyclable waste going to landfill by 66%
• and a reduction in the use of non-recyclable packaging such as glad wrap and coffee cups by 50%

Sunshine Yates from Waste Not Consultants was contracted to support our project along with her team, Ron Sperber and Lynn Green.

In May 2012 a comprehensive waste audit was completed. The audit included all waste generated on school grounds from Friday 18 May to Thursday 24 May.

The waste audit results indicated that:

• Up to 22% of the overall waste could be recycled using current recycling
• systems at the school
• A further 51% could potentially be composted or fed to a worm farm.

Theoretically this means that 73% of current waste to landfill can be diverted, however it must be noted that no system will achieve 100% diversion.

Based on the waste audit results as well as a comprehensive analysis of our current system, suggestions were made for a new waste management system. After on-going
discussion and consultation with key individuals such as Niki Hare from Auckland University, Bridget Glasgow, the enviroschools co-ordinator, the ground staff as well
as the other stakeholders, some key decisions were made.

We decided to:

• Remove all waste bins (wheelie bins and drums) from around school.
• Install 36 new waste stations around the school, making waste stations easily accessible to all students at all times.
• Design clear signage which matches the colours of the bins and which are clear and easy to read.
• Remove all bins from classrooms, making these zero waste spaces.
• Remove all bins from offices and resource areas.
• Provide each classroom, office and resource area with a paper cube for recycling paper.
• Provide all kitchen areas with small green compost bins for food waste.
• Replace all staff bathroom bins with green compost bins for hand towels.

For updated info on Western Springs Waste projects click here.