Feb 04 2011

Litter and Waste

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Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

 Our Green Schools Committee have agreed that we will aim to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill from our school by half. This is how we plan to do that:

• Parings box for all pencil parings – from there to the compost bin.

• Fruit skins, apple cores, bread etc. can be composted – remember no meat or dairy in the compost bin.

• Paper: 1. Where possible photocopy on both sides 2. Re-use if possible e.g. for art etc. 3. Recycle

• Yoghurt cartons can be washed out and used for paint, as glue pots, for planting seeds etc.

• Plastic bottles can be reused – they are not allowed in any bin.

• Juice and milk cartons can be washed out and put in the recycling bin.

• Milk straws can be washed and reused.

• Tin foil, cling film and plastic bags are not allowed in school from Monday 14th Dec. – sandwiches can be wrapped in kitchen roll and placed in a lunch box.

• Batteries can be recycled in school.

• We are collecting old mobile phones in school.  When we have 250 of them the school will get an interactive white board.

• 4 bins in every classroom 1. Recycling bin 2. Parings bin 3. Compost bin 4. Landfill bin. The landfill bin will only be emptied weekly from Monday 14th Dec. and it is hoped that the contents of the bin will be minimal at the end of each week.

 

Kilbarron N.S. Guide to Composting
Material OK? Comments
Grass Cuttings Yes Do not add to compost if treated with weed killer in last two mowings, only add in 6” layers.
Woody material – prunings, chippings, pencil parings, etc Yes Cut up and add in small quantities in layers with fresh material, best if shredded.
Kitchen waste – uncooked food scraps Yes Mix with other ingredients.
Coffee grounds Yes Acidic
Tea leaves/tea bags Yes
Vacuum/Hoover bag contents Yes Including paper part of bag.
Egg shells Yes Rinse and crush.
Manure – pig, sheep, cow, horse Yes Ensure that it composts thoroughly.
Manure – rabbit, gerbil, guinea pig Yes Any vegetarian pet manure will compost.
Mushroom Compost Yes May contain pesticides. A good soil builder but low in nutrients.
Newspaper, cardboard, egg boxes, paper towels, envelopes, letter paper Yes Shred for compost and ensure it is slightly damp, excellent for good texture.
Leaves Yes Some leaves may take a long time to decompose.
Sawdust / woodshavings Yes High in carbon and will use up some of the nitrogen in the compost – cones decompose very slowly, acidic.
Cut / dead flowers Yes
Weeds, Nettles Yes Avoid adding weed seeds if possible.
Wood / peat ashes Yes Excellent source of potassium. May also be sprinkled directly into garden soil.
Old plants, growbags Yes Do not add if infected with vine weevil.
Hay, straw Yes In small quantities.
Seaweed, algae, garden pond cleanings Yes Fine nutrient source. If from salt water, hose down or leave out in the rain before adding to compost.
Clothes dryer lint, pet and human hairs Yes
Paper kitchen towels, cotton dishcloths Yes Anything made of plant material – wood or cotton.
DO NOT ADD THE FOLLOWING
Meat No May attract vermin.
Fish scraps No May attract vermin.
Grease, oil, cooked food scraps No Low in nutrients, slows composting process, may attract vermin.
Cat litter No May contain disease organisms.
Dairy Products No May attract vermin, does not compost effectively.
Manure – cat or dog faeces No May contain disease organisms.
Barbeque / coal ashes no Contains sulphur oxides and other chemicals.
Conifers / evergreen shrubs Never Compost separately and use as acidic mulch.
Yo! Yo! Yo! Make sure you know where your waste goes!

Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

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