Welcome to another article in our brand new Sustainable Wednesday series, where we share insights, tips and tricks to help international education establishments reduce their carbon footprint. 

Rising populations and consumption levels mean waste management has become a huge issue across the world. But by making some simple changes, schools and universities can substantially decrease their environmental impact. In today’s post, we share ideas to help students, teachers and managers cut down on campus waste.

Encourage food waste reduction

Leftovers from school cafeterias eventually end up in landfills, with food waste contributing to a third of all harmful greenhouse gases. So what can educational establishments do to prevent this? Here are some tips:

- Provide smaller plates and portion sizes, allowing diners to come back for more if needs be

- Put up educational signs highlighting the problem of food waste and ways to combat it

- Make sure organic waste is composted 

- Donate leftovers to food banks

- Match meal production to consumption based on student and staff numbers

Implement effective recycling systems

Providing clear access to recycling bins, as well as easy-to-understand recycling symbols in key languages helps international students sort waste properly. This works to divert plastics, paper and metals from landfills and prevent cross-contamination. What’s more, regular campus waste audits and progress reports can help motivate better recycling behaviour in students and staff.

Promote a culture of reusability

In order to reduce single-use plastic waste, international schools and universities should strive to create a culture of reusability. This can be done by, for example, getting rid of disposable cups and cutlery in campus cafes and shops and promoting reusable bottles. And when it comes to publicising school events, why not swap flyers for reusable notice boards or promote them digitally instead? Establishments could also organise clothing swaps, repair meetings and upcycling sessions to engage students creatively in reuse and spread awareness. 

The key takeaway here is for international schools and universities to lead by example. These small, consistent daily efforts can pave the way for making a larger positive impact on our environment. Stay tuned for more tips next week!

Written by Stephanie Clark