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A request to Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste from a teacher at Ōrewa Primary highlighted students’ interest in the amount of wrappers and plastics that accumulate in the drains.
This term the school’s central theme is sustainability, with seniors (Year 4-6) looking at restoring the school’s native bush and stream, while junior students (Year 1-3) explore sustainability initiatives, including wastewater and stormwater management.
As a result of observing the waste packaging ending up in the drains, students are aiming to make their school lunches wrapper-free. The school contacted Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste, which will be working with them on education and waste audits this month.
It’s the first time that the Zero Waste education team has been asked to focus on the litter created by lunchbox packaging, Eco-ECE Facilitator Samantha Holder says.
The initiative will include a waste audit and collection of the litter outside that ends up in their drains, followed by a shopping game where children can explore options for a common lunchbox item – for example buying a big bag of chips and splitting it up or buying smaller, single serve bags.
“The cost and waste when buying a larger bag is far less than buying individual bags,” Samantha says. “While we understand that children do not do the food shopping, it can create conversations at home with friends and families.”
