Contribution to school achievement
A school recycling scheme can be a great first step to making your school more sustainable. Recycling can also contribute to achieving school-focussed government initiatives.
Sustainable Schools
The Sustainable Schools framework sets out a range of environmental and social sustainability goals for schools to achieve by 2020. 'Purchasing and Waste' is one of eight 'doorways' which schools can choose to take action on in order to become more sustainable. Schools can assess their progress using the S3 self-evaluation tool available at The Department for Education website.
Ofsted Self-Evaluation Forms were amended in September 2007 to explicitly request schools record information on their progress towards sustainability (in sections 1B and 4F). Recycling achievements should be cited here.
Eco-Schools
Eco-Schools is an international award programme that recognises schools for reducing their environmental impact. It provides a framework to help schools embed sustainability into the heart of school life.
Pupils lead an eco-committee and help carry out audit to assess the environmental performance of their school before deciding which environmental themes they want to address and how they are going to do it. Waste is a popular theme for schools to choose to work on, and your school could start your progress through the scheme by recycling.
There are three award levels, with green flag status being the highest attainable.