A Waste of Time – Hangaruatia

• Waste minimisation and management.
• Waste hierarchy.
• Recycling methods and technology.
• Sustainability.
• Personal and social responsibility for action.

Ever wondered what happens to your recycling after it is collected from the kerbside? Where does it go, how is it sorted, what is it recycled into, and how can we get it right?

On this programme students learn about the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle aspects of the waste management hierarchy at three key sites:

EcoSort

From the safety of the Education Room students will have the opportunity to see the Materials Recovery Facility in action as recycling from yellow bins from around Christchurch is dropped off to be sorted and processed. Students will participate in activities to identify key aspects of waste management and minimization and will be challenged to consider how waste products can be viewed as resources.

EcoDrop

Students will have the opportunity to see where unwanted but usable materials that cannot be recycled through the yellow wheelie bin can be dropped to keep them out of landfill.

EcoShop

This is an opportunity for students to use their imaginations and work creatively and collaboratively with the pre-loved items at the EcoShop to meet a “Flat-Out” challenge.

We are learning to:

• Organise the key waste actions into a hierarchical order of importance for waste minimisation and management.
• Evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of a variety of products based on environmental, financial and time costs to determine a best-fit product.
• Understand how yellow wheelie bin items are mechanically sorted, what items they are recycled into and the importance of best practice when putting items in the yellow bin.
• Understand the value of high-quality used goods and the importance of keeping these items out of landfill.

Using language, symbols and texts

Students will interpret images, symbols and text to understand different aspects of the recycling process.

Thinking

Students will use critical and evaluative processes to determine the best-fit product from a variety of options, based on price, environmental impact and convenience.

Managing self

Across three different learning sites, students will manage their learning and behaviour and act in an appropriate and safe manner.

Participating and contributing

Students will contribute to expanding group knowledge by understanding the recycling process and how to action this knowledge back in the classroom.

Relating to others

Students will work collaboratively and supportively to complete tasks; take turns and support their classmates.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3