News
Friday 14 July 2006
Pupils Are Making Waste History
St Nicholas School in Edinburgh has won the runner-up prize in Changeworks’ (formerly LEEP) Make Waste History competition - due to the pupils' dedication to minimising waste in their school. (The first prize went to Dunbar Grammar School, East Lothian.)
In December 2005, 90 secondary school pupils from Edinburgh and East Lothian attended a Make Waste History Summit held in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. At the close of the day each school was invited to enter a competition to Make Waste History by putting into action an inspirational project to help reduce waste in their school.
At St Nicholas School, a conscientious class of five pupils with communication difficulties put their ideas into action. The pupils conducted secret waste audits of bins - including the staff room bin - to check that their fellow pupils and teachers were not throwing away items that could be reused or recycled. They then ran an awareness raising campaign and also introduced composting. Follow-up audits showed that their actions resulted in a real reduction in the volume of waste the school created.
The school has received £150 prize money and a £20 voucher was awarded to each delegate who attended the Make Waste History Summit and helped the school to achieve success in the competition.
Changeworks would like to thank all pupils and staff who took part in the Waste Summit, who acted on the pledges made and especially those who entered the Make Waste History competition. These pupils can be proud that their actions at making waste history are helping to protect the environment for the future.
For further information please contact:
Kathleen Kirkness
Waste Education Officer
0131 538 7941
kkirkness@changeworks.org.uk
Notes to Editors
The Make Waste History Summit was organised by the Waste Education Team within Changeworks (formerly LEEP) and is currently funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council and the Scottish Executive. The project aims to increase the level of waste prevention and recycling activity in Edinburgh and East Lothian schools by delivering extensive waste education services.
