Te Totara School, a growing urban school located in Hamilton, has embraced its role as an Enviroschool by taking significant strides toward waste reduction. The school joined the programme in early 2024 and immediately started considering taking action for change. With a focus on tackling food waste, the school set out to implement a sustainable and impactful solution that would not only address waste reduction but reduce their carbon footprint and inspire and empower their community.
Identifying the Problem
Through discussions and observations, Te Totara identified food waste as a key issue for their school. Lunch leftovers and organic waste from the school was significant and, at that time, destined for the landfill. The school recognised this as an opportunity to take action, aligning with the Enviroschools vision of creating a healthier, more sustainable environment.
Taking Action
With the support of their Enviroschools facilitator, Alex, Te Totara School initially applied for funding from the Hamilton City Council’s Waste Minimisation Fund. The funding was successfully secured and allowed purchase of a three-bay CarbonCycle hot compost unit, designed to efficiently process organic waste into nutrient-rich compost.
The 3 bay system almost finished.
Students took an active role in the project, installing the hot compost unit with guidance from the CarbonCycle team.
The project didn’t stop there. Te Totara extended their waste collection efforts beyond the school gates. They partnered with a local preschool, café, and retirement village, collecting food waste from these facilities to further divert waste from landfill.
To measure the success of the initiative, the collected food waste is weighed, enabling tracking of volume diverted from landfill through ongoing data collection and recording. The resulting compost is used in the school’s garden to support food production, completing the cycle of waste-to-resource.
Learning and Engagement
Beyond the composting initiative, students were engaged in waste workshops and a waste audit. Several classes participated in hands-on sessions exploring the importance of waste reduction, practical ways to minimize waste, and the environmental benefits of composting.
The Enviroschools Zero Waste overview was shared with all staff, followed by additional resources to support initial learning:
- Pare Kore’s The system of stuff – simple, and with Te Ao Māori context, 6min.
- The ‘Bury it and dig it up’ activity from the Enviroschools Zero Waste theme kit to explore what is biodegradable and able to be composted
- A series of recycling quizzes https://www.canirecyclethis.org.nz to support good sorting knowledge
- Zero Waste PD – clips– Cool Kids Compost was a great starter for the CarbonCycle hot compost install
This was followed by two sessions with the junior school: firstly, a ‘What is waste’ session with that combined a Waste Brainstorm and Types of Waste activities, and then a Waste audit.
These workshops empowered students with knowledge and skills that extended beyond the classroom, inspiring them to take action in their own lives.
Waste audits provide data to help measure change.
Everyone involved in the audit learnt about rethinking choices we can make to reduce waste.
Scaling Up
The initial three-bay hot compost unit proved to be highly effective, leading the school to apply for additional funding from the Waikato Enviroschools fund to expand the system’s capacity. With an extra bay installed, Te Totara was able to manage even more organic waste, maximising the impact of their efforts.
Students learn about what makes good hot compost.
Adding green material to help balance and build up heat.
Outcomes and Impact
- Waste Reduction: Significant volumes of food waste are being diverted from landfill, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.
- Community Engagement: Collaborating with the preschool, café, and retirement village strengthened community ties and demonstrated the collective power of working together toward sustainability. The neighbouring high school is looking to be part of the project.
- Educational Benefits: Students developed a deeper understanding of waste minimisation and composting, becoming advocates for environmental stewardship within their families and communities.
- Circular Systems: The compost generated enriched the school’s garden, supporting food production and contributed to students’ learning about sustainable food systems.
Lessons Learned
- Student Involvement is Key: Engaging students in hands-on activities like installing the compost unit and tracking waste made the project more meaningful and successful.
- Partnerships Amplify Impact: Collaborating with local organisations expanded the scope of waste collection and created a shared sense of purpose.
- Scaling is Possible: The success of the initial system demonstrated the potential for growth, inspiring the school to expand its efforts.
Inspiring Others
Te Totara School’s journey showcases how a focused, collaborative approach can create significant shifts in behaviour and outcomes. By addressing food waste with practical solutions and fostering a culture of learning, the school exemplifies the principles of the Enviroschools programme. Their story is a testament to the power of action, community, and education in creating a sustainable future.
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