When it comes to paper waste, it is undoubtable that our schools are some of the largest contributors. In fact, the average UK school produces more waste in a single year than the average household produces in their lifetime. But why are schools producing so much paper waste plus what can be done to reduce this? In this blog from ETM Recycling, we discuss why schools produce so much paper waste plus how this can be reduced – going on to note ways in which schools can reuse their paper.
Why do Schools Produce so Much Paper Waste?
Educating large numbers of pupils takes a large number of resources. If each school has numerous teaching sessions taking place at the same time, each of which contains up to 35 students, 5 times per day – it’s easy to see how paper use can stack up quickly. When reviewing trends in paper use, primary schools appear to contribute larger quantities of paper waste than secondary schools.
While in secondary schools, sessions are often centred around teachers presenting information with students listening plus taking notes in exercise books or on laptops. Primary formats often require a more engaged approach that involves children being led by printed worksheets or practical tasks involving paper.
However, teaching is not the only source of paper waste in schools. Visually engaging wall displays, projects plus group activities all contribute to a notable increase in paper usage. Not to mention the many newsletters, reports plus permission slips sent to parents over the course of the academic year.
How to Reduce Paper usage?
As society continues to move towards a more sustainable way of living, our schools plus education centres have a vital role to play in reducing their paper waste. As a hub for our future generations, where would be better to educate young people on sustainable waste practices than our schools? Below we outline a handful of ways to reduce the paper waste created by schools.
Encourage the Use of Paperless Practices
When working with large numbers of students, it’s easy to become dependent on a printer for all your teaching resources. However, with the range of online learning environments available to schools – a switch to digital resource distribution could help reduce unnecessary paper waste. For example, shifting towards online homework, revision resources or even parent newsletters not only reduce the quantity of paper used but also the quantity of litter on school grounds.
Invest In Technology
While a shift to exclusively digital teaching is unrealistic for many schools, investing in a handful of laptops, iPads or tablets may provide teachers greater freedom from paper resources in the classroom. Incorporating a mixture of paper plus digital work may also provide some welcome variation for children who become easily bored with teaching tasks – leading not only to a reduction in paper use but an increase in pupil engagement too.
Keep Paper Bins Close By
One way to maximise the uptake of paper recycling by students is to make recycling as easy as possible. Schools may do this by ensuring that each classroom features a paper recycling bin. With recycling bins close to hand, students have a greater incentive to dispose of their paper more responsibly.
Educate Your Students
When it comes to recycling, a group approach is likely to bring about better results. Schools may wish to incorporate education about recycling into classwork or group sessions such as assemblies. School days offer an optimal opportunity to educate large groups of students at one time. The more students understand about recycling, the greater likelihood your school has of seeing greater interest in recycling practices plus reductions in overall paper waste.