Trash trashers – DC Waste Audit
Posted by Peter MUIR
‘Trash Trashers’ is a CAS group with the aim of improving what DC does with waste. As a part of their efforts, they conducted a waste audit to see exactly what goes in our bins. The group selected 8 garbage bags (a small part of the total rubbish we produce) and checked out their contents. Below are their findings:
Bags checked: 8
Item Count:
Plastic bottles: 26 Crisp bags: 59 Plastic cups: 22 Cans: 29 Paper cups: 31 Paper juice boxes: 84 Paper plates: 48 Small plastic bags: 33
Notable Findings:
| Notable Findings | Issue indicated | Possible approach to issue |
| Many plastic bags used for containing trash | Poor garbage system | -Biodegradable bags |
| Lots of uneaten food | -Poor eating habits-Lack of compost | -Create compost |
| Many juice boxes | -Poor recycling | -Encourage bring own drink bottle |
| Lots of waste paper | -Paper recycling system not well-known | -Raise awareness of paper bins |
| Lots of tissues | -Many tissues used in washrooms | -Use air dryers more |
Suggested next steps in order of priority (Based on audit only):
-Raise awareness of paper bins
-Talk to primary students
-Display board
-Signs around school (above general bins)
-Explore using biodegradable bags for school waste
-Look into current system (if already using biodegradable bags)
-Look into biodegradable bags (pros and cons)
-Propose change to school leaders
-Encourage using air hand dryers and drinking bottles
-Display board
-Signs in washrooms
-Explore compost and how it could be used in the school
-Look into compost and its possible uses in the school
