Helping to reduce waste in Cambridgeshire

The latest version of this unusual waste minimization scheme will take place in up to ten schools in Cambridgeshire during autumn 2008.

Working in Cambridgeshire will be a big challenge for the Happy Bin Project. The county already recycles a greater proportion of waste than many UK authorities but is anxious to raise awareness of the increasing scale of the total waste problem.

Results for the Cambrigeshire schools will appear on this website at the beginning of October.

Currently displayed on the website are the results of a project which took place between January and April 2008 in fifteen primary schools in Powys.

Over this project, the participating schools, on average, reduced the weight of materials destined for landfill (including school meal waste) by more than 50%. Some schools such as Cradoc, Montgomery and Radnor Valley reduced their waste by 80% or more.

Each school weighed the total amount of waste on a weekly basis for six weeks. The results were displayed graphically on this website so that participating schools could monitor their own progress and compare it to that of others.

As well as reducing waste, the Happy Bin project helped the schools develop their Curriculum.

·      Helped bring the difficult subject of Climate Change into the curriculum;

·      Provided a practical situation in which to discuss complex issues;

·      Involved pupils in the decision making process;

·      Encouraged partnerships with staff, parents and other members of the community.

Archived on this site are the results of four previous schemes. A pilot scheme , the North Powys project, South Powys project and Powys Autumn 2007.

The projects have involved 65 schools in total. Evidence from the early projects, that were completed a year or more ago, suggests that these reductions in waste are being both sustained and exceeded. We believe this project works!

If you would like more details about how the Happy Bin project could help schools in your area please contact Ian Mitchell.

This project was initially funded by Glasu, Powys County Council, Welsh Assembly Government and European Union LEADER+.