New Waste and Energy Education Programmes are now available to Devon Schools as part of Devon County Council’s push to encourage young people to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost more waste.

Funded by the council and delivered by resource efficiency consultancy, Resource Futures Ltd, the Waste Education Steering Group and Devon Community Composting Network, the programme includes a range of education educational activities including assemblies and workshops for pupils aged between four and 18.

Demelza Annison of Resource Futures said: “Learning about waste is a great way to engage teachers and pupils with environmental issues. Our workshops are linked to specific areas of the curriculum, so they are an exciting and hands-on way of delivering topics that teachers need to cover.

“Having had lots of fun learning about waste at school, pupils are given a ‘take home’ sheet with ideas to help their families to take practical action at home.”

As well as the Waste Education Programme, the council has also set up an Energy Education Programme which will work with up to 30 local education authority (LEA) maintained schools, teaching students and teachers alike how to audit energy used on the schools’ premises. The programme will also include activities and workshops aimed at reducing energy usage.

Roger Croad, Devon cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said: “Both the Waste and Energy Education programmes are an essential part of Devon’s long-term goals to educate future generations about recycling. This is a great way of teaching our young people about the importance of using our precious resources wisely.”

Both Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council are funding the Waste Education Programme in their unitary areas as part of a co-ordinated approach to waste education in Devon.

Learn more about the Waste and Energy Education Programmes.