North Shore schools recognised for reducing waste

North Shore City Council will recognise the efforts of five local schools that are making significant in-roads to reducing their waste and protecting the environment at presentations on May 7, 12 and 14.

Glenfield, Vauxhall and Manuka Primary Schools, St Leos School and Greenhithe School will each receive a billboard recognising them as WasteWise schools for the steps they are taking towards achieving zero waste.

North Shore City Council ' s waste minimisation team leader, Michelle Kaczor, says there are 10 steps nationally recognised as being key to achieving zero waste.

" The 10 steps include ways to reduce, recycle and reuse waste and incorporating these into school curriculums and operating procedures as well as monitoring and reporting progress, " says Ms Kaczor.

" All schools in North Shore City undertake some kind of recycling activity, but these five have gone a step further and have made an official and long-term commitment toward achieving zero waste " .

The schools will be recognised for the following achievements:

* Vauxhall Primary School: Removed the school incinerator to prevent air pollution and now uses the space as a recycling depot; recycles paper, cans, glass and plastic for kerbside collection; composts and worm farms and has written a zero waste policy.

* St Leos School: Conducted a waste audit and is in the process of developing a low waste garden in partnership with UNITEC; recycles paper, cans, glass and plastic for kerbside collection; composts.

* Manuka Primary School: Conducted a waste audit and is participating in North Shore City Council ' s low waste gardening programme; recycles paper, cans, glass and plastic for kerbside collection; composts and developed a large worm farm in an old bath.

* Glenfield Primary School: Held a ' trash-to-fashion ' day; recycles paper, cans, glass and plastic for kerbside collection; composts and worm farms.

* Greenhithe School: Has a long history of recycling paper, cans, glass and plastic for kerbside collection and composting.

The council ' s works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says getting children to understand why we need to and how we can protect the environment is an important step if future generations are to benefit.

" It is encouraging that these five schools are committed to achieving zero waste and we hope we can help many more strive for this goal, " says Councillor Cayford. Schools are invited to contact Mary O ' Rielly on 486 8600 for more information about becoming a WasteWise school and information on achieving zero waste.

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